SABARIMALA - Sree Dharma Sastha Temple

Sree Dharma Sastha Temple

Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, is situated in Pathanamthitta District in Kerala.  It is the only hindu temple in Kerala which is open to all caste or religion. 

Sabarimala is believed to be the place where Lord Ayyappa meditated soon after killing the powerful demon “Maharishi”.  The temple is situated in hilltop surrounded by mountains and dense forests.  The temple is open only  for Mandala pooja.

The pilgrims have to strictly follow customs to undertake before Sabarimala pilgrimage. He have to  keep “Brahmacharya vratham” and follow “vegetable food habits” for a period of 41 days to cleanse himself.   To enter the Sabarimala temple, the pilgrim has to pass, pathinettampadi (holy 18 steps). Each of these eighteen holy steps represents a desire one must conquer in life, it is believed.  Pilgrims who carry irumudi kettu (a cloth bundle containing traditional offerings) can climb these steps.

The temple is open to males of all age groups and to women before 10 years of age and after 50 years (after menopause).

The journey to the temple is to be taken through the different paths in the forest as the vehicles can go only up to Pampa-the holy river. The pilgrims of this temple are not only from the southern states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, but also from other parts of the country and abroad.

Sabarimala VirtualQ is an Online Portal for Devotees to book a slot on the separate Queue maintained by Kerala Police. This helps devotees to reach Sannidhanam without waiting in the long queue usually formed at Pampa. The system generate fixed number of coupons for every hour, devotees can plan to reach Pampa on the specified time, and enter on to the queue without any waiting. This dedicated queue will be manned by Kerala Police exclusively for those coming with the VirtualQ coupon. The coupons and ID card will be verified by Kerala Police, before allowing them to enter the Queue.

For Virtual queue coupons Click here.  It is opened up to 19/01/2013.

How to Reach

By Rail
The pilgrims can reach Kottayam & Chengannur by Rail and from there by road to Pampa.

By Air
The pilgrims can reach Thiruvananthapuram International Airport or Kochi International Airport (Nedumbassery) by Air and from there by rail/road to Pampa.

By Road
KSRTC has started operating buses to Coimbatore, Palani and Thenkasi from Pampa for the convenience of the Sabarimala pilgrims. Besides, the Government of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka has been given the permission to operate buses to Pampa. A chain service exists between Pampa and Nilackal base camps.

Distance
From	To	Distance
Erumeli	Pampa	56 Kms.
Kottayam	Erumeli	72 Kms
Kottayam	Pampa	128 Kms.
Chengannoor	Pampa	93 Kms.
Thiruvalla	Pampa	99 kms
Ernakulam	Pampa (via) Kottayam	200 Kms.
Alleppy	Pampa (via) A.C. Road	137 Kms.
Punalur	Pampa	105 Kms.
Pathanamthitta	Pampa	69 Kms.
Pandalam	Pampa	84 kms.
Thiruvananthapuram	Pampa	175 Kms.
Ernakulam	Erumeli (via) Palai, Ponkunnam	175 Kms.