Travel Guide

Sabarimala 2026-27: Season Dates, Virtual Queue, Darshan

Sabarimala 2026-27 season opens 16 Nov, Mandala Pooja 27 Dec, Makaravilakku 14 Jan. See free Virtual Queue booking, 80,000 daily limit, spot booking and rules.

Ayush Pandey November 5, 2026 · 12 min read

Sabarimala 2026-27: Season Dates, Virtual Queue, Darshan

The Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage is the main annual season at the Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha temple in Kerala. In 2026-27 the temple opens on 16 November 2026, the Mandala Pooja is on 27 December, and Makaravilakku is on 14 January 2027. Darshan needs a Virtual Queue booking, which opened on 29 October 2026. This guide gives the season calendar, the daily limit, the booking steps, the spot booking position, the 41 day vratham, and tips for pilgrims from every state and from abroad. We checked news reports and guides up to 5 November 2026, and we mark every figure that comes from a secondary source.

Quick Answer: Sabarimala 2026-27 Season

Sabarimala opens at 5 PM on 16 November 2026, and the Mandala season starts on 17 November. Mandala Pooja is on 27 December, and Makaravilakku is on 14 January 2027. Virtual Queue booking is free on sabarimalaonline.org, with a reported limit of 80,000 pilgrims a day, and spot booking is very limited.

Event	Date	Status
Temple opens	Mon 16 Nov 2026, 5 PM	Reported by several outlets and guides
Mandala season begins (Vrischikam 1)	Tue 17 Nov 2026	Our sun-sign check agrees
Mandala Pooja	Sun 27 Dec 2026	Reported. Temple closes that night
Temple reopens for Makaravilakku	Wed 30 Dec 2026, 5 PM	Reported by a travel guide
Makaravilakku	Thu 14 Jan 2027	Reported by a travel guide
Season closes	Wed 20 Jan 2027	Reported by a travel guide
Virtual Queue booking opened	29 Oct 2026, 10 AM	Announced by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB)
Daily limit	80,000 (66,000 online and 14,000 spot)	Reported, secondary source

One guide says the Board's own 2026-27 calendar page had not been updated when it was written. Confirm the dates and the quota on sabarimalaonline.org before you book travel.

Sabarimala Season Calendar 2026-27

Date	Event
Mon 16 Nov 2026	Temple opens at 5 PM for the Mandala season
Tue 17 Nov 2026	Vrischikam 1. Darshan for the season begins. Many pilgrims put on the mala (sacred bead chain) around this date
Sun 27 Dec 2026	Mandala Pooja. The temple closes after Harivarasanam
28 and 29 Dec 2026	Temple closed, according to a travel guide
Wed 30 Dec 2026	Reopens at 5 PM for the Makaravilakku season
Mon 12 Jan 2027	Thiruvabharanam procession leaves Pandalam, according to a travel guide
Thu 14 Jan 2027	Makaravilakku. The Thiruvabharanam reaches Sannidhanam in the evening, according to the same guide
Tue 19 Jan 2027	Last day of pilgrim darshan, according to the same guide
Wed 20 Jan 2027	Season closes

We checked the sun-sign date ourselves. With the Lahiri ayanamsa the sun enters Scorpio in the evening of 16 November, so Vrischikam 1 falls on 17 November. For the Makaravilakku date we rely on the dates reported by travel guides, because the Board had not posted its calendar page.

Virtual Queue 2026-27: What Is Known

The Travancore Devaswom Board decided that Virtual Queue booking would open on Thursday 29 October 2026 at 10 AM on sabarimalaonline.org, according to a blog run by the Sabarimala Ayyappa Yuva Seva Samithi dated 26 October 2026. The booking is free. Pilgrims are asked to confirm their slot before they start, and those from other states are asked to plan their travel to reach Sabarimala within the allotted time slot.

Quota item	Number	Source note
Total per day	80,000	Combining online and spot booking
Online Virtual Queue	66,000	Reported by a third party guide
Spot booking	14,000	Reported by a third party guide
Nilakkal to Pamba route (online)	60,000	Reported by a third party guide
Erumeli route (online)	3,000	Reported by a third party guide
Vandiperiyar to Sathram route (online)	3,000	Reported by a third party guide
Spot centres	Nilakkal 10,000, Erumeli 2,000, Vandiperiyar 2,000	The same guide says spot booking at Pamba is discontinued

These figures are reported by independent pages, not by a TDB notice we could read. Treat them as the best available numbers and recheck before you travel.

How to Book Sabarimala Darshan Online

Open sabarimalaonline.org, the official booking portal, and choose Virtual Queue.
Register with your name, mobile number and email, and verify the OTP.
Add pilgrim details, upload a photo and enter ID details.
Choose the date, the time slot and the route.
Add group members. One guide says up to 10 per booking.
Review and submit, then download the pass and carry a printed copy with the original ID.

Documents listed by guides include Aadhaar, voter ID or passport. The name on the booking must match the ID. Booking is free. A third party guide says optional contributions to the Pilgrim Relief Fund of 5 rupees or more are possible. Do not pay any agent or private website for a booking.

Beware of Fake Booking Sites

Use sabarimalaonline.org only. Sites that charge a fee for Virtual Queue passes or promise VIP darshan are not official.
Do not share your OTP with anyone.
Check the pass for your name, date, time and route before you travel.
We do not sell Sabarimala darshan passes.

Spot Booking: What Changed in 2025

In November 2025, following a Kerala High Court direction, the Board capped spot booking at 5,000 pilgrims a day, according to a PTI report published by Siasat on 20 November 2025. Spot booking was available only at Nilakkal and Vandiperiyar and was suspended at Pampa, Erumeli and Chengannur for a period. The court division bench had criticised the Board over crowding. The 2026-27 spot booking arrangements are reported as very limited, so pilgrims who arrive without a Virtual Queue pass may not get darshan.

Darshan Timings and Rules

Darshan hours for the season are listed by a guide as 3 AM to 1 PM and 3 PM to 11 PM, with extended hours on heavy days. Check the Board's notice.
Arrive within the time slot printed on your pass.
Plastic is banned at Nilakkal, Pamba and Sannidhanam, according to a guide.
Do not throw clothes or pooja items into the Pamba river.
Only pilgrims carrying the irumudi kettu climb the 18 sacred steps, according to a guide. Others use a different gate.
Private vehicles are reported to stop at Nilakkal, and KSRTC buses run onward to Pamba.
For rules on who may enter, follow the current Board notice.

The 41 Day Vratham

Most pilgrims keep a 41 day vratham before darshan: a vegetarian diet, no alcohol or tobacco, simple dark coloured clothing, and prayers at dawn and dusk. A guide advises counting 40 days back from your darshan date to find the day to wear the mala. For a darshan on 27 December, that is 17 November, which is exactly 41 days counting both days. Ask your guru swami or temple for the rules you should follow.

Which Day to Choose

Period	Expect
17 Nov to first week of Dec	Opening weeks. Crowd can be heavy at the start
Mid Dec to 26 Dec	Build up to Mandala Pooja
27 Dec	Mandala Pooja. Heavy crowd, and the temple closes that night
30 Dec to 13 Jan	Makaravilakku run. Crowds build up towards the end
14 Jan	Makaravilakku. A guide says a limited quota of 30,000 passes was set for the day in 2026, and police restrict movement at viewpoints

If you want a calmer darshan, a weekday in late November or early December is usually easier than the last days before 27 December or 14 January. This is our planning view from past reports of crowds, not an official forecast.

Plan Your Trip

Book the Virtual Queue slot first, before flights or trains.
Choose your route: Pamba via Nilakkal, Erumeli or Vandiperiyar.
Book your stay near the base for the night before your slot.
Reach the base early and keep a buffer for the climb.
Plan the return for the next day, especially on Makaravilakku.

What to Carry

Printed Virtual Queue pass and the original photo ID.
Light clothing and a towel, since the climb is long and warm.
Water, a small first aid kit and any regular medicine.
A cloth bag instead of plastic.

Pilgrims from Other States and Abroad

Pilgrims come from all over India and from abroad. Check visa and ID rules before you travel and book the Virtual Queue first. Telugu pilgrims who observe Karthika Masam can read our Karthika Masam 2026 guide. Read how we handle everything after you land if you arrive from abroad.

Plan Your Kerala Trip with Your Travel Partner

Your Travel Partner is a travel company based in Ayodhya that arranges trips across India for visitors from every state and from other countries. For Sabarimala we plan the road and the stay around your slot.

Airport or railway pickup in Kerala: airport and railway.
A cab to Nilakkal, Erumeli or Vandiperiyar with a fixed return time: cab and intercity cab.
Rooms near the base: hotel booking.
Sabarimala with other Kerala stops as a custom package.
Send your dates, city and group size on WhatsApp or the enquiry form.

We do not sell darshan passes. See the packages page, our reviews, about us and the cancellation policy.

Common Mistakes

Travelling without a Virtual Queue pass and hoping for spot booking.
Booking flights before the slot is confirmed.
Arriving outside the slot printed on the pass.
Paying a private site for a free booking.
Using the 2025 spot booking numbers for 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Sabarimala open for the 2026-27 season?

The temple opens at 5 PM on 16 November 2026, and the Mandala season begins on 17 November.

When is Mandala Pooja 2026?

Sunday 27 December 2026. The temple closes that night after Harivarasanam.

When is Makaravilakku 2027?

Thursday 14 January 2027, according to travel guides. Confirm on the Board's site.

When does the season end?

The season closes on Wednesday 20 January 2027, according to a travel guide.

How do I book Sabarimala darshan?

Through the Virtual Queue on sabarimalaonline.org. Booking opened on 29 October 2026 at 10 AM and is free.

What is the daily limit for darshan?

80,000 a day in total, reported as 66,000 online and 14,000 spot. These are secondary source figures.

Is spot booking available?

It is reported as very limited, and pilgrims without a Virtual Queue pass may not get darshan. In 2025 it was capped at 5,000 a day.

Is Virtual Queue booking free?

Yes. Do not pay agents or private sites.

Which documents do I need?

The original photo ID that matches the booking, such as Aadhaar, voter ID or passport, plus the printed pass.

How many people can be in one booking?

One guide says up to 10 per booking. Confirm on the portal.

What are the darshan timings?

A guide lists 3 AM to 1 PM and 3 PM to 11 PM, with extended hours on heavy days. Follow the Board's notice.

When should I wear the mala?

Many pilgrims count 40 days back from their darshan date. For 27 December that is 17 November.

Is plastic allowed at Sabarimala?

No. A guide says plastic is banned at Nilakkal, Pamba and Sannidhanam.

What is the best time to visit?

A weekday in late November or early December is usually calmer than the days before Mandala Pooja or Makaravilakku. This is our estimate.

Can Your Travel Partner arrange my Sabarimala trip?

Yes. We arrange cabs, pickups and hotels. We do not sell darshan passes.

Conclusion

The Sabarimala 2026-27 season opens on 16 November 2026, with Mandala Pooja on 27 December and Makaravilakku on 14 January 2027. Book your free Virtual Queue slot on sabarimalaonline.org first, arrive within your slot, and avoid paying anyone for passes. For cabs, hotels and a Kerala plan, message us on WhatsApp.