: The Indian Railways , to facilitate pilgrimage by devotees of places associated with Lord Rama during the pious period of Navratra , has announced the launch of a special tourist train - Shri Ramayana Express-- from New Delhi on 28th March 2020. The train will be operated by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd ( IRCTC ) a Public Service Unit under the Ministry of Railways.This special train will have ten coaches, which include 5 Sleeper class non AC coaches and 5 AC 3 tier coaches. The booking will purely be on first come first take basis.A similar tourism train on this circuit was introduced last year with only Sleeper Class coaches which was a huge success and the response of the general public was so tremendous that all the available seats were booked in merely 7 days time.Considering the previous response, IRCTC Ltd has decided to launch this unique product in which some AC 3 tier coaches have also been added, in addition to Sleeper class coaches. The Train will commence its journey from Delhi on March 28, 2020. Interested tourists may board the train from Delhi Safdarjung, Ghaziabad, Moradabad, Bareily and Lucknow.In the 16 nights-17 days tour, tourists will be visiting places associated with Lord Ram also known as “Ramayana Circuit of India”. Major places covered in this journey include Ram Janmbhoomi and Hanuman Garhi at Ayodhya, Bharat Mandir at Nandigram, Sita Mata Mandir at Sitamarhi (Bihar), and Janakpur (Nepal), Tulsi Manas Mandir and Sankat Mochan Mandir at Varanasi, Sita Samahit Sthal at Sitamarhi (UP), Triveni Sangam, Hanuman Mandir and Bharadwaj Ashram at Prayag, Shringi Rishi Mandir at Shringverpur, Ramghat and Sati Anusuiya Mandir at Chitrakoot, Panchvati at Nasik, Anjanadri Hill and Hanuman Janm Sthal at Hampi and Jyotirlinga Shiva Mandir at Rameshwaram Tourists will be offered pure vegetarian meals, accommodation and wash and change facilities in Dharmashalas ( for Sleeper Class travelers) and hotels ( for AC Class travelers). All transfers and sight-seeing arrangements at tourist places by Non AC buses and dedicated tour manager of IRCTC who will be travelling with the tourists during the entire tour, has been arranged.Considering the Navratra period, the food to be served to the travelers will be cooked without Onion and Garlic. Fasting food will also be available for the tourists including Sabudana Khichdi , Fruits , Curd , Potato Chat etc.There are 360 berths in Sleeper Class and 330 berths in AC 3 tier Class.Interested tourists may opt Sleeper Class package at a cost of Rs 16,065 per person , whereas AC class package will cost Rs26, 775 per person.Further, to cover tourist places of Ramayana Circuit in Sri Lanka along with the Indian Ramayana circuit, an add-on tour to Sri Lanka has also been launched with limited 40 seats only. Interested tourists will be required to de-board the Ramayana Express on the the 15th Day at Chennai (April 11) and from there these tourists will be taken on flight in economy class by Srilankan Airlines to Colombo where tourists will be offered 3 nights stay at Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Negombo. The Srilankan leg will be charged additionally Rs37,800 per person. Major highlights of this leg of journey includes Sita Mata Mandir , Ashok Vatika , Vibhishana Temple and famous Shiva Temple at Munneshwaram -Munnavari. Return Journey will be booked by flight in economy class from Colombo to Delhi and the tourists will reach Delhi on early morning of April 11.The online booking for this special Shri Ramayana Express Tourist Train has already commenced. Bookings can be done through IRCTC’s website.