Sabarimala Yatra 2026-27: Dates, Opening Schedule and Makaravilakku Date

Sabarimala Yatra 2026-27 begins on Monday, 16 November 2026, when the sanctum of the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple opens at 5 PM. For the next two months, the hill above Pamba in Pathanamthitta district hears one chant through the day and night, “Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa”. Devotees in black mundus climb with the Irumudi Kettu on their heads, and the smell of camphor and burning ghee hangs over Sannidhanam late into the night.Plan your journey with our taxi service in Sabarimala for convenient travel.

A Sabarimala trip needs more planning than a train ticket. The temple opens only in fixed windows, darshan needs a Virtual-Q pass, and private vehicles stop at Nilakkal, 18 km short of Pamba. Opening and closing dates, the Mandala Pooja day, the Makaravilakku 2027 date, monthly pooja windows, Vratham rules, darshan booking and the Pamba to Sannidhanam trek are the details that shape your Lord Ayyappa pilgrimage 2026-27. Our drivers make the Nilakkal trip all through the season, and the local tips in each section come from what they see on these roads.

Sabarimala Yatra 2026-27 Dates at a Glance

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) sets the Sabarimala temple calendar 2026-27 by the Malayalam calendar. Each season opens on the eve of Vrischikam 1 and closes six days after Makara Sankramam.

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Sabarimala Temple Opening and Closing Schedule 2026-27

Sabarimala Temple Opening Date November 2026

Nada opening is at 5 PM on 16 November 2026. The new Sabarimala Melsanthi, A.S. Sankaran Namboothiri of Thiruvananthapuram, takes charge that evening. A. Damodaran Namboothiri of Vadakara takes over at Malikappuram. Both were picked by lot at Sannidhanam on 18 October 2026.

Darshan for pilgrims begins the same evening. Regular Mandala poojas start at 3 AM on 17 November, the first day of Vrischikam.

Short Closure After Mandala Pooja

The temple closes after Harivarasanam on the night of 27 December. It stays shut on 28 and 29 December and reopens at 5 PM on 30 December for the Makaravilakku season. Devotees believe Lord Ayyappa remains in meditation as a Naishtika Brahmachari, which is why the shrine opens only for set periods in the year.

Sabarimala Temple Closing Date 2027

The season closes on Wednesday, 20 January 2027. Pilgrim darshan ends on the night of 19 January, after the Guruthi ritual at Malikappuram. On the closing morning, only the representative of the Pandalam royal family has darshan before the Melsanthi shuts the nada and hands over the keys.

If you want to reach Sannidhanam at the tail end of the season, plan your darshan for 19 January at the latest.

Sabarimala Mandala Pooja 2026 Date and Rituals

Mandala Kalam 2026 covers 41 days, beginning 17 November and ending with Mandala Pooja on Sunday, 27 December 2026. For devotees who wore the mala on Vrischikam 1, this day completes their 41-day Vratham.

• The Thanka Anki, the golden attire gifted by the Travancore royal family in 1973, travels in procession from Aranmula Parthasarathy temple.
• It reaches Sannidhanam on the evening of 26 December, and the deity is adorned with it for the Deeparadhana.
• Mandala Pooja takes place during the noon Ucha Pooja on 27 December, with the idol in the Thanka Anki.

Crowds peak in the final week before Mandala Pooja. Last season, TDB released Virtual-Q slots for 26 and 27 December only on 11 December 2025, so we suggest watching the portal from early December. The opening week is no quieter. In November 2025, the Kerala High Court capped spot bookings at 5,000 a day after the crowd at Sannidhanam crossed one lakh pilgrims daily.

Makaravilakku 2027 Kab Hai, Date, Time and Meaning

Makaravilakku 2027 falls on Thursday, 14 January 2027. This is Makara Sankramam, the day the sun enters Makaram (Capricorn), and it is the biggest evening of the Sabarimala pilgrimage season.

Makaravilakku Date and Time 2027

Makaravilakku and Makarajyothi Are Not the Same

People use the two words as one, but they mean different things. Makarajyothi is the star that rises in the eastern sky on Makara Sankranti evening. Makaravilakku is the lamp lit three times on Ponnambalamedu, a hill across the valley from Sannidhanam, as the Deeparadhana ends.

Devotees see both within minutes, and the whole hill goes quiet before the chant of “Saranam” breaks out again.

Thiruvabharanam Procession from Pandalam

The sacred ornaments of Lord Ayyappa are kept at Valiyakoikkal temple in Pandalam. Three caskets leave on 12 January 2027, carried on foot by bearers chosen by the Pandalam royal family. The group walks through Kozhencherry, Ranni and forest paths over three days.

