Maha Kumbh Mela: Railways To Run Special Train Between Puri & Yog Nagari Rishikesh

Puri: Expecting a rush of passengers in the wake of the Maha Kumbh Mela at Haridwar, the Indian Railways has decided to run a special train between Puri and Yog Nagari Rishikesh.

The Maha Kumbh Mela kicked off on January 14, 2021, and will conclude in April.

Like every time, the Maha Kumbh Mela is expected to draw millions of pilgrims, accompanied by sadhus and different akharas, who will be visiting the sacred place during this period to take a dip in the holy River Ganges.

In view of this, Puri-Yog Nagari Rishikesh-Puri Special will run till May 3, 2021, for the convenience of passengers. 08477/08478 Puri-Yog Nagari Rishikesh-Puri Special will leave from Puri at 8:45  PM from January 27 to April 30, 2021, and will leave from Rishikesh at 5:35 AM from Jan 30 to May 3, 2021.

This train will provide stoppage at Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Jajpur, Keonjhar Road, Bhadrak, Soro, Balasore, Hijli, Chakulia, Ghatsila, Tatanagar, Sini, Rajkharsuan, Chakradharpur, Manoharpur, Rourkela, Rajgangpur between Puri and Jharsuguda, and important stations like Champa, Bilaspur, Anuppur, Katni Marwara, Jhansi, Gwalior, Agra Cant, Mathura, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Meerut City and Haridwar between Raigarh and Yog Nagari Rishikesh from both the directions.

Kumbh Mela, probably the largest religious gathering anywhere around the world, is held every 12 years in rotation at the four holy places of Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain and Nashik, and is considered a very special event which sees a unique congregation of devotees, tourists and sadhus. The exact date is determined according to Hindu astrology, i.e. the Mela is held when Jupiter is in Aquarius and the Sun enters Aries. The Maha Kumbh was last held in Haridwar from Makar Sankranti, i.e. 14 January 2010 to Shakh Purnima Snan, 28 April 2010.