'Bharat Gaurav' pilgrim train from Bengaluru to Varanasi next month: K’taka Minister Shashikala Jolle

Religious Endowment, Haj and Wakf portfolio holder Shashikala Jolle announced a ₹5000 subsidy for pilgrims to travel to Varanasi, Ayodhya and Prayagraj via the Bharat Gaurav train, which will leave from Bengaluru next month, news agency PTI reported.

Published on: Jul 12, 2022, 17:53:56 IST

By Yamini C S | Edited by Chandrashekar Srinivasan

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A 'Bharat Gaurav' pilgrimage train will run from Bengaluru to Varanasi in the last week of August, Shashikala Jolle, the religious endowment, Haj and wakf minister, said Monday. The minister said the seven-day journey - spanning 4,161 kilometres - will cover places like Varanasi, Ayodhya and Prayagraj, and will be available to pilgrims at discounted rates.

Karnataka's first Bharat Gaurav train to depart from Bengaluru to Varanasi in August, says Karnataka minister Shashikala Jolle. (Image source: Media India)

The tour costs ₹15,000 but the Karnataka government will give a subsidy of ₹5,000.

"Most people desire that the Kashi Yatra (Varanasi pilgrimage) should be undertaken at least once in a lifetime. It was my desire to launch such a programme, which is now fulfilled. Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai conceptualised this idea and extended all cooperation," the minister was quoted by news agency PTI.

Also Read: Karnataka launches ‘Kashi Yatra’ scheme: Details and how to apply

Jolle also said her department formulating the pilgrimage package made Karnataka the first state to provide such a service. Adding that talks were on with the Railways to modify trains and make preparations for the pilgrimage tour, Jolle said that the 'Bharat Gaurav' train was hired by giving a bank guarantee of ₹1 crore.

The 'Bharat Gaurav' train will have 14 coaches with 11 for passenger travel.

Each will represent important temples in the state, with one converted into a temple for passengers to offer prayers. Food, water, accommodation and local transport near pilgrim centres will be arranged by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation.

The BJP-led government in Karnataka also launched the 'Kashi Yatra' project which offers around 30,000 pilgrims cash assistance of 5,000 each to take up a pilgrimage to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, news agency PTI reported.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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