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Trip Planning 2 min read

Sabarimala season: South Central Railway announces 54 special trains, bookings open

South Central Railway is running 54 Sabarimala special trains towards Kollam from Nanded, Hyderabad and Charlapalli; bookings opened 8 am on 13 November 2026. Train numbers and planning tips.

· 13 Nov 2026 · 2 min read
13 Nov 2026
Last verified: 13 Nov 2026
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Pilgrims in traditional dress boarding a train at an Indian railway platform at sunrise
At a glance
Services
54 special trains this season
Routes
Nanded, Hyderabad, Charlapalli to Kollam
Trains
07189, 07193, 07180, 07195, 07197, 07199
Bookings
Opened 8 am, 13 November 2026
Tip
Book early; keep buffer for Pampa slot
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Planning a Sabarimala pilgrimage this season? South Central Railway has announced 54 special train services to clear the extra rush of pilgrims, with bookings opening at 8 am on 13 November 2026. The specials run towards Kollam, a major railhead for Sabarimala pilgrims, from Nanded, Hyderabad and Charlapalli, according to reports dated 12 and 13 November 2026.

The special trains

SCR's list includes weekly specials on these routes: Train 07189 Nanded to Kollam, Train 07193 Hyderabad to Kollam, and Trains 07180, 07195, 07197 and 07199 between Charlapalli and Kollam. Together with return services these make up the 54 special services announced for the pilgrimage season. The railway has advised passengers to book in advance to avoid last-minute inconvenience.

Why Kollam matters

Kollam Junction is one of the main rail gateways for Sabarimala: from there, pilgrims continue by road to Pampa, the base camp for the trek to the shrine. Other railheads pilgrims commonly use include Chengannur, Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram, so if Kollam specials are full on your dates, check trains to those stations too and plan the road leg accordingly.

Planning tips for the pilgrimage

Book the moment reservations open: Sabarimala specials fill quickly during the mandala season. Keep buffer time between train arrival and your virtual queue slot at Pampa, since road traffic to the base camp is heavy at peak hours. If you are travelling with parents or older family members, prefer confirmed sleeper berths over unreserved travel during the rush, carry regular medicines, and pre-book the return leg rather than assuming seats will be available after darshan. Check the official SCR announcements for the full special-train list and dates as more services may be added based on demand.

We track pilgrimage travel arrangements that matter to Indian families and update this page as more specials are announced. Last verified: 13 November 2026 against Deccan Chronicle (13 November) and 10TV (12 November) reports.

Hyderabad to Kollam special trainSabarimala pilgrimage train bookingSabarimala special trains 2026SCR Sabarimala trains
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Cheshta Agarwal
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A Miranda House graduate and lawyer who traded courtrooms for slow travel. Cheshta travels with the batches we host ourselves, with a soft spot for travelling alongside elders.

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Questions on this article

asked by readers, answered by us

Which stations do the Sabarimala special trains start from?

South Central Railway's 54 special services run towards Kollam from Nanded (07189), Hyderabad (07193) and Charlapalli (07180, 07195, 07197, 07199 weekly specials). Kollam is the usual railhead for the onward journey to Pamba and Sabarimala.

How do I book Sabarimala special train tickets?

Bookings opened at 8 am on 13 November 2026 through IRCTC (website and app) and at computerised reservation counters. Special trains sell out quickly in the pilgrimage season, so book early and keep a backup train or date in mind.

Is the train ticket enough for the Sabarimala darshan?

No. The train gets you to Kollam; you still need to register for darshan on the official Sabarimala virtual queue system and plan the onward road journey to Pamba. Keep a buffer between your train arrival and your darshan slot.

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