Sabarimala Makarajyothi Viewing Places 2027

Kerala Police sets up ten official viewing points every year. These are the spots pilgrims use most:

• Sannidhanam and Pandithavalam, where devotees camp a day in advance.
• Marakoottam, Saramkuthi and the Malikappuram grounds, all inside the temple area.
• The Hill Top parking ground at Pamba, under police watch.
• Forest points at Pullumedu, Neelimala, Attathodu, Chalakkayam, Ilavunkal and Angamoozhi.
• Panchalimedu near Kuttikkanam, 70 km away, which gives a clear view only when there are no rain clouds.

Makaravilakku day comes with strict crowd control. In 2026, TDB allowed only 30,000 pilgrims through the Virtual-Q on that day. Police at Pullumedu stopped pilgrims walking on to Sannidhanam after the jyothi in 2025. The road out of Nilakkal jams with buses within minutes of the darshan, so we recommend keeping your return cab for the next morning.

Sabarimala Monthly Pooja Dates 2026-27

Once the season closes, the temple opens for five days at the start of each Malayalam month. These windows are quieter, though Virtual-Q booking is still required. The Thulam pooja in October 2026 crossed 50,000 online bookings within its first two days.

Vishukkani darshan falls on 14 April 2027. TDB will announce the ten-day Painkuni Uthram festival dates closer to the time. Check the Travancore Devaswom Board Sabarimala calendar on the official site before you book.

Sabarimala 41-Day Vratham Starting Date 2026

The Vratham is 41 days of discipline that every devotee completes before climbing the 18 holy steps. Count back 41 days, with your planned darshan day as day 41, and that becomes your Ayyappa mala wearing date.

Ayyappa Mala Wearing Date 2026

Many Guru Swamis pick a Saturday or the Uthram star day for the mala ceremony. The mala, made of tulasi or rudraksha beads, is blessed by a Guru Swami or temple priest before you wear it.

Sabarimala 41-Day Vratham Rules

Devotees follow a simple, strict routine during these six weeks:

• Only vegetarian food, with no alcohol, tobacco, meat or eggs.
• Black, blue or saffron clothes, and many walk barefoot.
• Celibacy for all 41 days.
• A bath and prayer at dawn and dusk, with bhajans in the evening.
• Fellow devotees are called “Swami”, and young girls and older women on the yatra are called “Malikappuram”.

First-time pilgrims are known as Kanni Ayyappans, and they leave a sharam (arrow) at Saramkuthi on the trek.

Packing the Irumudi Kettu

The Irumudi Kettu has two compartments. Its front part, the Munmudi, holds the ghee-filled coconut (Neythenga) and pooja items for the deity. Behind it, the Pinmudi carries the devotee’s own food for the yatra.

A Guru Swami packs it during the Kettunira ceremony at home or at a temple. TDB also keeps a Kettunira centre at Pamba for pilgrims who arrive without one. Only devotees carrying the Irumudi can climb the Pathinettam Padi. Others take the northern gate for darshan.

How to Book Sabarimala Darshan Online through Virtual-Q

Sabarimala Virtual-Q booking is free and compulsory for darshan. TDB handles it on sabarimalaonline.org, and you should avoid third-party sites that charge a fee.

As of 24 October 2026, TDB had not fixed the daily Virtual-Q limit for 2026-27. TDB President K. Jayakumar said the number would be decided after talks with the police. For reference, last season’s booking opened on 1 November 2025 with 70,000 online passes a day.

Steps to Book Sabarimala Virtual Q Tickets 2026

1. Open sabarimalaonline.org and select Virtual-Q.
2. Register with your mobile number and email, then verify the OTP.
3. Upload a recent photo and enter your ID details.
4. Pick your darshan date, time slot and route (Pamba, Erumeli or Vandiperiyar).
5. Add the other pilgrims in your group, up to 10 per booking.
6. Download the QR-coded pass and carry a printed copy as backup.

Documents Required for Sabarimala Darshan Booking

You need an Aadhaar card, voter ID or passport for every adult in the group. The name on the booking must match the ID exactly. Carry the same original ID to the Pamba checkpoint, because police verify it against the pass.

Spot Booking and Reporting Time

Spot booking counters worked at Pamba, Nilakkal, Erumeli, Vandiperiyar, Chengannur and Sathram last season. The cap moved between 5,000 and 20,000 a day, based on crowd levels and court orders.

Your pass’s time slot matters. In November 2025, the Kerala High Court ordered that pilgrims follow the printed slot, and those with a mismatched date were turned back. Our drivers plan the Nilakkal arrival with enough margin for parking, the chain bus queue and the Pamba checkpoint.

Sabarimala Temple Darshan Timings and Pilgrimage Rules

During the Mandala-Makaravilakku season, the temple follows this daily schedule:

TDB extends these hours on heavy days. Before you leave Pamba, check the latest timings on TDB notices or the Ayyan app.

