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Sabarimala Special Trains 2026–27: Status, Last Season's List and the Stations to Use
The 2026–27 Sabarimala season opens around 16–17 November. Here is what Indian Railways has actually announced so far, what ran last season (so you know what to expect), the stations to get off at, and how to book the specials the moment they are notified. Last checked 5 November 2026.
Photo: Challiyan (Dr. Vipin Challiyil), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Text added by Trip Under.
Short answer
As of 5 November 2026, no railway zone has published its list of Sabarimala special trains for 2026–27. The Railways Minister promised "additional special services", including from North India, on 21 October, so the lists are due any day: last season they came out between 5 and 10 November. Last season Southern Railway ran 16 specials (14 Nov 2025 to 24 Jan 2026) to Kollam and Kottayam, and South Central Railway about 60 from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The nearest station to the shrine is Chengannur, about 85 km away, with KSRTC buses to Pamba round the clock. Book your free Virtual Queue slot before your train.
Every November the same search goes up: which trains go to Sabarimala this year? The honest answer today is that the official list is not out. This page tells you what has been announced, what ran last year, which station to aim for, and how to book the moment the specials are notified. We update it as each railway zone publishes its trains.
How we worked it out. We checked Southern, South Central and South Western Railway announcements and dated news reports on 5 November 2026. We list a train for 2026–27 only once a railway zone or a reputable dated report names it with a number and dates. Last season's trains are shown separately and labelled, so nobody books a train that does not exist.
2026–27: what has been announced so far
| What | Status on 5 Nov 2026 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sabarimala special trains, train numbers and dates | Not yet published by any railway zone | Our check of zone announcements and news, 5 Nov 2026 |
| Promise of extra specials, including from North India | Announced, no numbers or dates | Railways Minister, reported by Onmanorama, 21 Oct 2026 |
| Better facilities at Chengannur and Kottayam stations | Directed by the ministry | Onmanorama, 21 Oct 2026 |
| Dhanbad–Alappuzha Express extended to Thiruvananthapuram | Announced, start date not stated | Onmanorama, 21 Oct 2026 |
| Booking for 2026–27 specials | Not open: nothing notified yet | Opens on IRCTC once each train is notified |
Season dates: the temple is reported to open for the Mandala season around 16–17 November 2026, with Makaravilakku around 14 January 2027. Check the board's calendar in our Sabarimala booking guide.
Last season's Sabarimala special trains (2025–26), for reference
These ran last season. They are not confirmed for 2026–27, but zones usually repeat the busiest routes, often with similar numbers, so they show you what to look for.
| Train | Route | Days and dates (2025–26) | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06111 | Chennai Egmore → Kollam | Fridays, 23:55 | Southern |
| 06113 | Chennai Central → Kollam | Sundays, 23:50 | Southern |
| 06119 | Chennai Central → Kollam | Wednesdays, 15:10 (AC 3-tier economy) | Southern |
| 07107 / 07108 | Charlapalli (Hyderabad) ⇄ Kollam | Mondays, 17 Nov 2025 to 19 Jan 2026, with a return service | South Central |
| 07113 | Charlapalli (Hyderabad) → Kollam, via Ernakulam Town, Kottayam, Kayamkulam | Tuesdays | South Central |
| 07109 / 07110 | Kakinada Town ⇄ Kottayam | Weekly (Mondays), 17 Nov 2025 to 19 Jan 2026 | South Central |
| 07313 / 07314 | Hubballi ⇄ Kollam | December 2025 and January 2026 | South Western |
Which station to get off at
| Station | Distance to Sabarimala | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Chengannur | About 85 km | KSRTC buses to Pamba round the clock, timed to trains. The main pilgrim station. |
| Kottayam | About 36 km further than Chengannur | KSRTC Pamba specials. Good if your train stops here and not at Chengannur. |
| Kollam | Where most specials end | Go on to a KSRTC Pamba boarding point: Chengannur, Kottarakkara, Punalur or Pathanamthitta. |
| Thiruvananthapuram | About 170 km (airport) | Road, or KSRTC from the city. |
From Pamba it is about 5 km on foot to the shrine, through Neelimala, Appachimedu and Saramkuthi. Private vehicles usually park at Nilakkal, and KSRTC runs a chain service down to Pamba.
