Lord Ayyappa (Dharma Sastha) · Kerala
Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple
The hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa above Pampa, reached by a marked ascent to Sannidhanam; the 18 sacred steps are a distinct, Irumudi-governed approach at the temple. Sabarimala opens on announced pilgrimage and pooja dates rather than throughout the year. Kerala's pilgrim instructions direct the ascent from Pampa through Marakoottam, Saramkuthy and Nadapanthal to Sannidhanam. At the temple, access to the 18 sacred steps depends on carrying the Irumudi kettu; other devotees use a different passage.
About Pathanamthitta.
The record1 min read→Its founding — An ancient forest shrine; the present structure was rebuilt after the 1950 fire.
A verified route inside Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is not recorded here yet.
Start with what the shrine and its map can tell you.
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)
What devotees come for
- The Pathinettampadi, the 18 sacred steps, with Irumudi-based entry guidance
- The Mandala-Makara season and other announced opening dates
- The 41-day Mandala Vrutham observance described in Kerala's pilgrim guidance
- The marked ascent via Marakoottam, Saramkuthy and Nadapanthal
- Sought as a refuge from the travails of life
Recorded timings
- Opens
- 05:00 (seasonal)
- Morning aarti
- 05:05 — Nirmmallya Darsan
- Closed on
- The temple does not open year-round. Outside the Mandala-Makara season, opening days depend on the Board's announced pooja and festival calendar. Check current dates with Travancore Devaswom Board before travel.
These hours are a reference, not a live schedule. Confirm current timings with the temple authority before travel.
How to book
Steps
- Visit official site https://sabarimalaonline.org/
- Complete pilgrim registration with valid mobile number
- Log in using registered Email ID or Mobile number
- Select Virtual Q for darshan
- Choose an available date and slot
- Confirm booking and save the generated ticket/reference
What you'll need
- Valid mobile number
- Email ID for login
- Mandatory pilgrim registration before booking
For pooja or accommodation, use the separate official links on sabarimala.kerala.gov.in; avoid third-party booking apps.
Book on the official site ↗Last checked: Sep 28, 2026
Stay aware
What visitors and officials have reported
3 things people have run into at Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple. Every line below comes from a page we opened and read ourselves. We name no individual.
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Online, before you travel
Look-alike booking sites and apps
A look-alike website appearing in Google searches offered guest-house rooms at Sabarimala and listed phone numbers for advance payment. Pathanamthitta Cyber Police said some devotees may have paid for rooms that were not real.
What to do. Do not book rooms from unknown sites that appear in a general web search. Use Travancore Devaswom Board guest houses and the Board’s own booking channels, and confirm any number against official temple or police listings.
Read the 4 sources
“A fake website deceiving Lord Ayyappa devotees by promising guest house facilities at Sabarimala has been detected, police said on Saturday.”
Deccan Chronicle · Reported in the news · 29 November 2025 · we opened this page on 10 September 2026
“The website–sannidanamguesthouse.in–offered guest house facilities for Ayyappa devotees in Sabarimala, they said.”
CNBC TV18 · Reported in the news · 29 November 2025 · we opened this page on 10 September 2026
“A fake website that duped Lord Ayyappa devotees by offering non-existent guest house facilities at Sabarimala has been detected, police said on Saturday.”
Mathrubhumi · Reported in the news · 29 November 2025 · we opened this page on 10 September 2026
“Pathanamthitta Cyber Police registered a case on Friday and launched an investigation into the fake website, officials said.”
Vartha Bharati · Reported in the news · 29 November 2025 · we opened this page on 10 September 2026
Around the temple
Charges to leave shoes, phones or bags
The cloakroom contractor at Pamba charged about ₹100 a bag and often gave no receipt, above the tendered locker rate of ₹30 for 24 hours. The Kerala High Court ordered strict action and multilingual rate boards.
What to do. Check the posted locker and viri rates in English or Malayalam before you pay, and ask for a receipt. The tendered locker charge is ₹30 for 24 hours; do not pay a higher cash demand without a voucher.
Read the 3 sources
“The grievance projected was that a fee of Rs 100 was collected for each bag, but no receipts or vouchers were being issued to the pilgrims for the said amount.”
Verdictum · Reported in the news · 27 August 2025 · we opened this page on 10 September 2026
“Under the tender terms, the charge for a locker was ₹30 per 24 hours, and the fee for space for placing viri was fixed at ₹50 per head.”
24Law · Reported in the news · 28 August 2025 · we opened this page on 10 September 2026
“A fee of ₹100 per bag was being collected without issuing receipts or vouchers, contrary to the tender terms.”
CaseMine · Visitors report · 28 August 2025 · we opened this page on 10 September 2026
On the road in
“VIP” and “quick darshan” passes
Dolly carriers on the trek have offered to take pilgrims straight for darshan and skip the queue, then collected a large cash payment and left them before the shrine. Pamba police treated this as cheating and asked the Board to cancel the workers’ dolly permits.
What to do. Use a licensed dolly only to be carried up the hill, not as a way around the queue, and agree the fare in writing before you start. If someone on the path sells a shortcut to darshan, walk on and report it to Pamba police or Travancore Devaswom Board vigilance.
Read the 3 sources
“Amid the heavy rush at Sabarimala, the accused approached the group near Marakoottam and offered to take them directly for darshan, bypassing the queue.”
The Hindu · Reported in the news · 30 October 2025 · we opened this page on 10 September 2026
“They promised easy and quick darshan access in exchange for Rs 10,000, only to abandon the devotees midway.”
The Times of India · Reported in the news · 31 October 2025 · we opened this page on 10 September 2026
“Claiming that there was heavy rush at the temple, the dolly workers convinced the devotees that they could reach the sanctum without standing in line if they used the dolly service.”
Sabarimala Uptodate · Visitors report · 30 October 2025 · we opened this page on 10 September 2026
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Questions devotees ask
- Where is Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple?
- Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is recorded at Pathanamthitta, Kerala.
- Who is the presiding deity at Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple?
- The presiding deity recorded for Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is Lord Ayyappa (Dharma Sastha).
- What are the darshan timings at Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple?
- Opens: 05:00 (seasonal). Morning aarti: 05:05 — Nirmmallya Darsan. Closed on: The temple does not open year-round. Outside the Mandala-Makara season, opening days depend on the Board's announced pooja and festival calendar. Check current dates with Travancore Devaswom Board before travel. Source checked 2026-10-04. Confirm the current schedule with the shrine before you travel.
- What does a visit to Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple cost?
- As printed by the source: Vehicle parking at Nilakkal without a FASTag (from the 2026-27 Mandala-Makara Vilakku season): +25% surcharge on the normal parking charge. Confirm current amounts with the shrine.
Keep this shrine close
We do not sell darshan.Here is the temple’s own desk.
Temple World keeps the record. The timing, the ticket and the entry rule are the shrine’s to publish — read them there before you travel, and treat anything on this page as a reference only.
- The shrine’s own sitetravancoredevaswomboard.orgToday’s hours, and any entry ruleOpen ↗
- Published enquiry line0471-2317983 (Travancore Devaswom Board EPABX)As published by the shrine. Confirm before you rely on itEnquiry
- Darshan optionsRecord a request for helpNo payment is taken. A request is not a bookingReference
- Plan the visitSourced guidance, cited line by lineEvery section there names the page it was read fromPlanner
- The rite referencesNo online service is recorded for this templeBrowse the rites we do hold a reference forBrowse