IRCTC pilgrimage packages

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation is pushing more fixed-price pilgrimage trips on its Bharat Gaurav tourist trains, including a 9-night, 10-day Dwarka-Somnath circuit from Tirunelveli on May 10, 2026. (irctctourism.com) That Tirunelveli departure is listed as package code SZBG26, with boarding points from Tirunelveli through Kerala and coastal Karnataka, and 700 seats in a 3AC “Comfort” category. The itinerary covers Dwarka, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, Somnath, Bhavnagar’s Nishkalankeshwar temple, and Goa before returning on May 19. (irctctourism.com) IRCTC is also marketing multi-shrine Jyotirlinga circuits, where one booking bundles rail travel, hotel stays, road transfers, meals and local sightseeing. On its Bharat Gaurav site, the company says these trains are sold as tour packages rather than point-to-point rail tickets. (bharatgaurav.irctc.co.in) A Jyotirlinga package matters to pilgrims because the shrines are spread across several states, and the logistics usually involve long-distance rail legs plus road transfers. IRCTC’s tourism site says its packages are designed as all-in-one products that combine transport, accommodation and meals. (irctctourism.com) The current push comes as IRCTC keeps expanding religious circuits under the Bharat Gaurav brand, which Indian Railways set up for theme-based tourist trains tied to cultural and pilgrimage routes. IRCTC says the trains are built around curated circuits and can include insurance, guides, hotel stays and off-board bus excursions. (bharatgaurav.irctc.co.in) One officially listed Jyotirlinga example this year was a Maha Shivratri special, code SCZBG50, that left Secunderabad on February 6, 2026 for Ujjain, Dwarka, Somnath, Pune, Nashik and Aurangabad. IRCTC priced that 10-night, 11-day run at ₹17,600 in sleeper class, ₹26,700 in 3AC and ₹34,600 in 2AC, with 705 seats. (irctctourism.com) IRCTC has also said Indian Railways is giving about a 33% concession under the Bharat Gaurav scheme to promote rail tourism, and that the published fares already include that discount. That helps explain how some pilgrimage circuits are being advertised below ₹25,000 in lower fare categories. (irctctourism.com) The company’s official tourism portal says bookings for these trips are handled as holiday packages through IRCTC Tourism rather than the regular train-ticket flow. For travelers, that means the product being sold is a managed pilgrimage itinerary, with fixed boarding points, fixed dates and bundled services. (irctctourism.com)