Aryankavu railway station (station code: AYV) is a railway station located in the Kollam district of Kerala, India. It serves the small town of Aryankavu, which lies near the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border on the Punalur–Sengottai section. The station is operated by the Thiruvananthapuram railway division of Southern Railway, a zone of Indian Railways.
| Station name | Aryankavu |
|---|---|
| Station code | AYV |
| Location | Aryankavu, Kollam district, Kerala |
| Country | India |
| Operator | Southern Railway |
| Division | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Line | Kollam–Sengottai line |
Location and setting
Aryankavu is situated in the Western Ghats, close to the Aryankavu Pass (also known as the Shenkottai Pass), a historic mountain pass linking Kerala with Tamil Nadu. The surrounding region is forested and forms part of the natural corridor through which the railway line crosses the Ghats. The town is best known for the Sastha temple at Aryankavu, an important pilgrimage site, and the station has traditionally served pilgrims travelling to the temple.
Background
The railway line through Aryankavu originates from the metre gauge line built in the late nineteenth century connecting the timber and trade centres of southern Travancore with Tirunelveli and Madurai in the Madras Presidency. The route, traversing the Western Ghats via the Aryankavu Pass, included tunnels and viaducts to negotiate the difficult terrain.
As part of Indian Railways' Project Unigauge, the metre gauge line through Aryankavu was closed for conversion to broad gauge. The Kollam–Punalur section was reopened on broad gauge earlier, while the more challenging ghat section through Aryankavu and Sengottai required substantial reconstruction of tunnels and bridges. Following completion, broad gauge services were restored on the Punalur–Sengottai stretch, reconnecting Kerala with Tamil Nadu through this route.
Services
Aryankavu is a wayside halt on the Kollam Junction–Sengottai route. Passenger and express trains running between Kollam and destinations in Tamil Nadu such as Sengottai, Tirunelveli and Madurai stop here. The station has limited platform infrastructure consistent with its status as a small halt in a hilly area.
Significance
The station is significant for the local population of the Aryankavu region and for pilgrims visiting the Aryankavu Sastha temple. It also forms part of one of the few rail links across the southern Western Ghats, providing a direct connection between southern Kerala and the southern districts of Tamil Nadu.
Related topics
- Kollam Junction railway station
- Sengottai railway station
- Punalur railway station
- Thiruvananthapuram railway division
- Southern Railway zone
- Aryankavu
- Aryankavu Pass
- Project Unigauge
References
- Wikidata entity: Q20312288
- Indian Railways, Southern Railway zone — official station information.