Indian Railways has announced 12 special trains for Sawan 2026 to manage the pilgrim rush during the Kanwar Yatra season. The special services aim to offer devotees better connectivity and improved seat availability while travelling to major Jyotirlinga shrines and other pilgrimage centres across the country.
The Kanwar Yatra is a Hindu pilgrimage dedicated to Lord Shiva, during which devotees, known as kanwariyas, travel to sacred water collection sites such as Gaumukh, Haridwar, Gangotri, and Sultanganj. Pilgrims carry holy water in pots slung on bamboo poles across their shoulders, often covering long distances on foot to offer it at temples. Many devotees rely on train travel to reach these sites, which is why Indian Railways introduces additional special services during Sawan every year.
12 Sawan Special Trains Connecting Cities to Jyotirlinga Shrines
The special trains cover multiple routes across the country, giving devotees several options to reach key pilgrimage destinations. Passengers are advised to check each train's running days and schedule before planning their journey.
Jaynagar–Asansol Special (05597 / 05598)
This train will operate throughout the Sawan period, connecting Jaynagar and Asansol Jn.
Raxaul–Deoghar Special (05545)
This service will run from 31 July 2026 to 30 August 2026, connecting devotees to Baba Baidyanath Temple in Deoghar.
Barhni–Deoghar Unreserved Special (05029 / 05028)
Designed for pilgrims seeking an affordable, unreserved travel option to Deoghar.
Prayagraj Jn–Veraval Weekly Special (04173 / 04174)
A weekly service offering relief for devotees travelling to the Somnath pilgrimage site.
Subedarganj–Indore Special (04169 / 04170)
This train connects passengers to Ujjain for darshan at the Mahakaleshwar Temple.
Other Sawan 2026 Special Trains for Devotees
In addition to the routes above, Indian Railways has announced further special services for the Sawan season:
- Raghopur–Deoghar Special — connecting pilgrims to Baba Baidyanath Dham
- Danapur–Sahebganj Special — additional service from Bihar
- Patna–Islampur Special — for devotees from the Patna region
- Howrah–Natesar Special — connecting West Bengal to pilgrimage sites
- Ranchi–Bhagalpur Special — serving devotees from Jharkhand
- Patna–Asansol Special — additional connectivity from Bihar to Jharkhand
- Itwari–Madhupur Special — serving pilgrims from Maharashtra and central India
These additional trains are intended to further reduce congestion at railway stations and provide devotees from different parts of the country with more travel options during the pilgrimage season.
Passengers planning to travel are advised to confirm exact running days, timings, and seat availability for their specific train before heading to the station, as special train schedules can differ from regular services. You can check live running status and look up seat availability for any of these trains directly on Rail Tracker.