A few Sabarimala pilgrimage rules apply to everyone:

• Plastic is banned at Nilakkal, Pamba and Sannidhanam.
• Throwing clothes or pooja items into the Pamba river is not allowed, and the High Court has warned against it.
• TDB has not approved any helicopter service to Nilakkal, so treat any such booking as fraud.
• Entry rules for women aged 10 to 50 follow the current TDB notice. A nine-judge Supreme Court bench heard the matter in 2026, so check the latest position before you book.

How to Reach Sabarimala Temple

Sabarimala lies inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Pathanamthitta district. Private vehicles go only up to Nilakkal. Last season, cars and vehicles with up to 12 seats could drop pilgrims at Pamba and return to Nilakkal to park. Larger tempo travellers and buses park at Nilakkal itself.

Nilakkal to Pamba and the Pamba to Sannidhanam Trek

• KSRTC chain buses cover the 18 km between Nilakkal and Pamba, leaving every 2 to 5 minutes.
• We suggest buying the return bus ticket at Nilakkal, because the exit queue at Pamba gets long after the 1 PM closing.
• Parking at Nilakkal is paid by FASTag. Cars paid ₹30 and mini buses ₹75 per 24 hours last season, so a topped-up tag before Vadasserikkara saves time at the gate.

The Pamba to Sannidhanam trek covers 5 km uphill. Your path passes Pamba Ganapathi temple, Neelimala, Appachimedu, Sabaripeedam, Saramkuthi and Marakoottam before the Nadapanthal and the 18 steps. Neelimala and Appachimedu are the steepest climbs, so try to pause at the medical and oxygen points along the way. Swami Ayyappan Road is the gentler path, and dolis are available at Pamba for elderly pilgrims at TDB-fixed rates.

Sabarimala by Road from Kochi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad

Pilgrims from Delhi and other northern states fly into Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram, or take a train to Chengannur, and finish the trip by road.

For Sabarimala Yatra 2026-27, we provide sedans, SUVs and tempo travellers, with pickups in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Coimbatore, Bengaluru and Chennai. Fare starts from ₹10/km. Our drivers know the Erumeli and Pathanamthitta roads, the Nilakkal parking bays and the Pamba drop rules, and they wait at Nilakkal while you finish darshan. Groups of 12 or fewer can pick a 12-seater tempo traveller and still get dropped at Pamba. Senior citizens get up to 20% off on pilgrimage trips.

Nearest Railway Station and Airport

• Chengannur, known as the Gateway of Sabarimala, is the main railhead, 90 km from Pamba via Ranni.
• Two other stations serve pilgrims well, Thiruvalla at 86 km and Kottayam at 94 km via Erumeli.
• For flights, Kochi International Airport is the closest at 154 km from Sabarimala.Pilgrims arriving at Kochi can book a Cochin Airport to Sabarimala taxi for convenient onward travel.
• Thiruvananthapuram airport, 170 km away, works for pilgrims taking the Adoor and Pathanamthitta road.

Sabarimala Accommodation near Pamba and Nilakkal

TDB rooms at Sannidhanam can be booked on sabarimalaonline.org under the accommodation tab. At Pamba, last season’s nadapandals and the large German pandal held 10,000 pilgrims at a time. Nilakkal has rest sheds, toilets and the KSRTC hub next to the parking grounds.

For a proper bed the night before, hotels and lodges in Pathanamthitta, Ranni, Erumeli and Kottayam work well. Coming in from Kochi or Kottayam, we suggest a night at Erumeli. You can visit Vavar Palli and the Erumeli Sree Dharma Sastha temple in the evening and reach Nilakkal before dawn the next day.

Sabarimala Yatra 2026-27 FAQs

1. When will Sabarimala Temple open for the 2026–27 Mandala-Makaravilakku season?

Sabarimala temple opens at 5 PM on Monday, 16 November 2026. The new Melsanthi takes charge that evening, and Mandala Kalam poojas begin at 3 AM on 17 November.

2. What are the Sabarimala Yatra 2026–27 opening and closing dates?

Sabarimala Yatra 2026-27 opens on 16 November 2026, and the Mandala phase ends on 27 December. After reopening on 30 December for Makaravilakku, the temple shuts for the season on 20 January 2027.

3. Makaravilakku 2027 kab hai, and what is the exact date of the festival?

Makaravilakku 2027 is on 14 January, a Thursday that coincides with Makara Sankramam. Priests light the lamp at Ponnambalamedu that evening, just after the Deeparadhana at Sannidhanam.

4. When is Mandala Pooja at Sabarimala in 2026?

Mandala Pooja 2026 is on Sunday, 27 December, the 41st day of Mandala Kalam. For the noon pooja, the deity is dressed in the golden Thanka Anki.

