NOV 16–JAN 20
Sabarimala Mandala Makaravilakku Season
Sabarimala opens for the Mandala season from 16 November to 27 December 2026 and again for Makaravilakku from 30 December 2026 to 20 January 2027, with Makara Jyothi on 14 January.
Sabarimala, Pathanamthitta district, Kerala
The Sree Dharma Sastha temple at Sabarimala, in the forested hills of Pathanamthitta district, opens for its main pilgrimage season every winter. Millions of Ayyappa devotees make the trek after 41 days of vratham, many carrying the irumudi kettu on their heads and chanting "Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa" on the climb from Pamba.
For 2026 to 2027, the temple opens for Mandala Pooja at 5 pm on 16 November and closes on 27 December after the Mandala Pooja. It reopens on 30 December for the Makaravilakku festival. Makaravilakku day, when the Makara Jyothi is sighted on Ponnambalamedu, is 14 January 2027, and the temple closes for the season on 20 January 2027.
Darshan during the season needs a Virtual Queue booking on the Travancore Devaswom Board portal, so book your slot before you travel and carry the coupon with a photo ID. The nearest railheads are Chengannur and Kottayam, and KSRTC runs buses to Pamba via Nilakkal, where private vehicles are parked. The walk from Pamba to Sannidhanam is about 5 km uphill. Crowds peak in the last week of December and around Makaravilakku.
The Sree Dharma Sastha temple at Sabarimala, in the forested hills of Pathanamthitta district, opens for its main pilgrimage season every winter. Millions of Ayyappa devotees make the trek after 41 days of vratham, many carrying the irumudi kettu on their heads and chanting "Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa" on the climb from Pamba.
For 2026 to 2027, the temple opens for Mandala Pooja at 5 pm on 16 November and closes on 27 December after the Mandala Pooja. It reopens on 30 December for the Makaravilakku festival. Makaravilakku day, when the Makara Jyothi is sighted on Ponnambalamedu, is 14 January 2027, and the temple closes for the season on 20 January 2027.
Darshan during the season needs a Virtual Queue booking on the Travancore Devaswom Board portal, so book your slot before you travel and carry the coupon with a photo ID. The nearest railheads are Chengannur and Kottayam, and KSRTC runs buses to Pamba via Nilakkal, where private vehicles are parked. The walk from Pamba to Sannidhanam is about 5 km uphill. Crowds peak in the last week of December and around Makaravilakku.
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