Makara Jyoti Darshan Tomorrow: Sabarimala Trains Run Housefull Amid Heavy Pilgrim Rush
Ahead of the Makara Jyoti darshan scheduled for January 14, trains heading towards Sabarimala via Kollam and Chengannur are witnessing massive crowds, with several services reported to be housefull.
Located in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district, the famous Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple has been drawing lakhs of devotees daily since the beginning of the Mandala season. The rush has intensified further as devotees from across South India travel to witness the sacred Makara Jyoti at Ponnambalamedu.
To manage the festival rush, Southern Railway announced 53 special trains for pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. However, due to overwhelming demand, ticket bookings were filled within a day of announcement.
Heavy Crowd on Key Trains
Several long-distance and intercity trains are operating with packed unreserved coaches, including:
Thiruvananthapuram – Hyderabad Sabari Express
New Delhi – Thiruvananthapuram Kerala Express
Bengaluru – Ernakulam Intercity Express
Island Express
Many devotees are opting for last-minute tickets and travelling to Chengannur, the nearest major railway station to Sabarimala, from where onward road transport is arranged.
