Indian Railways Rolls Out Char Dham Tour Covering Badrinath, Puri Jagannath, Rameswaram, Dwarka

Thinking of embarking on a divine journey to the Char Dham in the four corners of the country? Look no further. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has launched an all-inclusive tour package that will transport you to the four sacred destinations aboard a comfortable AC tourist train.

When Will The Char Dham Pilgrimage Start?

The 17-day spiritual tour will begin from Delhi's Safdarjung Railway Station on September 5 and will take pilgrims to the country's four most sacred sites: Badrinath in the North, Puri Jagannath in the East, Rameswaram in the South, and Dwarka in the West. Passengers will cover a distance of over 8,157 kilometres during the entire trip. The tour will conclude in Delhi on the 17th day, reported Daily Jagran.

The journey will take place aboard the Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist Train. This initiative also aligns with the government's efforts to promote domestic tourism through campaigns like 'Dekho Apna Desh' and 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'.

How Much Does The Char Dham Tour Cost?

The all-inclusive tour offers multiple classes at different price points:

• 3AC - Rs 1,26,980
• 2AC - Rs 1,48,885
• 1AC Cabin - Rs 1,77,640
• 1AC Coupe - Rs 1,92,025

The package covers rail travel, AC hotel stays, vegetarian meals, AC vehicle sightseeing, travel insurance and a dedicated tour manager. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the official website, with boarding points at Delhi Safdarjung, Ghaziabad, Meerut City and Muzaffarnagar.

How To Book The Char Dham Tour Package?

You can book your tickets for the Bharat Gaurav train on IRCTC's official tourism website: irctctourism.com/bharatgaurav. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so make sure to book quickly!

Char Dham Tour Itinerary

This spiritual journey spans multiple states, offering a rich cultural experience. The itinerary covers:

• Uttarakhand: Rishikesh and Badrinath, with visits to Badrinath Temple, Mana Village, Narsingha Temple, Ram Jhula and Triveni Ghat.
• Uttar Pradesh: The sacred Kashi Vishwanath Temple and the newly developed Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi.
• Odisha: Puri's spiritual side with visits to Jagannath Temple, Konark Sun Temple, Chandrabhaga Beach and Puri Beach.
• Tamil Nadu: Rameswaram's iconic Ramanathaswamy Temple and the historic site of Dhanushkodi.
• Maharashtra: Stopovers in Pune and Nashik include excursions to Bhimashankar Temple and Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga.
• Gujarat: Dwarka's sacred sites, including Dwarkadhish Temple, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga and Beyt Dwarka.

Significance Of Char Dham Pilgrimage 

The Char Dham pilgrimage holds deep spiritual significance for Hindus, who believe it purifies the soul, washes away sins, and leads to moksha (liberation). The four shrines - Badrinath (North), Dwarka (West), Puri (East) and Rameswaram (South) - are located in the cardinal directions of India, each representing a different yug (era).

Badrinath (North)

Located in Uttarakhand, Badrinath is the northernmost shrine and represents the Satya Yug. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The area is said to be where sages Nar and Narayan performed penance. The Mahabharata also mentions that the Pandava brothers passed through Badrinath on their final journey to heaven.

Dwarka (West)

This sacred city on the western coast of Gujarat represents the Dvapara Yug and is the site of Lord Krishna's ancient kingdom. The main temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. Dwarka is believed to be a place where one can attain moksha (salvation) simply by having darshan (sacred viewing) of the deity.

Puri (East)

Located in Odisha on the eastern coast, Puri is the shrine for the current era, Kali Yuga. The temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu, along with his siblings, Balabhadra and Subhadra. The temple is celebrated for its inclusivity, welcoming devotees from all backgrounds. A key aspect of the pilgrimage is partaking in the Mahaprasad, the sacred food offered to the Lord.

Rameswaram (South)

Situated on an island in Tamil Nadu, Rameswaram is the southernmost shrine and represents the Treta Yug. This shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of a Jyotirlinga. The lingam was installed and worshipped by Lord Ram to absolve the sin of killing the Brahmin king Ravan.