21 July,2026 10:08 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
The train was flagged off by Maharashtra`s Minister for Social Justice, Sanjay Shirsat. Pic/Special Arrangement
A special Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train to Bodh Gaya was flagged off from Dadar Railway Terminus on July 20 under the Maharashtra Government's Mukhyamantri Tirth Darshan Yojana, aimed at promoting religious tourism and providing comfortable pilgrimage opportunities for devotees, an official statement said.
The train was flagged off by Maharashtra's Minister for Social Justice, Sanjay Shirsat, in the presence of public representatives, senior government officials and railway authorities.
Addressing the gathering, Shirsat said this was the third Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train to operate under the state government's pilgrimage scheme. Similar services had earlier been launched from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur.
He said the journey would allow pilgrims to visit important religious and historical sites linked to Lord Buddha, making it both a spiritual and cultural experience.
The specially decorated train, adorned with flowers, consists of 10 coaches and is carrying around 800 pilgrims.
According to IRCTC, experienced tour managers have been deployed to assist passengers throughout the journey and ensure the smooth operation of the tour.
IRCTC has made arrangements for catering, accommodation, local transport and other essential services to provide pilgrims with a safe and comfortable journey.
The initiative is part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Maharashtra Government and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to promote religious tourism through Bharat Gaurav Tourist Trains.
The train departed from Dadar Railway Terminus on July 20, 2026 and is scheduled to return to Mumbai on 26 July 2026.
The state government said the Mukhyamantri Tirth Darshan Yojana aims to help senior citizens and devotees visit important religious destinations while preserving India's cultural and spiritual heritage.
