Vande Bharat sacred towns are now easier to visit over a weekend, as Vande Bharat Express services connect travellers with major pilgrimage destinations and allow same-weekend returns.

Vande Bharat Express at Varanasi Junction
Vande Bharat Express at Varanasi Junction, one of the sacred-town routes featured in the article. Photo: Benison / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

For many professionals, even a brief trip can be hard to plan because free time is limited. Vande Bharat services have made these journeys more practical, especially on routes connecting cities with important religious destinations. Four routes are listed for travellers looking for a short visit to well-known sacred towns.

Vande Bharat sacred towns and weekend routes

The routes include Varanasi, Ayodhya, Katra and Puri, each linked with major pilgrimage sites. These weekend getaways are presented as short spiritual journeys that can fit into a limited travel schedule.

Varanasi and Ayodhya from Delhi

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

The Vande Bharat service to Varanasi was launched in 2019⁠ and was the first train in this category to provide a high-speed connection between Delhi and Varanasi. The New Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express leaves NDLS at 06:00 and reaches Varanasi at 14:00.

Travellers can plan the return journey for the following day. The train departs from Varanasi at 15:00 and arrives in New Delhi at 23:00. In Varanasi, key places to visit include Kashi Vishwanath Temple and the sacred ghats along the Ganga.

Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh

Ayodhya is another major sacred destination that can be reached by Vande Bharat from Delhi. The Anand Vihar – Ayodhya Vande Bharat Express⁠ starts from Delhi at 06:10 and reaches Ayodhya Cantt at 14:30.

The city is among India’s holiest places and remains an important Hindu pilgrimage centre. It is also home to Ram Mandir, which draws visitors with its scale and grandeur. The return service leaves Ayodhya at 15:25 and reaches Delhi at 23:40.

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Howrah–Puri Vande Bharat Express at Balasore railway station
Howrah–Puri Vande Bharat Express at Balasore railway station. Photo: খাঁ শুভেন্দু / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Katra and Puri by Vande Bharat Express

Katra, Jammu & Kashmir

Katra is closely associated with the Vaishno Devi shrine, which attracts spiritual visitors every year. The New Delhi-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express has made the journey more convenient for passengers heading to the pilgrimage site.

The service takes about 8 hours and 20 minutes to reach Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra station. From there, travellers begin the holy trek to the temple. The return journey takes roughly the same amount of time, with the train leaving Katra at 15:00.

Puri, Odisha

Puri is known for the Jagannath Temple, one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites. The Howrah – Puri Vande Bharat Express⁠ departs early in the morning and takes around 7 hours to reach Puri.

The afternoon return service brings passengers back to Howrah. For travellers who have been planning a visit to the holy town, the high-speed train has made the trip easier to fit into a short travel schedule.

What changes for passengers?

The four routes fit into a wider Vande Bharat Chair Car network. According to the Ministry of Railways, 162 Vande Bharat Chair Car services were operating on the Indian Railways network as of 12 March 2026, including the New Delhi – Varanasi, Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra – New Delhi, Puri – Howrah and Anand Vihar – Ayodhya Cantt. services.

The same official note says new Vande Bharat services depend on factors such as section capacity, path availability, rolling stock, matching infrastructure, maintenance needs, occupancy and traffic demand.

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