Sabarimala itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Sabarimala

1. 01

   Day 1: Pamba, climb and darshan

   Reach Pamba early, bathe in the river and pray at the Ganapathy temple. Begin the climb via Neelimala, Appachimedu and Saramkuthi, resting regularly, then join the queue to the eighteen steps or the north gate. After darshan, visit the Malikappuram shrine and the prasadam counters, and return to Pamba by the designated route. Plan the day around your booked slot and the Board's notices.

Plan 02

2 days in Sabarimala

1. 01

   Day 1: Pamba and the Sannidhanam

   Do the ritual bath, the climb and darshan as in the one-day plan, then see the Malikappuram shrine and take prasadam. If you can, stay on the hill or nearby so you do not descend in the dark.

2. 02

   Day 2: Gateway towns

   Visit Erumely to see the Petta temple and the Vavar mosque, then drive towards Pandalam to see the Valiyakoikkal temple on the Achankovil river.

Plan 03

3 days in Sabarimala

1. 01

   Day 1: Nilakkal and Pamba

   Arrive at Nilakkal, take the chain bus to Pamba and rest. Bathe and visit the Ganapathy temple, and keep the climb for the next morning.

2. 02

   Day 2: The climb and darshan

   Start early up Neelimala. Visit Saramkuthi, join the queue, take darshan, see Malikappuram and collect prasadam.

3. 03

   Day 3: Pandalam and Aranmula

   Drive to Pandalam for the palace and Valiyakoikkal temple, then to Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple on the Pamba.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple	1 to 2 hours	Easy	Mandalam season for pilgrim activity; Onam for the boat race

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Sabarimala trip for parents and children

• Choose a monthly opening day over the festival season if possible; queues are far shorter.
• Rest five minutes after every ten minutes of climbing, as the Board advises, and carry water.
• Hire a doli only at the official Devaswom counter and keep the receipt.
• Children, elders and girls are asked to wear an ID card with contact details during the season.
• Do not start the climb at midday or in rain; the trail is slippery.
• Arrive at least three hours before your virtual-queue slot, as the 2025-26 guidance advised.

Sabarimala with elderly parents: the full guide →