Western Railway has introduced a special train service between Bandra Terminus (Mumbai) and Bikaner Railway Station to accommodate the increased travel demand during the summer season. This service aims to provide a convenient travel option for passengers heading to Rajasthan, especially for the vibrant Dolchi Maar Holi Festival in Bikaner.
Know dates, trips, timing, halts & more
The special train, numbered 09035/09036, will run with special fares and is set to enhance connectivity between Mumbai and the desert city. Train 09035 will depart from Bandra Terminus every Wednesday, beginning the 5th of March, 2025, while Train 09036 will leave Bikaner every Thursday, starting the 6th of March, 2025. The train will operate for a total of 17 trips in each direction between March and June 2025.
Designed for comfortable long-distance travel, the train will feature 12 AC 3-tier coaches, 4 AC Chair Car coaches, and 2 Luggage-cum-Brake Vans. Key halts along the route include Borivali, Palghar, Vapi, Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, and Jodhpur, ensuring accessibility for passengers boarding from different locations.
The journey from Bandra Terminus to Bikaner spans 1,222 km and will take approximately 22 hours and 10 minutes. The return trip from Bikaner to Bandra will take slightly longer, around 25 hours and 40 minutes.
What is the 500-year-old Dolchi Maar Holi?
The Dolchi Holi of Bikaner is a unique way of celebrating the festival, where participants drench each other using water-filled leather containers (Dolchis) instead of colours. This 500-year-old tradition is observed by communities in Bikaner and is practiced every year to uphold cultural values.
Only men participate in the water play, while women and children watch from their homes. The festival also includes traditional songs and folklore, making it a distinct and fascinating part of Rajasthan’s heritage.
So, passengers heading to attend the festival can book the train tickets at railway reservation counters or through the IRCTC website.
