Southern Railway Introduces Special Trains For Sabarimala Pilgrimage, All You Need To Know

Tucked away inside the dense wilderness of the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district sits the revered Sabarimala Temple. Surrounded by the charming Western Ghats, the holy shrine is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. The Sabarimala Temple is more than a spiritual abode; it is also a destination where travellers can experience Kerala's lush green forests and misty hills. Now, in a significant move to enhance the travel experience for millions of devotees, the Southern Railway has introduced exclusive special train services to the temple.

The initiative has been undertaken keeping in mind the pilgrimage season, also known as the Mandala–Makaravilakku. The Mandala Pooja Maholsavam commenced on November 16, marking the beginning of one of the biggest annual pilgrimages in India. As per the official website of the temple, the Mandala Pooja will be held on December 27, followed by the Thirunadai Thirappu – Makaravilakku Mahotsavam from December 30 to January 20, 2026. The Makaravilakku Day falls on January 14, 2026.

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Sabarimala Pilgrimage Special Trains

To meet the growing demand for transportation during the Sabarimala pilgrimage season, the Southern Railway has announced a series of weekly special trains between Mangaluru Junction and Thiruvananthapuram North, reports Mathrubhumi.com. These services, operating from December 2025 to January 2026, will ensure smoother connectivity to the heritage site.

Train No. 06041 will depart from Mangaluru Junction at 6 pm every Sunday between December 7, 2025, and January 18, 2026. It will reach Thiruvananthapuram North at 6.30 am the next morning. Meanwhile, Train No. 06042 will make the return journey from Thiruvananthapuram North at 8.30 am on Mondays from December 8, 2025, to January 19, 2026. It is scheduled to arrive at Mangaluru Central by 8.30 pm the same day.

📢 Sabarimala Special Trains Announced!

To handle the extra rush during the #Sabarimala season, weekly special trains will operate between #Mangaluru Jn and #thiruvananthapuram North from 7 Dec 2025 to 19 Jan 2026.

Advance Reservation will open at 08.00 hrs on 03.12.2025… pic.twitter.com/5OMLNjmL02

— Southern Railway (@GMSRailway) December 2, 2025

Both these trains will operate seven services in total. They will halt at key stations including Kasaragod, Kanhangad, Payyanur, Kannur, Thalassery, Vadakara, Kozhikode, Tirur, Shoranur, Thrissur, Aluva, Ernakulam Town, Kottayam, Changanassery, Tiruvalla, Chengannur, Kayamkulam and Kollam, according to Travel and Tour World.

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Salient Features

Each of these trains will be equipped with one AC 2-tier coach, three AC 3-tier coaches, 15 sleeper coaches and two second-class coaches.