Pravasi Bharatiya Express: A Gift to Indian Diaspora

On January 9, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special state-of-the-art tourist train for the Indian diaspora, from Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The launch coincides with the 110th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa on this date in 1915. The train, designed under the Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana (PTDY), aims to connect Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) with India’s rich cultural and religious heritage by offering a fully sponsored tour across the country.

Key Features of Pravasi Bharatiya Express

• Launch Date: January 9, 2025
• Flagged Off By: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• Purpose: To reconnect Indian diaspora with India’s cultural and religious roots
• Organized Under: Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana (PTDY) by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with IRCTC

Eligibility Criteria For Travelers

• Only Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) in the age group of 45-65 years can travel on this train.
• Preference given to PIOs from low-income categories, who otherwise cannot afford to visit India.

Government Support For Travelers

• The Indian government will bear all expenses related to the train tour.
• The government will also cover 90% of the return airfare from the PIOs’ country of origin to India.
• PIOs will only need to pay 10% of the return airfare.

Journey Details of Express

• Tour Duration: 14 Nights and 15 Days (total 17 days, including pre and post-tour stay)
• Departure Station: Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station
• Tour Type: Fully conducted tour across multiple destinations of cultural and religious significance in India.

Destinations Covered and Details

Destination	Key Attraction
Delhi	Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhawan, India Gate, Bangla Sahib Gurudwara
Ayodhya	Ram Mandir, Hanuman Garhi, Kanak Bhawan, Saryu Aarti
Patna	Buddha Smriti Park, Patna Saheb Gurudwara
Gaya	Vishnupad Temple, Mahabodhi Temple, 80 ft Buddha Statue
Varanasi	Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Ganga Aarti
Mahabalipuram	Shore Temples
Rameshwaram	Dhanushkodi, Ramanathaswamy Temple
Madurai	Meenakshi Temple
Cochin	Fort Kochi, Chinese Fishing Nets, Cruise Ride
Goa	Basilica of Bom Jesus, North & South Goa
Ekta Nagar	Statue of Unity (World’s tallest statue of Sardar Patel)
Ajmer	Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti
Pushkar	Brahma Temple, Pushkar Lake
Agra	Taj Mahal

Ticket and Tour Costs

• The train accommodates a maximum of 156 passengers.
• All travel, food, and accommodation costs during the train tour are covered by the government.
• The government will also cover 90% of return airfares, while PIOs will bear only 10% of the airfare cost.

Summary/Static	Details
Why in the news?	Pravasi Bharatiya Express: A Gift to Indian Diaspora
Train Name	Bharat Gaurav – Pravasi Bharatiya Express
Flagged Off By	Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Departure Station	Delhi Safdarjung
Tour Duration	14 Nights, 15 Days (17 Days Total with Pre/Post Tour)
Target Group	Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) aged 45-65 years
Government Support	Covers all train expenses and 90% of airfare costs
Organized By	Ministry of External Affairs and IRCTC
Total Passengers	156
Key Destinations	Ayodhya, Patna, Gaya, Varanasi, Mahabalipuram, Rameshwaram, Madurai, Cochin, Goa, Ekta Nagar, Ajmer, Pushkar, Agra
Tour Highlights	Religious sites, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, iconic landmarks