To facilitate the thousands of devotees travelling for the annual Shravani Mela, the South Eastern Railway (SER) and South East Central Railway (SECR) have introduced temporary stoppages at Mahadeosal railway station. This special arrangement, managed by the Chakradharpur division, will be effective from July 30 to August 28, 2026. During this period, eight express trains will observe a two-minute halt at the station to ensure pilgrims can reach the revered Mahadeosal Temple, located in the Saranda forest area of Jharkhand, with ease.
Key highlights of the announcement include:
- Temporary halts for four pairs of express trains scheduled between July 30 and August 28, 2026.
- Designated trains will provide a two-minute stoppage at Mahadeosal station.
- Special ticket counters are being set up at both the station and the temple premises to manage pilgrim crowds.
- This initiative serves key routes from Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Bihar.
Trains with scheduled stoppages at Mahadeosal
The railway authorities have confirmed that the following trains will provide a halt at Mahadeosal to accommodate the festive rush:
- 13288/13287 Ara-Durg-Ara South Bihar Express
- 18477/18478 Puri-Yog Nagari Rishikesh-Puri Utkal Express
- 18109/18110 Tatanagar-Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Itwari-Tatanagar Express
- 18113/18114 Tatanagar-Bilaspur-Tatanagar Express
Enhanced facilities for pilgrims
Mahadeosal station, situated in the Jamshedpur region under the Chakradharpur division, is a vital node for visitors to the Lord Shiva temple in the Goilkera block. In previous years, devotees often faced difficulties by alighting at distant stations and completing their journey via road. By bringing the trains directly to Mahadeosal, the railways aim to streamline the pilgrimage experience significantly.
As the Sawan Mela attracts a large number of visitors, railway officials have urged passengers to verify their specific train schedules and stoppage details through official channels before commencing their journey. The deployment of additional ticket counters at the temple site is a proactive step to prevent overcrowding at the station’s main booking windows.