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Kerala · Ayyappa

Train tickets for Sabarimala

There is no railway to Sabarimala. Chengannur, about 85 km away and called the gateway of Sabarimala, is the main railhead, with Kottayam and Tiruvalla close behind; from there the road runs to the Nilakkal base camp and the bus to Pamba. We book the trains for families and groups — darshan is through the Travancore Devaswom Board's virtual queue.

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IRCTC — Indian Railway Catering and Tourism CorporationIndian Railways
Getting there

The railhead for Sabarimala

Chengannur (CNGR)

About 85 km by road — the main railhead, with season buses to Pamba.

Tiruvalla (TRVL) & Kottayam (KTYM)

About 87 km and 96 km — useful when Chengannur's trains are full.

From the railhead

Private vehicles generally stop at Nilakkal, with buses on to Pamba, then about 5 km on foot to the Sannidhanam.

Direct trains

Trains to Sabarimala

Chengannur is on Kerala's main line, so trains from Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi stop there.

  • Sabari Express

    Secunderabad ↔ Thiruvananthapuram, via Tirupati, Kottayam and Chengannur

    First AC

    Daily — from Hyderabad.

  • Trivandrum Mail & Chennai Superfast

    Chennai ↔ Thiruvananthapuram, via Chengannur

    First AC

    Daily — from Chennai.

  • Kanyakumari Express

    Bengaluru ↔ Kanyakumari, via Chengannur

    First AC

    Daily — from Bengaluru.

  • Kerala Express

    New Delhi ↔ Thiruvananthapuram, via Chengannur

    2A and below

    Daily — the direct train from Delhi.

  • Vande Bharat

    Thiruvananthapuram ↔ Kasaragod, via Kottayam and Chengannur

    Executive · AC Chair Car

    Six days a week — within Kerala.

  • LTT–Kochuveli Express

    Mumbai LTT ↔ Kochuveli, via Chengannur

    First AC

    Twice a week — from Mumbai.

From our desk

Booking a Sabarimala yatra

  • The 2026–27 season is expected to open on the evening of 16 November 2026, with Mandala Pooja around 27 December and Makaravilakku around 14–15 January 2027 — TDB confirms the dates. Booking opens 60 days ahead.
  • Daily darshan is capped and booked through TDB's virtual queue — sort that before the trains.
  • Railways usually runs weekly Sabarimala specials from Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad in season; we watch for them for your dates.
For sanghs and families

How we book a yatra group

Families, mandalis, sangats and company groups — the same care whatever the size.

  • Many PNRs, booked together

    Every booking holds up to six travellers — four on Tatkal — so a group is several bookings made together, with families kept side by side wherever the train allows.

  • Elders in the right berth

    First AC and 2A for elders who need comfort and lower berths, 3A and Sleeper where that suits the group. We ask about every traveller's needs before booking.

  • One list on WhatsApp

    Every PNR reaches the organiser on WhatsApp, with a list of who is in which coach and berth — ready to share with the group.

  • Each traveller counts

    Only a confirmed berth counts, passenger by passenger. Anyone left without one gets a 100% refund, even if the others travel.

  • Out, onward and home

    Many yatras link several places. We book every leg — out, between shrines and home — so the whole journey is planned before anyone sets off.

  • Invoices for trusts

    When a trust, mandal or company books, we issue a GST invoice.

Group booking form →

Our promise

Only a confirmed berth counts. RAC doesn't.

App guarantees treat RAC as a success: you share a berth overnight and they pay nothing. We don't. If we can't deliver a confirmed (CNF) berth, you get a 100% refund, no questions asked — usually the same day, and always within 48 hours of asking — or the alternative that suits you better.

Questions

Sabarimala by train, answered

Which station is nearest to Sabarimala?+

Chengannur, about 85 km by road, is the main railhead; Tiruvalla and Kottayam are close alternatives. There is no railway to the temple.

Is there a direct train from Delhi?+

Yes — the Kerala Express runs daily from New Delhi to Chengannur, with 2A as the top class. For First AC, the Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani reaches Ernakulam, about 150 km from Sabarimala.

When is the Mandala-Makaravilakku season?+

It is expected to open on 16 November 2026, with Makaravilakku around 14–15 January 2027 — the Travancore Devaswom Board confirms the dates.

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