200 ‘Aastha Special Trains’ to Ayodhya from January 22
In anticipation of the inauguration of the Ram Mandir, Indian Railways is gearing up to introduce 200 ‘Aastha Special Trains’ to Ayodhya starting from January 22, 2024. Preceding this initiative, several major airlines have also announced direct flights to the sacred city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.
After the Pran Prathistha ceremony at the Ram Mandir, the trains will commence post January 22, 2024. The Railway Ministry has strategically planned to operate these trains from Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, ensuring connectivity for 100 days following the Ram Mandir ceremony.
The proposed routes will cover states such as Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Delhi, establishing connectivity between Ayodhya and Tier 1 and Tier 2 towns in these states.
‘Aastha Special Trains’ will originate from Guwahati
Indian Railways aims to introduce similar routes from each state, converging at Ayodhya. We anticipate future connections from the North-East, possibly originating from Guwahati, Assam.
To reserve seats on these special trains, individuals can only use the IRCTC app or website, and the onboard catering will exclusively provide vegetarian meals. The charges for these trains include reservation fees, superfast charges, catering charges, service fees, and GST.
In preparation for the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony on January 22, Indian Railways plans to adorn and illuminate 343 stations across the country named after Lord Ram. As part of the extensive preparations for the grand Pran Prathistha ceremony of Lord Ram Lalla at the newly constructed Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, this ceremonial event is taking place.
Among the states, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu lead with the highest number of stations named after Lord Ram, boasting 55 and 54 stations, respectively. Bihar follows closely as the state with the third-highest count of stations bearing the revered deity’s name.
The week-long rituals for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony commenced on Tuesday, culminating in the significant event on January 22. Scheduled to preside over the ceremonial installation of Ram Lalla is Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the temple is set to open for public ‘darshan’ starting January 23.
It is noteworthy how the increased accessibility, with both flight and train options to Ayodhya, has made the pilgrimage considerably more convenient for travelers!
