Your visit

Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha TempleLaid out in the order pilgrims move through it.

Pathanamthitta, Kerala · Lord Ayyappa (Dharma Sastha). The stops below are the shrines, gates and halls of the place itself, in the order pilgrims move through them.

You wroteSabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple

The visit, in the order the place takes it

Our suggestion is two days here. How long to stay is our suggestion, not a temple-published figure. No shrine publishes a length of visit — group the stops to suit your own party.

First

confirm the opening and approach the hill

Nilakkal base campThe Kerala government describes a chain bus service towards Pampa. Confirm current transport and crowd controls before leaving the base camp.
Source: Kerala Information and Public Relations Department · read 2026-10-01
PampaCheck the prevailing crowd situation before proceeding towards Sannidhanam, as the government's pilgrim instructions advise.
Source: Kerala Information and Public Relations Department · read 2026-10-01
MarakoottamStay on the marked traditional ascent named by the Kerala government's pilgrim instructions.
Source: Kerala Information and Public Relations Department · read 2026-10-01
SaramkuthyContinue on the published ascent towards Nadapanthal; follow current route and security directions on site.
Source: Kerala Information and Public Relations Department · read 2026-10-01

NadapanthalFollow the marked approach and official queue towards Pathinettampadi rather than trying to pass around it.
Sources: Kerala Information and Public Relations Department · read 2026-10-01; Kerala Information and Public Relations Department · read 2026-10-01
PathinettampadiFollow the queue and ask shrine staff which entry route applies to your party; do not assume access to the sacred steps.
Source: Kerala Information and Public Relations Department · read 2026-10-01
SannidhanamDarshan of Lord Ayyappa at the hilltop shrine. It is not open throughout the year, so confirm the announced opening and Virtual-Q before travelling.
Sources: Kerala Information and Public Relations Department · read 2026-10-01; Travancore Devaswom Board · read 2026-10-01
MalikappuramThe Kerala government lists Malikapurathamma among Sabarimala's upadevatas. Add this stop only if the current route permits.
Source: Kerala Information and Public Relations Department · read 2026-10-01
Nadapanthal return fly-overUse the published return route rather than walking back through the entry queue.
Source: Kerala Information and Public Relations Department · read 2026-10-01

Before you go

THE RITE

Irumudi Kettu

At Prepared under a Guru Swami's guidance before the pilgrimage

For pilgrims who observe it, the government describes a two-compartment bundle with a ghee-filled coconut and other offerings. Confirm your practice with a Guru Swami rather than assuming a shrine-entry entitlement.

Source: Kerala Information and Public Relations Department · read 2026-10-01

THE GIVING

Where a gift goes

The Kerala government describes the Board's Annadhana Trust for pilgrim food service, but this guide has no verified current online payment destination. Confirm the recipient and channel directly with the Board; Temple World collects no donation. Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Annadhana Trust (Travancore Devaswom Board)

Source: Kerala Information and Public Relations Department · read 2026-10-01

The town around the shrine

The Kerala government names Kottayam and Chengannur as railheads from which pilgrims continue by road to Pampa; check current onward services.
Nilakkal and Pampa are separate base camps with a government-listed chain service between them; do not assume a vehicle can continue to the hill shrine.
Sabarimala does not open year-round. Check the Board's current calendar and Virtual-Q status before fixing travel or accommodation.

Sources: Kerala Information and Public Relations Department · read 2026-10-01; Kerala Information and Public Relations Department · read 2026-10-01; Travancore Devaswom Board · read 2026-10-01

Practical details from published sources

Check the linked source before travelling, booking or giving. These hand-offs stay with the shrine's own body.

Access at the shrine

The government's instructions mention Dolly assistance. If using it, pay only at the Devaswom counter and keep the receipt; confirm availability with officials on the day.

Source: Kerala Information and Public Relations Department · read 2026-10-01

Official hand-offs

Kerala government Sabarimala visitor guidance ↗ · Kerala Information and Public Relations Department
Sources: Kerala Information and Public Relations Department · read 2026-10-01; Kerala Information and Public Relations Department · read 2026-10-01
Travancore Devaswom Board Sabarimala calendar and notices ↗ · Travancore Devaswom Board
Source: Travancore Devaswom Board · read 2026-10-01
Official Sabarimala Virtual-Q ↗ · Travancore Devaswom Board
Source: Travancore Devaswom Board · read 2026-10-01

What the shrine itself publishes

Every line below was read off a page the trust runs, on the day named beside it. Timings and fees change. Check the source before you travel.

When to go

Morning: temple opens 5:00 am, Nirmmalya Darsan 5:05 am, Ganapathi Homam 5:30 am, Neyyabhishekam 5:30–7:00 am, Usha Pooja 7:30 am, Ucha Pooja 12:30 pm, closes 1:00 pm. Evening: opens with Deeparadhana at 6:30 pm, Padipooja & Pushpabhishekam 6:45 pm, Harivarasanam 9:50 pm, closes after Harivarasanam.

Source: Travancore Devaswom Board — Sabarimala Pooja Timing · read 2026-08-27

What to do

Online Virtual-Q booking is mandatory for all pilgrims visiting Sabarimala (homepage banner announcement).

Source: Travancore Devaswom Board — homepage banner · read 2026-08-27

What things cost

Vehicle parking at Nilakkal without a FASTag (from the 2026-27 Mandala-Makara Vilakku season) — +25% surcharge on the normal parking charge

Source: Travancore Devaswom Board — homepage notification · read 2026-08-27

This plan is free, and nothing on this page is sold. We work out the visit, then hand you to the temple's own desk.

The plan ends hereand the temple takes it from you.

A booking, a seva, a room, a fee — every one of those is the shrine's own, taken at its own counter or on its own site. We do not stand between you and it, and we take nothing from what you give.

Open the temple page The shrine's own site

Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha TempleLaid out in the order pilgrims move through it.

The visit, in the order the place takes it

confirm the opening and approach the hill

the shrine and the marked return

Before you go

Irumudi Kettu

Where a gift goes

The town around the shrine

Practical details from published sources

Access at the shrine

Official hand-offs

What the shrine itself publishes

When to go

What to do

What things cost

The plan ends hereand the temple takes it from you.

Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha TempleLaid out in the order pilgrims move through it.

The visit, in the order the place takes it

confirm the opening and approach the hill

the shrine and the marked return

Before you go

Irumudi Kettu

Where a gift goes

The town around the shrine

Practical details from published sources

Access at the shrine

Official hand-offs

What the shrine itself publishes

When to go

What to do

What things cost

The plan ends hereand the temple takes it from you.