The renowned Sabarimala Temple in Kerala, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, has recently opened its doors for the Mandal Makaravilakku season, which attracts lakhs of devotees every year. This period, primarily taking place in the months of December and January, sees a significant surge in the number of pilgrims visiting the temple, especially during the Sankranti and Makaravilakku pujas. To help ease the transportation challenges for the growing number of devotees, the government and various airlines have stepped in with additional flight services.

Additional Flights for Devotees’ Convenience

The annual rush of devotees during this season has posed challenges for local transport, with overcrowding and delays becoming significant concerns. To mitigate this, airlines have taken proactive steps to run additional flights, ensuring faster and more efficient travel for the pilgrims. As part of these efforts, eight daily flights will now operate between Chennai and Kochi, one of the nearest airports to Sabarimala. Additionally, three more flights from Bengaluru to Kochi via Chennai have been extended, making it easier for devotees to reach their destination without delays. These additional services will remain in operation until January 25, 2025.

Several airlines, including Air India Express, Indigo, and SpiceJet, are providing these special services, all aimed at streamlining the travel experience for the devotees. With these extra flights, many devotees believe they can avoid the long travel times typically associated with road transport, allowing them to reach Sabarimala in a more convenient and timely manner.

Special Security and Other Arrangements for Devotees

In addition to the enhanced flight services, the temple authorities have made special security arrangements to ensure the safety of all visitors. With the high volume of pilgrims expected, especially during the Makaravilakku season starting on December 30, these measures are crucial to maintaining order and preventing any disruptions. The authorities have also taken steps to ensure a smooth pilgrimage experience, with efforts focused on crowd management and ensuring that devotees can perform their rituals without difficulty.

The temple’s Mandal season will run until December 26, and the Makaravilakku season will continue until January 20, 2025, bringing a steady flow of devotees to the shrine. The coordinated efforts by the government and airlines aim to ensure that the pilgrimage remains a sacred and fulfilling experience for everyone involved.

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Train Services for Devotees from Hyderabad via Kadapa

This year, as part of the special arrangements, the Railway Department has made available four special trains from Kachiguda to Kollam, passing through Kadapa. Here are the details of the scheduled trains:

1. Train No. 07133
   • Departure: Kachiguda at 3:40 PM
   • Arrival: Kadapa at 12:10 AM (same day), Kottayam at 6:50 PM (next day)
   • Dates: 14th, 21st, and 28th of this month
2. Train No. 07134 (Return Journey)
   • Departure: Kottayam at 8:30 PM
   • Arrival: Kadapa at 1:00 PM (next day), Kachiguda at 11:40 PM
   • Dates: 15th, 22nd, and 29th of this month
3. Train No. 07135
   • Departure: Kachiguda at 12:00 PM
   • Arrival: Kadapa at 10:25 PM, Kottayam at 4:00 PM (next day)
   • Dates: 19th and 26th of this month
4. Train No. 07136 (Return Journey)
   • Departure: Kottayam at 6:10 PM
   • Arrival: Kadapa at 11:50 AM (next day), Kachiguda at 11:45 AM
   • Dates: 20th and 27th of this month

Special Train from Nanded

1. Train No. 07139
   • Departure: Nanded at 8:20 AM
   • Arrival: Kadapa at 2:50 AM (next day), Kollam at 10:30 PM
   • Date: 16th of this month
2. Train No. 07140 (Return Journey)
   • Departure: Kollam at 2:30 AM
   • Arrival: Kadapa at 11:00 PM, Secunderabad at 12:00 PM (next day)
   • Date: 18th of this month (only available up to Secunderabad)

Special Train from Moulali

1. Train No. 07141
   • Departure: Moulali at 2:45 PM
   • Arrival: Kadapa at 2:50 AM (next day), Kollam at 10:30 PM
   • Dates: 23rd and 30th of this month
2. Train No. 07142 (Return Journey)
   • Departure: Kollam at 2:30 AM
   • Arrival: Kadapa at 11:00 PM, Moulali at 1:00 PM (next day)
   • Dates: 25th of this month and 2nd December

Conclusion

These special trains aim to accommodate the large number of devotees traveling to Sabarimala to offer their prayers to Lord Ayyappa. The Railway Department’s timely initiative ensures that the pilgrims have a comfortable and convenient journey, especially during the peak season. Devotees from Telugu states can now take advantage of these services to make their pilgrimage hassle-free.

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Virtual queue bookings for the month of November have already reached full capacity, with only a few afternoon slots on November 30 still available. Temple authorities urge those who have made bookings but need to cancel their visit to promptly do so, as failure to cancel will result in the forfeiture of their chance to rebook. Canceled slots will be allotted to devotees opting for spot bookings instead.

Devotees who wish to make spot bookings can do so by presenting a valid identity proof, such as an Aadhaar card, voter ID, or passport. Seven counters for spot bookings have been set up at Pamba, and accommodation facilities for 8,000 pilgrims are available in Nilakkal, along with lodging for 7,000 devotees at Pamba.

In light of the anticipated rise in devotees, the Travancore Devaswom Board is considering extending the darshan timings by 30 minutes to an hour during the peak Mandala Makara Vilakku season. Current darshan hours are from 3 am to 1 pm, and 3 pm to 11 pm.

Health Minister Veena George confirmed that comprehensive health services are being set up for the Mandala season. In addition to medical college doctors, trained volunteers will assist pilgrims along the key Sabarimala pathways. The Pamba command center will operate 24/7 to ensure all devotees have access to medical care if needed. Minister George emphasized that pilgrims facing any health issues during the ascent should immediately seek assistance at the nearest health center.

The authorities urge everyone to follow safety guidelines strictly and ensure a smooth and sacred pilgrimage experience.

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