Janakpurdham in Nepal and Ayodhyadham in India are set to be connected by a direct railway service.
The prime ministers of Nepal and India are scheduled to jointly inaugurate the service during Prime Minister Balen Shah’s visit to India.
PM Shah is scheduled to visit India on November 22. The first train service from Ayodhya to Janakpur will operate on November 23.
The railway service is being introduced with the aim of strengthening the centuries-old religious and cultural ties between the two countries, particularly those associated with the Ramayana. It is also expected to promote people-to-people connections between Nepal and India.
Initially, the train will operate only once a week. A train will depart from Janakpur for Ayodhya every Saturday, while the return service from Ayodhya to Janakpur will run on Mondays.
The train will cover approximately 604 kilometers from Janakpur to Ayodhya via Gorakhpur. The route will include Jayanagar, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Raxaul, Narkatiaganj, Gorakhpur, Basti, and Mankapur railway stations.
India’s Ministry of Railways has said that it attaches special importance to expanding connectivity between the two sacred pilgrimage destinations, as Janakpur is regarded as the birthplace of Goddess Sita and Ayodhya as the birthplace of Lord Ram.
Earlier, during Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s visit to Nepal, the Indian side conducted a trial run of a 17-coach train. The trial was carried out on the Jayanagar-Kurtha section.
The two countries have agreed that Indian Railways will operate the service until the Nepali side completes preparations to run it under its own management.
As the service will initially be operated by Indian Railways, it is reported that the Indian side will also determine the ticket fares.
