Sabarimala Opening Dates 2026-27: Mandala, Makaravilakku

Facts checked November 2026.

The Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha temple in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district is not open all year. The nada (the sanctum doors) opens only for set seasons and a few days each month. This guide lists the 2026–27 dates, shows which ones are confirmed and which are still estimates, and explains how booking and travel work.

For the latest season news, including the new Sabari portal and KSRTC buses from Chengannur, read our Sabarimala season arrangements update.

This page is part of our 10 Famous Temples in Kerala guide. Planning the yatra? See our South India yatra packages.

When does Sabarimala open for the 2026–27 season?

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which runs the temple, has fixed the season start. The sanctum opens at 5 pm on Monday, 16 November 2026. The new melsanthis (chief priests), chosen in October, take charge on 16 November for one year. Regular darshan and poojas begin from 17 November, the first day of the Malayalam month of Vrischikam.

Only the opening and Mandala Pooja dates have been reported so far. The rest of the table follows the pattern of the last season (2025–26) and the 2027 Makara Sankranti date. Those rows are clearly labelled as estimates.

The Mandala period is 41 days long. It runs from the first day of Vrischikam to the 11th day of Dhanu. That is why Mandala Pooja falls on 27 December this year.

What happens between Mandala Pooja and Makaravilakku?

After Mandala Pooja, the temple shuts for a short break. In the 2025–26 season it closed at 10 pm on 27 December and reopened at 5 pm on 30 December. Pilgrims who plan for late December should keep these two or three closed days in mind.

Makaravilakku falls on Makara Sankranti in mid-January. On that evening the Makara Jyothi lamp is seen on Ponnambalamedu, the hill facing the temple.

After Makaravilakku, the season winds down over a few days. Last season, on the morning of 20 January 2026, the representative of the Pandalam palace had darshan, the sanctum was closed after Harivarasanam, and the key was handed over to him. The sacred ornaments then went back in procession to Pandalam.

When does Sabarimala open outside the main season?

The temple also opens for the first five days of every Malayalam month. These are called the monthly poojas. It opens for Vishu, Onam and some other festivals too. Usually the nada opens at 5 pm on the evening before the month begins, and closes at 10 pm on the fifth day.

For example, in March 2026 the temple opened at 5 pm on 14 March for the Meenam monthly poojas and closed on 19 March. It then reopened on 22 March for the ten-day annual festival, which began with the flag hoisting on 23 March and ended with the Aarattu (the deity’s holy bath) at Pamba on 1 April.

The Virtual Queue is needed for these short openings as well. Each opening is only a few days, so slots can fill fast.

What time does the Sabarimala nada open each day?

On open days, the sanctum opens at 3 am and closes at 11 pm after Harivarasanam, the lullaby sung to Lord Ayyappa. It closes for a break in the afternoon. The daily schedule published for the 2025–26 Mandala season was:

• 3 am: Nada opens, followed by Nirmalyam and Ganapati Homam
• 3:30 am to 7 am, and 8 am to 11 am: Neyyabhishekam (ghee abhishekam)
• 7:30 am: Usha Pooja
• 12 noon: Ucha Pooja; the sanctum closes at 1 pm
• 3 pm: Sanctum reopens
• 6:30 pm: Deeparadhana
• 9:15 pm: Athazha Pooja
• 10:45 pm: Harivarasanam; the sanctum closes at 11 pm

The TDB can change these timings on festival days or when crowds are heavy. Please check closer to your date.

How does the Sabarimala Virtual Queue booking work?

Darshan slots are booked on sabarimalaonline.org, the official portal run by Kerala Police with the Travancore Devaswom Board. For the 2026–27 season:

• Booking opened at 10 am on 29 October 2026.
• Online booking is free. There is no fee for a Virtual Queue slot.
• Up to 80,000 pilgrims a day are allowed, counting online and spot bookings together.
• The online quota is split by route: 60,000 for the Nilakkal–Pamba route, 3,000 for the Erumeli forest route and 3,000 for the Vandiperiyar–Sathram route.

You register, choose a date and time slot for each pilgrim and get a pass. Carry the printed or downloaded pass and a valid photo ID. Book early for weekends, Mandala Pooja and Makaravilakku, because those slots go first.

What is spot booking?

Spot booking is for pilgrims who arrive without an online slot. For 2026–27, counters are reported at Nilakkal, Erumeli and Vandiperiyar. Spot slots are limited each day, and last season extra spot slots on peak days were released only when the crowd eased. Carry a valid photo ID. Do not plan a family yatra around spot booking alone.

