Kashi to the Golden Temple in comfort: a new sleeper Vande Bharat set for Varanasi–Amritsar

Travel between Kashi and Punjab is about to get a comfortable new option. A new sleeper-class Vande Bharat Express — named the Sant Ravidas Express — is scheduled to be flagged off on 17 July 2026, connecting Varanasi with Amritsar (Chheharta) in Punjab. Reports describe it as the country's second sleeper Vande Bharat, bringing modern, faster overnight travel to this busy inter-state route. The service is planned to run three days a week in each direction, with stops that include Lucknow along the way. For families spread across Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, for pilgrims travelling between two of North India's great spiritual centres — Kashi and the Golden Temple city of Amritsar — and for business travellers, an overnight sleeper offers a smoother, more restful journey than many existing choices. For Varanasi in particular, better long-distance rail links keep adding to the city's growing connectivity, alongside its expanding flights and road projects. If a trip towards Punjab is on your horizon, it is worth watching for the schedule and booking windows once the service opens. As always, confirm the exact timings and running days on official railway channels before you plan, since introductory schedules are sometimes fine-tuned in the early weeks.

Compiled by HelloBanaras from public sources: MSN News · Times Bull