Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple
Sabarimala, Perunad, Pathanamthitta district (inside Periyar Tiger Reserve) · Lord Ayyappa (Dharma Sastha), seated in yogic posture with a band (pattabandham) around his knees
A forest hill shrine reached on foot after a 41-day vow, open only in season.
Sabarimala, about 1,260 m up in the Western Ghats inside Periyar Tiger Reserve, is one of the largest annual pilgrimages in the world, with tens of lakhs of pilgrims each season. The temple is open only for the Mandala-Makaravilakku season (mid-November to mid-January), Vishu, and the first five days of every Malayalam month. Pilgrims traditionally observe a 41-day vratham (vow of austerity), carry the irumudi (two-part bundle) on their heads, climb the 18 holy steps and pour ghee on the deity. Virtual Queue booking is mandatory in season.
Timings
- Season: Mandala: about 16 Nov – 27 Dec 2026 (Mandala Pooja about 27 Dec). Makaravilakku: about 30 Dec 2026 – 20 Jan 2027, Makaravilakku on 14 Jan 2027. Provisional – confirm on sabarimalaonline.org.
- Monthly openings: First 5 days of each Malayalam month (opens the evening before), plus Vishu (April) and the Prathishta (installation) anniversary.
- Daily (in season): approx. 3:00 AM – 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM
- Note: On very crowded days the Board may keep the temple open longer. Timings during monthly poojas differ: the TDB's published monthly-pooja timetable is opening 5:00 AM, Ucha Pooja 12:30 PM, closing 1:00 PM; Deeparadhana 6:30 PM, Harivarasanam 9:50 PM.
Darshan types and costs
- Virtual Queue (Virtual-Q) – Free (mandatory in season)
- Spot booking – Free
- Darshan through offerings – Varies
Sevas and costs
- Neyyabhishekam (ghee abhishekam) – ₹10 per mudra (one ghee coconut) at the counter; pilgrims mostly bring their own ghee in the irumudi (Daily in season, approx. 3:30 AM to about 11:00 AM – 12:00 noon)
- Padi Pooja – ₹1,37,900 (TDB official rate list) (Evening after Deeparadhana on selected days (mainly monthly-pooja days and some season…)
- Udayasthamana Pooja – ₹61,800 (TDB official rate list) (Full day, sunrise to sunset)
- Kalabhabhishekam – ₹38,400 (Around noon before Ucha Pooja)
- Pushpabhishekam – ₹12,500 (Evening, after Deeparadhana)
- Sahasrakalasam – ₹91,250 (materials to be supplied by the sponsor) (On allotted days)
- Ashtabhishekam – ₹6,000 (Mornings)
- Ulsavabali – ₹37,500 (On allotted days)
- Lakshaarchana – ₹12,500 (On allotted days)
- Thanka Anki Charthu (golden attire) / Velli Anki Charthu – ₹15,000 (gold); ₹6,250 (silver) (On allotted days)
- Nithya Pooja / Usha Pooja / Ucha Pooja – ₹4,000 / ₹1,500 / ₹3,000 (Daily)
- Ganapathi Homam – ₹375 (Sannidhanam); approx. ₹325 (Pamba) (Early morning)
- Thulabharam – ₹625 fee plus material (During darshan hours)
- Kettunira (packing the irumudi) – approx. ₹300 at Pamba (₹200 if you bring your own materials) (Before the journey; also possible at Pamba)
How to book darshan
Virtual Queue booking on sabarimalaonline.org is mandatory and free in season. Poojas and Sannidhanam accommodation are booked separately on the TDB portal onlinetdb.com (opened for the 2025 season on 5 November). Carry the same original photo ID used for booking.
Sabarimala Virtual Queue (official)
Dress code
Pilgrims wear black, blue or saffron mundu and shirt or upper cloth, with the Tulasi or Rudraksha mala worn from the start of the vratham. Footwear is traditionally avoided on the trek by many, but sturdy footwear is allowed and sensible. Inside the Sannidhanam, modest traditional dress.
Best time to visit
The main season (mid-November to mid-January) is the traditional time. The first weeks of the Mandala season and weekdays are less crowded than late December and the Makaravilakku days. Monthly openings outside the season are far quieter but still need Virtual-Q booking.
How to reach
- air: Thiruvananthapuram (TRV, about 170 km) or Kochi (COK, about 160 km). Taxis and KSRTC buses go to Pamba.
- rail: Chengannur (about 90 km) is the main 'Sabarimala station', with special KSRTC buses to Pamba in season. Kottayam (about 115 km) and Thiruvalla are alternatives.
- road: Private vehicles must park at Nilakkal (about 22 km before Pamba) in season; KSRTC chain buses run Nilakkal – Pamba. From Pamba the trek to Sannidhanam is about 5 km uphill via Neelimala, Appachimedu, Sabaripeedam and Saramkuthi (2–4 hours), or the gentler Swami Ayyappan Road.
Festivals
- Mandala Pooja – About 27 December (end of the 41-day Mandala season; 2026 date to be confirmed)
- Makaravilakku – 14 January (Makara Sankranti); 14 Jan 2027
- Erumely Petta Thullal – About 11 January
- Vishu – Mid-April
- Monthly poojas – First 5 days of each Malayalam month