5. What is the complete Sabarimala temple opening schedule for 2026–27?

The Mandala season covers 16 November – 27 December 2026, and Makaravilakku season covers 30 December 2026 – 20 January 2027. Monthly poojas follow in Kumbham (12–16 February), Meenam (14–18 March), Vishu (10–19 April) and Edavam (14–18 May 2027).

6. How can I check the official Sabarimala darshan dates and daily timings?

TDB posts official dates and timings on sabarimalaonline.org. In season, darshan is open 3 AM – 1 PM and 3 PM – 11 PM, with extra hours on heavy days.

7. How can I book Sabarimala virtual queue tickets online for the 2026–27 season?

Register on sabarimalaonline.org with your mobile number, add each pilgrim’s photo and ID, and pick a date and time slot. Download the QR pass and keep a printout. Up to 10 pilgrims can share one booking.

8. Is online virtual queue registration mandatory for Sabarimala darshan?

Yes. A Virtual-Q pass is compulsory and free. Spot counters at Pamba, Nilakkal and Erumeli issue limited passes, and the High Court cut them to 5,000 a day in November 2025.

9. When should devotees start the 41-day Mandala Vratham for Sabarimala Yatra 2026?

Count 41 days back, with your darshan date as the last day. Wear the mala on 17 November 2026 for Mandala Pooja, or on 5 December 2026 for Makaravilakku.

10. What are the rules and rituals of the 41-day Ayyappa Swamy Vratham?

Devotees wear a blessed tulasi or rudraksha mala, eat only vegetarian food and give up alcohol and tobacco. Celibacy, black or blue clothes, and prayers at dawn and dusk are part of all 41 days.

11. What is the significance of Mandala Pooja and Makaravilakku at Sabarimala?

Mandala Pooja marks the end of the 41-day penance, with the deity adorned in the Thanka Anki. On Makaravilakku, Lord Ayyappa wears the Thiruvabharanam ornaments brought on foot from Pandalam.

12. What is the difference between Makaravilakku and Makarajyothi?

Makarajyothi is a star seen rising in the eastern sky at dusk on Makara Sankranti. Makaravilakku is a lamp lit three times on Ponnambalamedu hill once the Deeparadhana ends.

13. Where can devotees see Makarajyothi during Sabarimala Makaravilakku 2027?

Police mark ten official viewpoints. Sannidhanam, Pandithavalam, Marakoottam, Pamba Hill Top, Pullumedu and Neelimala are the busiest spots on Makaravilakku evening.

14. What is the significance of the sacred 18 steps at Sabarimala Temple?

The Pathinettam Padi is the flight of 18 steps leading to the sanctum. Devotees link the steps to 18 hills, or to the senses, emotions and gunas a pilgrim leaves behind. Only those carrying the Irumudi may climb it.

15. What is the Irumudi Kettu, and is it required to climb the 18 sacred steps?

Irumudi Kettu is a two-part cloth bundle, with the ghee-filled coconut and pooja items in front and food at the back. Yes, it’s required for the 18 steps. Pilgrims without one use the northern gate.

16. What are the dress code and essential items required for Sabarimala Yatra?

Wear a black, blue or saffron mundu or dhoti. Carry your Irumudi, Virtual-Q pass, original ID, a torch, a raincoat and a steel water bottle, since plastic is banned on the hill.

17. How can I reach Sabarimala Temple from Kochi, Kottayam, or Thiruvananthapuram?

By road, Pamba is 145 km from Kochi via Erumeli, 94 km from Kottayam and 167 km from Thiruvananthapuram via Pathanamthitta. Chiku Cab sends sedans, SUVs and tempo travellers on all three routes.

18. What are the nearest railway stations and airports for Sabarimala pilgrims?

Thiruvalla (86 km), Chengannur (90 km) and Kottayam (94 km) are the closest railway stations. Kochi airport is 154 km away, and Thiruvananthapuram airport is 170 km away.

19. What are the trekking routes, accommodation options, and food facilities available for Sabarimala Yatra?

Most pilgrims walk the 5 km Pamba to Sannidhanam trek, while Swami Ayyappan Road is gentler. TDB rooms, Pamba nadapandals and Nilakkal rest sheds handle stays, and free annadanam meals are served at Sannidhanam.

20. What are the important travel guidelines and crowd-management rules for Sabarimala Makaravilakku 2027?

Book Virtual-Q early, since the Makaravilakku day quota was 30,000 in 2026, and reach Pamba within your printed slot. Follow police barricades at viewpoints, and we suggest planning your return for the next morning.

Abhishek Singh

I’m a wanderer who loves venturing on to unknown and unseen places. I explore freely to various fun and adventurous places, whether it be spiritual temple tours, captivating landscapes, and more. I wonder around in search of hidden gems and tourist attractions, temples, and other places.