Introduction
In a significant move by the Indian Railways, the introduction of 200 'Aastha Special Trains' is set to redefine the travel experience for pilgrims on their way to Ayodhya to visit the Ram Temple. Commencing on January 22, 2024, this initiative aims to initially introduce trains from 66 locations nationwide, providing a seamless and spiritual journey for devotees.
What is Aastha Special Trains to Ayodhya ?
Aastha Special Trains are a specialised service by the Indian Railways, crafted to cater to the unique requirements of devotees traveling to Ayodhya to visit newly constructed Temple of Lord Ram known as Ram Mandir following the inauguration of the Ram Mandir on 22nd Jan-24.
The core of this extraordinary endeavor lies in the introduction of 200 special trains from 66 different location , each equipped with 22 coaches to accommodate the influx of pilgrims. The initiative reflects a thoughtful blend of convenience, capacity, and security, ensuring a meaningful and comfortable pilgrimage experience for all passengers.
Key Features of Aastha Special Trains to Ayodhya
The key feature of Aastha Special Trains to Ayodhya is as follows:
Number and Routes: The Indian Railways has aim to introduced 200 Aastha Special Trains from initially 66 locations across the country to ensure devotees from various parts of India.
Coaches and Capacity: Each Aastha Special Train comprises 22 coaches i.e 20 sleeper class coaches and 2 Luggage car both at the ends to accommodate a large number of pilgrims.
Tickets: Single Ticket will be provided by IRCTC for outward and return journey.
Bedroll: Bedroll i.e One Bedsheet , one pillow with cover and blanket will be provided.
Food: Free vegetarian food will be provided by IRCTC along with water bottle.
Housekeeping: On Board house keeping services are available.
Tour Manager: IRCTC will provide Tour mangaer for facilitation of passenger.
Medical &First Aid: Medical and first aid kits are available in this train.
Single Train No: Single train number will be there for outward and return trip journey.
Duration of Operation: it is expected to run for 100 days after the inauguration of the Ram Temple
Security Considerations: To prioritize the safety and security of passengers ,these special trains are not disclosed in the Passenger Reservation System (PRS).
How to book Ticket in Aastha Special Trains to Ayodhya
Devotees interested in traveling on the Aastha Special Trains to Ayodhya can exclusively book their tickets through the Indian Railway and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC Tourism) website and and through Tourist Facilitation Center Zonal Offices and Regional offices.
All bookings will be efficiently managed by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and due to security reason Train profiles are not available in PRS.
To book Tickets following information/ documents are required:
- Passenger's Name
- Age
- Gender
- Aadhar Number
- Journey date
- Boarding station
- Mobile Number
- Address
- Emergency contact number of any relative
Email at Tourism@irctc.com
Fare
Ticket fare consists of Basic fare and other charges like reservation charges , superfast charges, catering and other service charges.
Refund Rules
Normal cancellation of tickets and refund of fare rules shall apply in this train.
State wise service station
Here is a list of some key stations for Aastha Special trains across some states:
Delhi:
New Delhi, Old Delhi, Anand Vihar, Nizamuddin.
Jharkhand
Bokaro , Tata , Ranchi
Maharashtra:
Mumbai, Pune, Jalna, Nagpur, Wardha.
WestBengal
Santragachi , Howrah
Gujarat:
Udhna, Mehsana, Vapi, Vadodara, Valsad, Palampur, Sabarmati.
Madhya Pradesh:
Indore, Jabalpur, Bina, Bhopal.
Telangana:
Secunderabad, Kazipet.
Tamil Nadu:
Chennai, Madurai, Salem, Coimbatore.
Jammu and Kashmir:
Jammu, Katra.
Apart from there are other stations include Agartala, Goa, Tinsukia, Nashik, Barmer, Bhadrak, Kottayam, Khurda Road, Hyderabad etc aiming to facilitate pilgrims' journeys to Ayodhya.
