Special Trains for Ayyappa Devotees from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

The Indian Railways has announced good news for Ayyappa devotees from the Telugu states. Every year, the number of devotees observing the Ayyappa Mandala Deeksha continues to rise. Many of these devotees travel to Sabarimala by train to offer their "Irumudi" and complete their pilgrimage. As regular train services are already fully booked due to advance reservations by devotees, the South Central Railway has decided to run special train services to accommodate the growing demand.

Special Train Services Details:

Visakhapatnam–Kollam Special Trains (08539/08540):
Duration: December 4, 2023, to February 27, 2024
Frequency: Every Wednesday
Departure: 8:20 AM from Visakhapatnam, arriving at Kollam on Thursday at 12:55 PM.
Return Journey: Every Thursday, departing Kollam at 7:35 PM and arriving at Visakhapatnam on Friday at 11:20 PM.
Total Services: 26

Srikakulam Road–Kollam Special Trains:
Duration: December 1, 2023, to February 26, 2024
Frequency: Every Monday
Departure: 6:00 AM from Srikakulam Road, reaching Kollam by 2:30 PM the same day.
Return Journey: Every Monday, leaving Kollam at 4:30 PM and reaching Srikakulam Road by Wednesday at 2:30 AM.
Total Services: 18

Kacheguda–Kottayam Special Trains (07133/07134):
Duration: December 5, 2023, to December 27, 2023
Frequency: Every Thursday and Friday
Departure:
From Kacheguda: Thursdays at 3:40 PM, reaching Kottayam on Friday at 6:50 PM.
From Kottayam: Fridays at 8:30 PM, arriving at Kacheguda on Saturday at 11:40 PM.

Hyderabad–Kottayam Special Trains:
Duration: December 3, 2023, to January 1, 2024
Frequency: Every Tuesday and Wednesday
Departure:
From Hyderabad: Tuesdays at 12:00 PM, arriving at Kottayam on Wednesday at 4:10 PM.
From Kottayam: Wednesdays at 6:10 PM, reaching Hyderabad on Thursday at 11:45 PM.
These special trains aim to ensure hassle-free travel for Ayyappa devotees during the peak Mandala Deeksha season. Devotees are advised to make use of these services and plan their pilgrimage in advance.