KSRTC Sabarimala special: Group bookings, facilities at Pamba depot

KSRTC’s budget tourism cell will operate special services to Sabarimala during the upcoming Mandala–Makaravilakku season. Passengers can only make group bookings in these buses. Devotees can reach Pamba by bus and will be provided with facilities there to freshen up, as well as lockers to store their luggage. Besides, they will also receive assistance from BTC (Budget Tourism Centre) coordinators to buy appam and aravana from Sannidhanam. Virtual queue facilities would also be arranged for them. 

23 buses for Pathanamthitta depot
KSRTC’s Pathanamthitta depot will get 23 additional buses to operate services to Pamba during the Sabarimala pilgrimage season. The depot will also serve as the hub of the Pamba special service. Besides the Pathanamthitta–Pamba special service, the depot will allot more buses if long-distance services are to be chartered. Most Pamba special buses have been scheduled from the Chengannur depot, followed by Kottayam and Pathanamthitta. 

There will be a Pamba special service for 24 hours from the Pathanamthitta depot. A bus would always be ready, displaying the ‘Pamba’ board, at the depot. Additionally, all buses from Chengannur will arrive at the Pathanamthitta depot before continuing to Pamba. Meanwhile, 64 buses have been allotted for Chengnnur in the initial phase. Facilities would be arranged at the KSRTC terminal for the devotees to rest or spend the night. 

Besides Pathanamthitta, the Adoor depot too has been allotted additional buses to operate Pamba special services. Adoor will get two buses, while a fast passenger bus from the Ranni depot will be allotted to another depot for the Pamba service. Meanwhile, the authorities have been urged to allow a bus from Ranni to Pamba via Erumely, and a bus from Pamba to Ranni via Kottayam and Erumely. 

Special packages by Kollam depot
The special packages offered by KSRTC’s budget tourism cell include trips to important temples before arriving at Pamba for the Sabarimala darshan. This package costs Rs 490 per head and the trips are scheduled on November 16, 22 and 29. 
November 16 – Trips to Kanyakumari and Paniyeliporu have been planned for this day. A ticket to Paniyeliporu costs Rs 1050, while a ticket to Kanyakumari costs Rs 810. 
November 20 – Trip to the iconic Guruvayur temple starts at 9 pm. The package costs Rs 1240. For enquiries, contact – 9747969768, 9995554409, 9188938523.