Sabarimala 2026-27: Dates, Virtual Queue Booking and Rules
Season dates, free virtual queue booking steps, daily quotas, routes, rules and a packing list for the Sabarimala Mandala-Makaravilakku 2026-27 pilgrimage.
The Sabarimala Mandala-Makaravilakku season for 2026-27 is reported to begin with the temple opening on the evening of 16 November 2026, with Mandala Pooja expected on 27 December 2026 and Makaravilakku expected on 14 January 2027. Virtual queue booking opened on 29 October 2026 on the official portal and is free. This guide brings together the dates, booking steps, daily quotas, routes, rules and a packing list, with clear notes on what the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has yet to confirm.
Updated October 2026. As of 31 October 2026, the TDB had not published a full season calendar online. Dates below come from news reports and the traditional Malayalam calendar. Always confirm on the official Travancore Devaswom Board website before you travel.
Key Takeaways
- Temple opening for the season: evening of 16 November 2026 (reported); Mandala season counted from 17 November, Vrischikam 1.
- Mandala Pooja: expected 27 December 2026. Makaravilakku: expected 14 January 2027. Both await TDB confirmation.
- Virtual queue booking is free on sabarimalaonline.org. Reported daily online quota: 66,000 across three routes, plus 14,000 spot bookings.
- The Pamba spot booking centre has been discontinued on Kerala High Court orders. Spot booking is reported at Nilakkal, Erumeli and Vandiperiyar.
- Carry your QR pass, the ID used for booking, and an irumudi packed without plastic.
Sabarimala 2026-27: key dates at a glance
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual queue booking opens | 29 October 2026, 10 am | Reported by ETV Bharat |
| Temple (nada) opens for Mandala season | 16 November 2026, evening | Reported; awaiting TDB calendar |
| Mandala season begins (Vrischikam 1) | 17 November 2026 | Traditional calendar |
| Mandala Pooja | 27 December 2026 (expected) | To be confirmed by TDB |
| Temple reopens for Makaravilakku | 30 December 2026 (expected) | To be confirmed by TDB |
| Makaravilakku / Makara Jyothi | 14 January 2027 (expected) | To be confirmed by TDB |
| Season closes | Around 20 January 2027 (expected) | To be confirmed by TDB |
A note on Makaravilakku: the Sun’s transit into Makara (Capricorn) in 2027 falls on the night of 14 January, at 9:14 pm IST according to Drik Panchang, which is why many calendars list Makar Sankranti itself on 15 January. Most Sabarimala-focused sources expect Makaravilakku on 14 January. If your plans depend on this date, wait for the TDB announcement before booking non-refundable travel.
Understanding the season
Sabarimala’s main pilgrimage season has two parts. The Mandala period runs for 41 days from the first day of the Malayalam month of Vrischikam and ends with Mandala Pooja. The temple then closes for a few days and reopens for the Makaravilakku festival, which centres on Makara Sankranti in mid-January. The temple also opens for the first few days of every Malayalam month, but the Mandala-Makaravilakku season draws by far the largest crowds.
Many devotees observe a 41-day vratham before the pilgrimage: wearing the mala, dressing simply in black, blue or saffron, following a vegetarian diet, abstaining from alcohol and tobacco, and living a disciplined routine. If you plan to observe the full vratham and want to reach Sabarimala during the Mandala period, you would typically start around the beginning of the season or earlier, depending on your travel date. Follow the guidance of your guru swami.
How to book the Sabarimala virtual queue
Booking a virtual queue slot is mandatory for an organised darshan and is free. Use only the official portal, sabarimalaonline.org. Avoid lookalike sites and agents who charge for “VIP” slots.
What you need, according to the steps published by ETV Bharat when booking opened:
- An active mobile number and email ID
- A valid photo ID: Aadhaar, Voter ID or passport
- A clear passport-size photo under 30 KB, saved on the device you are booking from
- The same details and photos for any co-pilgrims you add
Step by step
- Register on sabarimalaonline.org with your name, mobile number, email and a password, and verify the OTP. Returning users can log in directly.
- Enter your personal details, choose your ID type, enter the ID number and upload your photo.
- Select the Virtual Queue or Darshan option. Dates shown in green have slots; red dates are full.
- Pick your date, a morning or evening time slot, and your route, such as Pamba, Erumeli or Vandiperiyar.
- Add accompanying devotees with their photo and ID, within the portal’s group limit.
- Confirm the booking and download the QR-code pass as a PDF. Save it on your phone and carry a printout.
The portal invites optional donations of Rs 5 or more to pilgrim relief and general funds. These are voluntary and not needed to complete a booking.
Book early for peak days. Slots around weekends, the first week of the season, Mandala Pooja and the days before Makaravilakku fill fast. In past seasons, the board has asked pilgrims to arrive on their booked date, as crowd control depends on it.
Daily quotas and spot booking for 2026-27
| Route or centre | Type | Reported daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Nilakkal – Pamba | Online virtual queue | 60,000 |
| Erumeli forest route | Online virtual queue | 3,000 |
| Vandiperiyar – Sathram route | Online virtual queue | 3,000 |
| Nilakkal | Spot booking | 10,000 |
| Erumeli | Spot booking | 2,000 |
| Vandiperiyar Sathram | Spot booking | 2,000 |
| Pamba | Spot booking | Discontinued (Kerala High Court order) |
That adds up to about 80,000 pilgrims a day, as reported in late October 2026. Quotas have been changed during past seasons in response to crowds and court directions; in 2025 the High Court capped spot bookings at 5,000 a day for a period. Do not plan on getting a spot booking on a peak day. Book online.
Routes to Sannidhanam
Pamba route (most pilgrims)
Private vehicles are parked at Nilakkal base camp, from where KSRTC buses run to Pamba. From Pamba, the trek to Sannidhanam via Neelimala and Marakoottam is roughly 5 km of steep, paved path. Most fit adults take two to four hours, depending on crowds and rests.
