India is home to one of the largest and busiest railway networks in the world, with millions of passengers travelling by train each day. Typically, travellers either bring their own food or purchase meals from railway canteens. However, the Sachkhand Express offers a unique experience — passengers not only get a ticket to their destination but also enjoy free, freshly-prepared meals throughout their journey. This extraordinary service sets the train apart from every other in the country.
Sachkhand Express Offers Free Meals on a Spiritual Journey from Nanded to Amritsar
The Sachkhand Express (Train No. 12715) runs between Nanded in Maharashtra and Amritsar in Punjab. Its route is steeped in history and spirituality. Nanded is revered as the final resting place of the 10th Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, while Amritsar is home to the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib), the holiest shrine in Sikhism. Because of this, the train is seen not just as transportation but as a spiritual pilgrimage on wheels.
Sachkhand Express offers a unique experience
The service began in the 1990s and has now been operating for nearly three decades. Over the years, lakhs of pilgrims have travelled aboard the train and partaken in the langar — a free community meal that reflects the Sikh values of equality, charity, and selfless service. Despite changes in railway operations over time, this tradition has been preserved and continues uninterrupted.
The train covers a distance of approximately 2,000 kilometres, with 39 scheduled stops along the way. Meals are distributed at six main stations: New Delhi, Bhopal, Parbhani, Jalna, Aurangabad, and Marathwada. At these stops, the train halts long enough for passengers to comfortably eat. During the 33-hour journey, passengers receive three meals a day — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — all provided free of charge.
