Over 22,000 Beneficiaries of Rajasthan’s Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme

Udaipur, January 28, 2025: Rajasthan’s Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme, operated under the state government’s Devasthan Department, has enabled over 22,000 senior citizens to visit prominent pilgrimage sites across India and Nepal. The scheme provides free travel via trains and flights, offering spiritual journeys to elderly citizens with full medical and logistical support.

Significant Participation from Udaipur Division

Under the scheme, 2,359 senior citizens from Udaipur Division have availed themselves of this opportunity so far. Of these, 2,284 individuals traveled by train to destinations such as Haridwar, Rishikesh, Ayodhya, Ganga Sagar, and Kamakhya, while 75 beneficiaries traveled by flight to Kathmandu, Nepal, for a spiritual experience at the Pashupatinath Temple.

Pilgrimage Statistics and Coverage

Devasthan Commissioner Vasudev Malawat highlighted the vast scale of the initiative:

• Rail Pilgrimages: A total of 27 trains have facilitated free travel for 20,156 senior citizens to various destinations, including:
  • Rameswaram: 9 trains, 7,146 pilgrims.
  • Haridwar-Rishikesh-Ayodhya: 12 trains, 8,768 pilgrims.
  • Tirupati: 2 trains, 1,554 pilgrims.
  • Ganga Sagar: 1 train, 807 pilgrims.
  • Kamakhya: 1 train, 770 pilgrims.
  • Jagannath Puri: 2 trains, 1,471 pilgrims.
• Flight Pilgrimages: 64 flights to Kathmandu have taken 1,606 pilgrims for darshan at Pashupatinath Temple.

In total, 22,122 senior citizens have benefited from this initiative as of January 27, 2025.

Destinations Covered Under the Scheme

The Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme 2024 includes the following pilgrimage sites:

• By Train:
  • Rameswaram
  • Haridwar-Rishikesh-Ayodhya
  • Tirupati
  • Ganga Sagar
  • Kamakhya
  • Jagannath Puri
• By Flight:
  • Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal

Commitment to Accessible Pilgrimages

According to Commissioner Malawat, the scheme operates under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, with an emphasis on providing seamless and free pilgrimage experiences to senior citizens. The initiative ensures medical assistance, comfortable travel arrangements, and support at all stages of the journey.

The Devasthan Department has also urged beneficiaries to take full advantage of this unique opportunity to fulfill their spiritual aspirations.

Udaipur Division: A Key Contributor

Additional Commissioner Ashok Kumar noted that Udaipur Division has been a significant participant in the scheme:

• Rail Pilgrimages:
  • Haridwar-Rishikesh-Ayodhya: 1,854 pilgrims.
  • Ganga Sagar (Kolkata): 204 pilgrims.
  • Kamakhya: 226 pilgrims.
• Flight Pilgrimages:
  • Kathmandu (Pashupatinath Temple): 75 pilgrims.

In total, 2,359 senior citizens from the Udaipur region have successfully completed their pilgrimage under the scheme.

Over 22,000 Beneficiaries of Rajasthan’s Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme