KATHMANDU: The recent inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, India, has sparked a significant increase in the movement of religious tourists between Nepal and India. A large delegation, led by representatives from the Janaki Temple in Nepal, traveled to Ayodhya for the inauguration.
This connection between the two cities, however, is not new. Ancient texts mention a relationship between Janakpurdham, the capital of ancient Mithila, and Ayodhya dating back to the Treta Yuga. This centuries-old bond has long facilitated a steady flow of pilgrims between the two sites. This trend has seen a marked uptick following the inauguration of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
In response to the increased movement of visitors, Nepal and India are now preparing to launch a railway service between Janakpurdham and Ayodhya. According to government sources, India has proposed to launch a scheduled service on this route.
Officials of the two countries are currently engaged in discussions to finalize the operational details of this new railway link. While the exact launch date remains uncertain, there are indications that the service could begin as early as September 1, coinciding with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 100th day in office.
Modi was sworn in for his third term on June 9. This means, there is a possibility that the Ayodhya-Janakpur rail service could start operating by September 1.
Kamal Kumar Sah, spokesperson for the Department of Railways, said that while discussions are ongoing regarding the Janakpurdham-Ayodhya rail service, final decisions are yet to be made. “Both sides are discussing the operational modalities. We have received the modalities proposed by India and will take a decision soon,” he added.
According to Sah, discussions are ongoing between various ministries of both countries, including finance, home affairs, foreign affairs and law.
India’s Eastern Central Railway will operate the Janakpurdham-Ayodhya service. Nepal Railway will receive a commission on the fare for the use of Nepali tracks.
Currently, pilgrims traveling to Janakpurdham, which is connected to India’s Ramayana Circuit, use private vehicles or buses. While those with private vehicles can reach Janakpurdham directly, bus passengers must make alternative transportation arrangements at the border.
Proposed Timing
Service: Once a Week
Departure from Janakpur: Saturday 1:30 pm
Arrival in Ayodhya: Sunday 4 am
Departure from Ayodhya: Monday 5 pm
Arrival in Janakpur: Tuesday: 7:30 am
Recently, private-sector bus services have been operating from Janakpurdham to Ayodhya. The Indian side proposed a rail service between Janakpurdham and Ayodhya to facilitate easier travel for pilgrims. Additionally, the Indian side aims to attract Nepali religious tourists to Ayodhya through this rail service.
Both sides are preparing to operate the train between Janakpurdham and Ayodhya for up to two times a week. Niranjan Jha, the general manager of Nepal Railway Company Limited, said that a schedule for train operations has been sent to Indian Railways. According to him, preparations are underway to start the rail service by mid-September.
To begin with, both sides plan to operate the train once a week.
“In the first phase, the train will leave for Ayodhya for Janakpurdham once a week. We plan to operate it twice a week if passenger demand increases,” Jha added.
The Department of Railway has already proposed a train operation schedule to the Indian authorities. As per the proposed schedule, the train will depart from Janakpurdham every Saturday at 1:30 pm and reach Ayodhya at 4:00 am the next day. The same train will return from Ayodhya on Monday at 5:00 PM, arriving in Janakpurdham at 7:30 AM on Tuesday.
Nepal Railway Company has arranged the schedule in such a way that pilgrims from Nepal will have 36 hours in Ayodhya for worship and sightseeing. The fare for the route will be determined by the Indian side.
The train running from Janakpurdham to Ayodhya will have 20 coaches, including AC class, sleeper and general compartments, according to the department.
The Janakpurdham-Jaynagar railway was jointly inaugurated by the Prime Ministers of both countries from Delhi on April 2, 2022.
