Sabarimala Ayyappa

Sabarimala is the forest hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa in the Western Ghats of Kerala, inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Devotees observe a 41-day vratham of simple living, wear black or saffron, and carry the irumudi kettu on their heads up the trail from Pamba to climb the eighteen holy steps, the Pathinettam Padi, to the sanctum. Many follow the traditional route through Erumeli, where pilgrims perform the petta thullal and pray at the Vavar mosque.

The temple opens for the Mandala season from about mid-November to late December, again for Makaravilakku until about 20 January, and for the first few days of every Malayalam month. Every pilgrim needs a Virtual-Q slot, booked on the official Sabarimala portal. We help with the booking, arrange vehicles for your whole group as far as Nilakkal, plan rooms around Pathanamthitta, Chengannur or Kottayam, and leave the vratham and irumudi to your guru swami's guidance.