Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary flags off special train carrying 1,100 pilgrims to Somnath Dham
On Monday, July 20, 2026, a group of 1,100 devotees left Patna in a special train for Somnath Dham, one of the most revered among the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.
The seven-day pilgrimage is fully funded by the governments of Bihar and Gujarat, covering everything from travel and accommodation to meals.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary flagged off the train arriving from Patliputra Junction around 3.30 pm. The Arts, Culture and Youth Department, Government of Bihar, has organized the free pilgrimage, which will end on July 26.
During the seven-day journey, the government will provide devotees with darshan arrangements, accommodation, food, local transport, medical assistance, security and other necessary facilities.
Earlier, on July 1, the Bihar cabinet headed by Mr. Choudhary had sanctioned around Rs 2.5 million to finance the pilgrimage.
During the visit, devotees will not only pray at the world-famous Somnath Jyotirlinga in Gujarat but also visit nearby religious and tourist attractions. The entire journey is managed in an organized manner with the support of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).
As per the itinerary, the special train will complete its 44-hour journey and arrive at Veraval railway station in Gujarat at 11 am on July 22. The train is equipped with modern LHB coaches comprising 19 coaches, including 16 Third AC coaches, one pantry car and two power generation coaches.
The Gujarat government arranged accommodation, meals, local transportation, as well as welcome and farewell ceremonies for the pilgrims. Private transport will take devotees directly to Somnath Dham from Veraval railway station.
On July 22 and 23, pilgrims will pray and seek blessings at the Somnath temple, in addition to visiting nearby religious and tourist sites.
After completing the pilgrimage, devotees will leave Veraval on the same special train on July 24 and are scheduled to reach Patna on July 26, ending the seven-day journey.
To provide emergency medical care during the journey, the health department deployed a medical team consisting of a doctor and both male and female paramedics. In addition, 5 police personnel were assigned to ensure the safety of the pilgrims throughout the journey.
Located near Prabhas Patan in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat on the Arabian Sea, Somnath temple is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites in India.
Over the centuries, the temple has repeatedly faced destruction during foreign invasions. However, with the unwavering faith and collective support of devotees, it has been rebuilt each time, making it a powerful symbol of India’s cultural heritage, resilience, devotion and self-respect.
This year’s pilgrimage celebrates the 75th anniversary of the reconstruction of the Somnath temple. The initiative aims to raise public awareness about the historical, cultural and spiritual significance of the temple. The program is organized under the Central government’s Ministry of Culture’s “Somnath Swabhiman Parv – 1000 Years of Unbroken Faith” campaign.
The Department of Arts, Culture and Youth of the Bihar government aims to connect devotees with the rich cultural heritage of India, while encouraging public participation and strengthening cultural awareness through this pilgrimage.
It was published – 21 July 2026 04:03 IST
