Punjab Expands Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Yojana, 15 Buses Carry Elderly Pilgrims to Major Religious Destinations

August 17, 2026

The Punjab Government has expanded its Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Yojana, with 15 buses carrying elderly pilgrims from Hoshiarpur and adjoining areas to several prominent religious destinations.

AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann flagged off the buses on Wednesday. Before the departure, both leaders inspected the arrangements and interacted with pilgrims travelling to Shri Khatu Shyam-Salasar Balaji, Haridwar-Rishikesh and Mathura-Vrindavan.

AC Sleeper Buses, Stay and Meals Free of Cost

Under the pilgrimage scheme, people aged 50 years and above are eligible to undertake the journey, with up to two members from each family allowed to avail the facility.

The Punjab Government is covering the cost of AC sleeper bus travel, accommodation and food, allowing elderly devotees to undertake pilgrimages without bearing the financial burden.
Medical insurance is also being provided to pilgrims to ensure access to treatment in case of an emergency during the journey.

15 Buses Head to Three Pilgrimage Circuits

The 15 buses departing from Hoshiarpur are travelling along three major pilgrimage routes.Ten buses from Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Jalandhar and Kapurthala are headed towards Haridwar-Rishikesh.

Another two buses from Phagwara and Gurdaspur will take pilgrims to Mathura-Vrindavan, while three buses from Jalandhar and Gurdaspur are travelling to Shri Khatu Shyam-Salasar.

Pilgrims from five districts Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Pathankot and Gurdaspur—are participating in the latest round of the scheme.

Chief Minister Highlights Religious Harmony

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said the pilgrimage initiative aims to fulfil the aspirations of elderly people who wish to visit important religious sites.

He noted that earlier pilgrimage buses had also been operated to destinations including Sri Darbar Sahib, Ram Tirath, Amritsar Sahib, Wagah Border and Fatehgarh Sahib. Mann said religious places belonging to different faiths convey messages of humanity, brotherhood and mutual respect.

Dedicated Staff and Medical Support for Pilgrims

The government has made arrangements for attendants to accompany pilgrims on every bus. Dedicated teams have also been deployed at the destinations to facilitate smooth visits and darshan.

Pilgrims will be provided air-conditioned accommodation with adequate washroom facilities, along with free meals throughout the journey.

The government has also arranged medical insurance and access to empanelled hospitals to address emergencies during the pilgrimage.

Prasad and Souvenir for Every Pilgrim

At the conclusion of the journey, devotees will receive prasad and a souvenir brass glass as a memento of their pilgrimage.
The Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said the scheme is open to people regardless of their caste, religion or place of residence, stressing that the initiative is intended to make religious travel accessible to elderly citizens across Punjab.

Four Lakh Pilgrims Already Covered in Phase I

The government said the first phase of the Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Yojna has already enabled around 4 lakh pilgrims to visit Sri Amritsar Sahib and Sri Anandpur Sahib-Naina Devi.

According to the government, approximately ₹148 crore has been spent on the pilgrimage programme so far, while the overall target has been set at 10 lakh pilgrims.

District-wise clusters have been created to organise the journeys and facilitate participation from different parts of the state.
Tent City Set Up at Anandpur Sahib

As part of the pilgrimage arrangements, a dedicated tent city has also been established at Sri Anandpur Sahib.
The government said the arrangements have enabled the pilgrimages to proceed smoothly and provide devotees with accommodation and other basic facilities during their visits.