
India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper train was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Malda Town yesterday. This train runs from West Bengal’s Howrah Junction to Assam’s Kamakhya Junction, covering a distance of 956 km in just 14 hours.
Today, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video on his X (Twitter) account announcing a new food initiative. Passengers are usually served a fixed menu while travelling on other sleeper trains throughout the country. However, under this initiative, Vande Bharat Sleeper passengers will be able to enjoy delicious regional cuisine at their berths.
What’s on the Menu?
Passengers traveling from Kolkata will be served traditional Bengali meals such as Cholar Dal, Alu Jhuri Bhaja, Sondesh, Narikol Barfi, and other tasty dishes. On the other hand, passengers traveling from Guwahati will get a chance to enjoy the delicious and authentic Assamese dishes, such as Johar Rice, Mati Mahor Dail, Labra, and many more.
Bengali Cuisine on Howrah-Kamakhya (27575) Vande Bharat Sleeper
- Cholar Dal: Chana dal (Bengal gram) cooked with coconut pieces, mild spices, and sometimes raisins for a sweet touch.
- Alu Jhuri Bhaja: Crispy shredded potato fry, golden and crunchy.
- Sondesh: Soft sweet made from fresh chhena (paneer) and sugar, often flavored lightly.
- Narikol Barfi: Coconut barfi, rich and chewy.
Assamese Cuisine on Kamakhya-Howrah (27576) Vande Bharat Sleeper
- Joha Rice: Aromatic short-grain rice with a natural fragrance.
- Mati Mahor Dail: Black gram lentil curry, often simple and comforting, cooked with basic spices.
- Labra: a mixed vegetable dish.
Enjoy regional cuisine onboard the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train.
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) January 18, 2026
A new initiative by Bharatiya Railways. pic.twitter.com/IkI8yPUbHw
The Howrah–Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper is a 16-coach train with 3-Tier AC, 2-Tier AC, and First Class AC coaches. The train runs six days a week and stops at Bandel Junction, Nabadwip Dham, Azimganj, Katwa Junction, New Farakka Junction, Malda Town, Aluabari Road, New Jalpaiguri, Jalpaiguri Road, New Cooch Behar, New Alipurduar, New Bongaigaon, and Rangiya during its journey.
What’s Next?
Indian Railways has already planned to launch more than a hundred Vande Bharat Sleeper trains over the coming years. As more trains are launched throughout the country, we would love to experience Maharashtrian food in Maharashtra, Tamil cuisine in Tamil Nadu, Pahadi food in Himachal Pradesh, Punjabi food in Punjab, Bengali food in West Bengal, Rajasthani food in Rajasthan, Gujarati food in Gujarat, and Kashmiri cuisine in Jammu and Kashmir right at our berths.
Vande Bharat trains are widely known for their speed, design, and amenities; however, with the success of this initiative, the trains will also be known for their delicious cuisine. It will make the long-distance travel interesting and memorable.