How to book a Sabarimala special the moment it opens
- Watch the zone announcements from the first week of November: Southern Railway (Chennai, Kerala), South Central Railway (Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh) and South Western Railway (Karnataka). Each press release gives the train number, days and the date booking opens.
- Search by train number on IRCTC the moment booking opens. Specials fill within hours on the opening weekends and around Makaravilakku.
- Book your Virtual Queue slot on sabarimalaonline.org to match your arrival day, so you are not in Kerala without a darshan slot.
- Leave room at Kollam or Chengannur for the KSRTC bus to Pamba, and do not plan a tight return: queues can run for hours.
No 2026–27 special can be booked yet because none has been notified. Websites or agents offering "confirmed Sabarimala special tickets" before the official list is out are not to be trusted.
If there is no special from your city
- From Chennai: regular trains go straight to Kollam, Chengannur or Kottayam.
- From Hyderabad: regular trains to Kerala stop at Kottayam; get off there for the KSRTC Pamba buses.
- From Bengaluru: we found no Bengaluru Sabarimala special last season. Take a regular overnight train to Kottayam or Chengannur, or a bus into Kerala, and change for the KSRTC Pamba buses.
Frequently asked questions
Have the Sabarimala special trains for 2026–27 been announced?
Not as of 5 November 2026. The Railways Minister promised additional special services on 21 October 2026, but no zone had published train numbers or dates. Last season the lists came out between 5 and 10 November.
How many Sabarimala special trains ran last season?
Southern Railway announced 16 specials (14 Nov 2025 to 24 Jan 2026) and South Central Railway about 60 from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Onmanorama reported 415 specials for the whole 2025–26 season.
Which is the nearest railway station to Sabarimala?
Chengannur, about 85 km away, with KSRTC buses to Pamba round the clock. Kottayam is the next option. Most specials run to Kollam or Kottayam.
When does booking open for Sabarimala special trains?
Each railway zone announces the booking date with the train list. Last season booking opened within days of the announcement in early November. Book on IRCTC by train number.
Is there a Sabarimala special train from Bengaluru?
We found none last season. Take a regular overnight train to Kottayam or Chengannur and change for the KSRTC Pamba buses. We will add one here if South Western Railway announces it for 2026–27.
Do I need a Virtual Queue booking if I come by special train?
Yes. The train only gets you to Kerala. Darshan needs a free Virtual Queue slot on sabarimalaonline.org; see our booking guide.
Sources and how we priced this
- 2026–27: Onmanorama, Railways Minister on Sabarimala special services and station facilities (21 Oct 2026); our check of Southern, South Central and South Western Railway announcements and news reports on 5 Nov 2026.
- 2025–26: DT Next, Southern Railway announces 16 special trains for Sabarimala (10 Nov 2025); The Statesman, SCR to operate 60 pre-Sabarimala specials (2025); Hans India, SCR rolls out special trains (2025); Native Planet, Chennai specials (5 Nov 2025); Siasat, Cherlapally–Kollam special (9 Nov 2025); Onmanorama, Sabarimala special trains and bookings (5 Nov 2025).
- Stations and distances: Kerala Tourism; KSRTC services: Onmanorama (15 Nov 2025; 14 Aug 2026).
Keep reading
Book your Virtual Queue slot first
A train gets you to Kerala; the free Virtual Queue slot gets you up the hill. Here is how to book it, step by step.
Sabarimala booking guide →Costs come from Trip Under's place data and our cost model (see methodology). They are indicative ballparks for budget travel and move with season and demand. Check live bus, train and room prices before you book. Trip Under is reader-planned, not an agency, and takes no commission on any booking.