Indian Railways connect two major Shaivite pilgrim sites including Somnath Temple

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<strong>Keeping in mind the sentiments of the devotees of Lord Shiva, the Indian Railways has started a direct train from Somnath Jyotirling to Baidyanath Dham Jyotirling. The train is Ahmedabad-Asansol Express which was flagged off by the Union Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw through video conferencing yesterday (September 26).</strong></p>
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The inaugural journey of the train started from Madhupur Railway Station.</p>
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The Somnath Jyotirling (Somnath temple) is located in Prabhas Patan in Veraval in Saurashtra, on Gujarat’s western coast. It is considered to be the first among the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva. Destroyed several times by Muslim invaders, the present temple was constructed in the Chaulukya style of Hindu temple architecture and completed in May 1951.</p>
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The Baidyanath Jyotirlinga temple, is also one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and lies in the Deoghar in the Santhal Parganas division of Jharkhand. While the ling is the main temple of Baba Baidyanath, there are 21 other temples too.</p>
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It is believed that Ravana prayed to Lord Shiva here and offered his heads, one after another, as sacrifice. Following this the Lord appeared and since he cured him, he is referred to as Vaidya or doctor, from which the temple gets its name.</p>
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The train will run from Ahmedabad every Thursday at 12.35 p.m. and the return journey will be on Saturday at 7.45 p.m.</p>
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Last week the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) started a special train for the Char Dham Yatra. The 8,500-kilometre-long journey will be covered in 16 days.</p>
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It starts from the Capital’s Safdarjung Railway Station and covers Haridwar including Ganga ghat, temples and Ganga aarti, Rishikesh including Lakshman Jhulla and Triveni ghat, Ayodhaya including Ramjanam Bhoomi, Hanuman Garhi, Saryu Aarti and Nandigram, and Varanasi including Ganga Ghat and aarti, Kashi Vishwanath Temple.</p>
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Also covered are Puri including Jagannath temple, Golden Beach of Puri, Konark Sun Temple and Chandrabhaga Beach, Rameshwaram including Ramnathswami temple and Dhanushkodi, Dwarka including Dwarkadhish Temple, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, Shivrajpur beach and Bet Dwarka.</p>
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The deluxe AC tourist train has several facilities for the guests including two fine dining restaurants, a modern kitchen, shower cubicles in coaches, sensor-based washroom functions, foot massager. There are two accommodations offered, 1st Ac and 2nd AC. The price starts from Rs.78,585 per person and this inclusive of journey, accommodation, meals, transfer and sightseeing.</p>
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Recently, the Indian Railways had announced that starting from November 7, it will offer a 'Shri Ramayana Yatra' theme-based pilgrimage tour by Dekho Apna Desh Deluxe AC Tourist train on Ramayana circuit covering the prominent sacred places associated with the life of Lord Rama.</p>
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<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/india-news/indian-railways-introduces-shri-ramayana-yatra-tour-destinations-covered-and-package-price-113204.html">Coming soon from Indian Railways – Shri Ramayana Yatra tour train</a></strong></p>
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The train will start from the Safdarjung railway station in Delhi and will have Ayodhya, Sitamarhi, Janakpur, Varanasi, Prayag, Chitrakoot, Nasik, Hampi and Rameshwaram on its itinerary.</p>
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The IRCTC has said that full Covid vaccination is mandatory for guests of age group 18 or above. The 17-day journey has been priced at Rs 82,950 for twin occupancy in 2 AC. This is inclusive of stay in deluxe category accommodation, on and off-board meals, all transfers and sightseeing in AC vehicles, travel insurance for the passengers, etc.</p>
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