Indian Railways on Tuesday said Shri Ram-Janaki Yatra, a theme-based train route from Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya to Nepal’s Janakpur, was among the five most preferred tourist circuits in 2023.

The other four equally popular circuits were Shri Jagannath Yatra, ‘Garvi Gujarat’ tour, Ambedkar Circuit and North-East Tour, the Railways said in a statement.

According to the Railways, it operated 172 trips of ‘Bharat Gaurav’ trains last year and these five routes saw the highest number of train trips and tourist footfall. Indian Railways has introduced the concept of operating tourist trains on theme-based circuits under the banner of ‘Bharat Gaurav’ trains, the railways said.

“These theme-based tourist circuit trains aim to showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and spectacular historical places,” it said.

In these 172 trips of Bharat Gaurav trains, 96,491 tourists traveled to various tourist destinations across the country spread across 24 states and union territories.

Travel on these trains is offered as a comprehensive tour package, which includes comfortable train travel and associated travel on board the ship as well as off-board travel and excursions by buses, hotel stay, tour guide, meals, travel Services like insurance etc. are provided. Services, the statement said.

The Ministry of Railways has made a concerted push to promote domestic tourism through provision of rail-based tourism with better quality coaches under the Bharat Gaurav Train Scheme. This is also in line with the government’s initiatives ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ and ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ to encourage domestic tourism.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)