Shri V. Somanna Launches Coffee Table Book “Karnataka Bharat Gaurav Train: Journey of a Thousand Shrines”

**Executive Summary** The Union Minister of State for Railways, Shri V. Somanna, launched a coffee table book titled “Karnataka Bharat Gaurav Train: Journey of a Thousand Shrines” on 23 February 2026. This book is a visual and narrative tribute to the cultural and spiritual tourism initiatives of Indian Railways. It showcases the Karnataka Bharat Gaurav Train, a pilgrimage tourism initiative that has served over 30,000 devotees from Karnataka under the Bharat Gaurav Scheme. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Book Overview:** * The book is a rich visual and narrative tribute to Indian Railways' cultural and spiritual tourism initiatives. * It captures the spirit, vision, and collective effort behind the Karnataka Bharat Gaurav Train. * It highlights the integration of faith, culture, heritage, and modern rail infrastructure in the initiative. * The initiative was conceptualised and driven by Dr. Anup Dayanand, IRTS (Retd.). * **Karnataka Bharat Gaurav Train:** * Under the Bharat Gaurav Scheme, more than 30,000 devotees from Karnataka have fulfilled their dream of visiting Kashi and other sacred destinations at an affordable cost. * The book showcases the train as a “moving gallery of India,” detailing its thoughtfully designed coaches, onboard amenities, and curated spiritual circuits. * Special focus is given to comfort, accessibility, and affordability, particularly for senior citizens and first-time pilgrims. * The Karnataka Bharat Gaurav Train represents a flagship pilgrimage tourism initiative under Indian Railways' Bharat Gaurav Policy. * It repositions Railways from a mere transporter to an enabler of tourism, culture, and spiritual connectivity. * It aligns with national programmes such as “Dekho Apna Desh” and “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat." * Through themed journeys such as Kashi Darshan, Jyotirlinga Darshan, Shakti Peetha Yatra, Dakshina Yatra, Dwarka Yatra, and Puri Jagannath Yatra, the train connects Karnataka pilgrims to major spiritual destinations across India. * The all-inclusive packages cover rail travel, vegetarian meals, accommodation, local transportation, tour guides, and sightseeing. * 46 trips have been successfully operated with 28,786 pilgrims traveling, generating approximately ₹25.57 crore in earnings for Indian Railways. **Impact Analysis** **Indian Railways** * **Impact:** Showcases the organisation's commitment to promoting cultural and spiritual tourism through the Bharat Gaurav Policy. Highlights the financial gains and positive impact on tourism. * **Action Required:** Continue to support and promote the Bharat Gaurav Train initiative to further enhance tourism and generate revenue. **Pilgrims/Devotees from Karnataka** * **Impact:** Provides affordable access to spiritual destinations like Kashi and other sacred places, fulfilling lifelong dreams. * **Action Required:** Avail the opportunities provided by the Bharat Gaurav Train for pilgrimage journeys. **Tourism Sector** * **Impact:** Boosts tourism to spiritual destinations across India, contributing to economic growth. * **Action Required:** Support and collaborate with the Indian Railways to enhance the experience for pilgrims and promote spiritual tourism.

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