Erumeli traditional forest route
The traditional Peruvazhi route from Erumeli crosses forest and hills, including Karimala, and takes much longer. It is physically demanding and has its own time restrictions on forest entry. Only attempt it if you are fit, in a group with experienced pilgrims, and booked on the Erumeli quota.
Vandiperiyar – Sathram (Pulmedu) route
This route from the Idukki side is a forest trek with a separate quota. Forest timings and weather can restrict access, so check current rules before starting.
Getting there
Chengannur and Kottayam railway stations are the most common railheads, with special KSRTC services to Pamba during the season. The nearest major airports are Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi. Allow extra time for road traffic near Nilakkal on peak days.
Choosing your date: how to avoid the worst crowds
Your experience at Sabarimala depends heavily on the day you choose. Waiting times on the busiest days can stretch for many hours, while quieter days move much faster. A few patterns hold most seasons:
- Busiest: the first few days after the temple opens, weekends and public holidays, the days around Mandala Pooja, and the week leading up to Makaravilakku.
- Quieter: weekdays in the middle of the Mandala period, especially early December, outside school holidays.
- Time of day: early morning slots are popular because of the cooler weather; afternoon slots can sometimes be easier to get.
If you are travelling with elderly parents or young children, pick a mid-week date in the middle of the season and accept a slightly less auspicious day in exchange for a safer, calmer visit. The Christmas and New Year holidays also tend to be busy.
The portal shows availability by colour, so check several dates before you decide. Once you book, plan your travel to arrive at Nilakkal comfortably before your slot, not after it.
Rules and customs to know
- Booking and ID: Carry the QR pass and the original ID you used for booking. Checks happen at Nilakkal and Pamba.
- Irumudi and the 18 steps: By tradition, only pilgrims carrying the irumudi kettu climb the Pathinettampadi (18 holy steps). Others use the alternative path.
- No plastic: Plastic is banned in the Sabarimala area. Pack the irumudi and your bag without plastic covers or bottles; use cloth bags and steel bottles.
- Entry of women: The temple has traditionally not admitted women aged 10 to 50. The matter is before a larger bench of the Supreme Court. Follow the TDB’s current instructions.
- Follow police and TDB instructions: Queues, holding areas and one-way movement are enforced on crowded days for safety.
- Respect the forest: The temple lies inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve area. Do not litter, light fires or stray off marked paths.
What to carry: a practical packing list
| Category | Items |
|---|---|
| Documents | QR pass (phone and printout), original photo ID, emergency contact card |
| Pooja | Irumudi kettu (no plastic), mala, items as advised by your guru swami |
| Clothing | Two sets of light cotton clothes, a light shawl for the cold early mornings, towel |
| Footwear | Many pilgrims trek barefoot by custom; if you need support, carry socks or simple footwear you can leave at designated points |
| Health | Your regular medicines with prescription, ORS sachets, basic first-aid, glucose or dry fruits |
| Essentials | Steel water bottle, small torch, phone power bank, some cash in small notes |
| Rain | A cloth-safe rain poncho that is not single-use plastic; November can still bring showers in Kerala |
Health and safety tips for the trek
The climb from Pamba is short but steep, and crowds can mean long waits without much space. Elderly pilgrims and anyone with heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or breathing problems should get a medical check-up before the trip and consult their doctor.
- Start walking a few weeks before the pilgrimage to build stamina.
- Climb slowly, rest at the medical and oxygen points along the route if you feel breathless or have chest pain, and tell officials immediately.
- Drink water regularly and eat light meals.
- Keep children close and write your phone number on a card in their pocket.
- Avoid peak days if you are travelling with elderly family members.
In the 2025 season, the TDB extended an accident insurance cover for pilgrims, and reports said the virtual queue booking ID was the basic document needed to claim it. Check with the TDB whether the same cover applies in 2026-27, and keep your booking details safe.
A sample 3-day plan (illustrative)
For example, a group of five from Bengaluru travelling by train might plan:
- Day 1: Overnight train to Chengannur, KSRTC bus or taxi to Nilakkal, then the bus to Pamba. Bath at Pamba, rest.
- Day 2: Start the climb in the booked slot, darshan at Sannidhanam, offerings, descend to Pamba.
- Day 3: Return journey, with a visit to Erumeli or another temple en route if time permits.
Timings depend entirely on your slot and crowd levels, so build in a buffer.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Sabarimala open for the 2026-27 Mandala season?
The temple is reported to open on the evening of 16 November 2026, with the Mandala season counted from 17 November. Confirm on the TDB website, as the official calendar was not published as of 31 October 2026.
When is Makaravilakku 2027?
It is expected on 14 January 2027. The Sun enters Makara on the night of 14 January, at 9:14 pm IST per Drik Panchang, so some calendars list Makar Sankranti on 15 January. Wait for the TDB announcement.
Is Sabarimala virtual queue booking free?
Yes. Booking on sabarimalaonline.org is free. Optional donations are offered on the portal but are not required.
Can I get a spot booking at Pamba?
No. The Kerala High Court discontinued the Pamba spot booking centre. Spot booking is reported at Nilakkal, Erumeli and Vandiperiyar, with daily limits.
What ID is accepted for virtual queue booking?
Aadhaar, Voter ID or passport, as reported for this season. Carry the same original ID that you used to book.
Can I carry plastic in my irumudi?
No. Plastic is banned in the Sabarimala area. Use cloth bags and pack offerings without plastic wrapping.
Before you leave home
Book your slot early, save the QR pass, check the TDB website for the confirmed calendar and any new rules, and pack light and plastic-free. Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa, and have a safe pilgrimage.
