IRCTC Bharat Gaurav Train: This special train of IRCTC became a boon for the elderly, travel, hotel and food all free in one ticket.

Away from the hectic pace of life and the hassle of planning, if you want to take the elders of your family on a tour of the major religious and historical places of the country, then Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has brought a great opportunity. Under IRCTC’s ‘Bharat Gaurav Tour Packages 2026’, completely safe, comfortable and all-inclusive travel arrangements have been made for senior citizens. The biggest feature of this package is that you do not have to spend even a single rupee separately for train ticket, hotel, food and guide. Let us know what are some special facilities available in this package and what are its main routes. What is IRCTC’s ‘Bharat Gaurav’ tour package? IRCTC’s Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train packages are actually ‘all-in-one’ travel deals. In this, you not only get a confirmed train ticket, but your entire journey is managed by IRCTC itself. Under the package, after reaching the destination, accommodation in 2 or 3 star hotels or best guest houses, pure vegetarian food all three times, arrangement of AC / non-AC buses for local sightseeing and a professional tour guide during the entire trip are provided. The elderly do not have to worry about going to any city, finding a hotel or bargaining with the auto drivers, which makes their journey very easy. 4 biggest religious routes of 2026, where you can get darshan In the year 2026, IRCTC is operating many big religious packages from different states and railway stations of the country, mainly these 4 routes are in most demand: Char Dham Yatra Route: Under this package, you can get darshan of the four most sacred Dhams of Uttarakhand – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. This journey usually starts from Delhi or Haridwar. In this, along with the train, safe bus transfer and medical team runs along the hilly roads. 7 Jyotirlinga Darshan Route: This is the most popular route for Shiva devotees. In this long tour of about 10 to 12 days, one can visit Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Somnath, Trimbakeshwar, Bhimashankar, Ghrishneshwar and Nageshwar Jyotirlingas. Kashi-Ayodhya-Prayagraj Tour: Covering the cultural centers of North India, this route provides the world famous Ganga Aarti of Varanasi, visit to the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya and the supernatural experience of bathing in Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj. South India Pilgrimage Route: This cultural tour of 9 to 11 days includes visits to historical temples and beautiful beaches like Tirupati Balaji, Rameshwaram, Madurai and Kanyakumari. How much does it cost? View budget and facilities: In Bharat Gaurav trains, booking facility is provided under three different classes, keeping in mind the budget of each class. The fares of these packages are completely fixed: Class of Travel Approximate Fare (per person) Facilities included in the package Sleeper Class (Sleeper) ₹15,000 to ₹30,000 Train Travel, Non-AC Hotel, Vegetarian Food, Bus Transfer Third AC (3AC) ₹25,000 to ₹45,000 AC Train Travel, Good Hotel (Standard), Vegetarian Food, AC Bus Second AC (2AC) From ₹35,000 ₹60,000+ Premium AC travel, 3-star hotel stay, fine dining and VIP darshan Home-style food and VIP stay Keeping in mind the health of the elderly, only 100% pure vegetarian food is served in the train’s pantry car and hotels throughout the journey. This includes hot breakfast in the morning, balanced meals at lunch and dinner and evening tea and snacks. Food is cooked cleanly with less oil and spices so that it can be easily digested. At some special places, the famous local dishes are also served to the passengers. The hotels selected for stay are very close to the main temples or tourist spots, so that the elderly do not have to walk much. Guarded by CCTV security and on-board medical team, Bharat Gaurav special trains have been designed as per modern safety standards. For security reasons, CCTV cameras have been installed in all the coaches and security guards are deployed. A dedicated tour manager and a special medical support team of doctors are always present inside the train. If any elderly person falls ill during the journey, they are immediately given on-board treatment and medicines. Luxury facilities like modern kitchen, shower room and entertainment system are also available in some premium packages. Special discounts and important safety tips for senior citizens: For the comfort of senior citizens, IRCTC gives priority to lower berth at the time of ticket booking. The schedule of the entire tour is made in such a way that the elderly have to walk as little as possible. Following are some important safety tips for senior citizens traveling: Medicines and prescriptions: Always keep your regular medicines, medical history and doctor’s prescription in your handbag. Emergency Documents: Keep your original Aadhar Card, Voter ID and list of emergency contact numbers with you. Light luggage: Carry as little wheeled suitcase as possible on the trip so that you do not get too tired. Stay in a group: Do not get separated from your guide and group at any crowded temple or railway station. How to book? First come first serve rule: Booking of these special tour packages can be done online through the official tourism website of IRCTC or through their regional offices (Tourism Portals). Since seats in these trains are completely limited and people book from all over the country, the seats get filled very fast. For better berths and good rooms in hotels, it is the wisest decision to make advance booking 2-3 months in advance.