What is the 41-day vratham?

Many devotees keep a 41-day vratham (a vow of discipline) before going to Sabarimala. They wear a mala (holy chain), fast strictly and stay celibate. Food and dress rules are also part of the vow.

The pilgrim carries an irumudi kettu, a two-part cloth bundle with offerings for the deity, on the head. Only devotees carrying the irumudi climb the Pathinettampadi, the 18 holy steps in front of the sanctum. If you are going for the first time, a guru swami (an experienced devotee) usually guides the mala and irumudi rituals.

Who can enter Sabarimala? The age rule today

By long-standing temple custom, women aged 10 to 50 do not enter Sabarimala. Girls below 10 and women above 50 can go. In 2018, a five-judge Supreme Court bench struck down this restriction by a 4:1 majority. Review petitions were filed, and in 2019 the larger legal questions were referred to a bigger bench.

A nine-judge bench heard the reference in 2026 and reserved its verdict on 14 May 2026. Reports in October 2026 said no date had been fixed for the judgment, and when we checked in early November 2026 we found no report that it had been delivered. In March 2026, the TDB passed a resolution to protect the existing customs. In an earlier order, the Kerala High Court said the Board, as trustee, should uphold the customs until a higher court directs otherwise. For now, the temple follows the traditional rule. Families should check the latest position before booking.

How do you reach Sabarimala?

During the season, pilgrim vehicles are generally parked at Nilakkal, the main base camp. From there, KSRTC shuttle buses take pilgrims to Pamba. From Pamba, darshan is reached by a climb of about 5 km on foot to the Sannidhanam (the temple complex).

• By train: Chengannur is the station most pilgrims use, about 85–90 km by road. Kottayam and Thiruvalla are also about 90 km away. Kottayam is often handy for pilgrims coming from outside Kerala.
• By air: Kochi International Airport is about 154 km away. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is about 170 km away.
• Traditional routes: The Erumeli forest route is about 61 km on foot. The Vandiperiyar route is about 95 km. These routes have their own Virtual Queue quota.

The climb from Pamba is steep in places. Elderly pilgrims and anyone with heart or breathing problems should walk slowly, carry their medicines and rest often.

Many families combine Sabarimala with other temples in the state. Our guide to famous temples in Kerala can help you plan the rest of the route.

How Yatra To Temples can help

Our Sabarimala Ayyappa Darshan Yatra starts and ends in Kochi. It includes pickup at Kochi airport or Ernakulam railway station, a private AC vehicle up to Nilakkal or Pamba as permitted, hotel stays, vegetarian meals and stops at temples such as Vaikom, Ettumanoor and Erumeli on the way. Our yatra team also helps with Virtual-Q registration and guides you on irumudi and vratham customs.

If you want to see more of Kerala, look at our Kerala Mandir Darshan Yatra or all South India yatras. For custom dates or a group, ask us. To plan other festivals in the coming year, see the yatra calendar 2027.

Frequently asked questions

When does Sabarimala open in November 2026?

The nada opens at 5 pm on 16 November 2026. Regular darshan for the Mandala season starts on 17 November, the first day of Vrischikam.

What is the Mandala Pooja date in 2026?

Mandala Pooja is on 27 December 2026. It marks the end of the 41-day Mandala period. Based on last year, the temple is expected to close that night and reopen a few days later for Makaravilakku.

When is Makaravilakku 2027?

Expected (estimate): 14 January 2027, as Makara Sankranti falls on that day. The official date is announced on/around December 2026.

Is Sabarimala Virtual Queue booking free?

Yes. Booking a darshan slot on sabarimalaonline.org has no fee. Poojas and offerings such as neyyabhishekam are booked separately, online or at the temple.

Can I go to Sabarimala without a Virtual Queue booking?

Spot booking counters work at points such as Nilakkal, Erumeli and Vandiperiyar, with a photo ID. But spot slots are limited, especially on peak days, so an online slot is much safer.

Can women visit Sabarimala?

Girls under 10 and women over 50 visit as usual. By temple custom, women aged 10 to 50 do not enter. A Supreme Court verdict on the larger legal questions had not been reported as delivered when we checked in early November 2026.

Is Sabarimala open every month?

Yes, for the first five days of every Malayalam month, plus Vishu, Onam and some festivals. Outside these days and the main season, the sanctum stays closed.