Ayyappa Swamy Temple Opening Dates October 2026 – January 2027

How We Verified These Dates

The TDB, which administers Sabarimala, announces the final annual schedule. We could not find a 2026–27 calendar page on the TDB website itself, so the dates below come from temple-calendar websites that agree on the season opening, the Mandala Pooja window and the closing date: ayyappatemple.in, sreeayyappatemple.com and hindupad.com. A fourth page, sabarimala.com, repeats the season window (16 November 2026 to 20 January 2027). All of these are independent, secondary sources.

Dates can shift by a day because of the Malayalam calendar and the Board's final notice. Please confirm on sabarimalaonline.org before you book travel.

Sabarimala Temple Opening Dates 2026–2027

Sabarimala is not open every day. Outside the main season, the shrine opens for the first five days of each Malayalam month (the monthly poojas) and for a few special occasions. The long season from mid-November to January is the Mandala–Makaravilakku pilgrimage, when the temple stays open nearly continuously. The Sabarimala Temple calendar 2026–2027 therefore has four parts: the Thulam monthly pooja in October, the Mandala season in November and December, the Makaravilakku season from late December, and the closing in January.

Sabarimala Temple Opening Dates – October 2026 to January 2027

Quick answer: The Sabarimala temple opens on 16 November 2026 at 5 PM for the Mandala season and closes for the season on 20 January 2027, with a short break from 27 to 30 December 2026.

Where the sources disagree

Three differences are worth knowing about. First, the Thulam opening is shown as 17 October by two calendars and as 18 October by a third, which is likely the first day of the Malayalam month rather than the opening evening. Second, Sree Chithira Attathirunal is listed for 6–7 November 2026 by two sources but 20–21 October by one; the October dates match the 2025 schedule, so treat them with caution. Third, the Mandala Pooja date is 27 December on most pages, while one lists 26 December. Since the Mandala season runs 41 days from 17 November, 27 December is the likelier day.

Sabarimala Mandala Pooja 2026 – Important Dates

Quick answer: Mandala Pooja 2026 is expected on 27 December 2026, the 41st day of the Mandala Kalam, which begins on 17 November 2026.

The Mandala Kalam is a 41-day period that starts on the first day of the Malayalam month of Vrischikam. Devotees traditionally observe a 41-day vratham (austerity) that matches it. The temple opens on the evening of Monday 16 November, and the season formally begins the next day.

Dates and occasions to note during this period, as listed by temple calendars:

• 16 November 2026: Temple opens at 5 PM for the Mandala season.

• 17 November 2026: Vrischikam 1; Mandala Kalam begins.

• 21 November 2026: Utpanna Ekadasi.

• 24 November 2026: Karthika Pournami.

• 6 December 2026: Mokshada Ekadasi.

• 20 December 2026: Saphala Ekadasi.

• 27 December 2026: Mandala Pooja; temple closes that night at 10 PM.

Before Mandala Pooja, the Thanka Anki (golden attire) is traditionally carried in procession to the Sannidhanam. We could not find its 2026 date or route, so please follow the TDB's announcements. Expect heavy crowds in the days around Mandala Pooja, and expect restrictions on entry on the final day.

Sabarimala Makaravilakku 2027 – Date and Significance

Quick answer: Makaravilakku 2027 is listed for 14 January 2027, which is Makara Sankranti. The temple reopens on 30 December 2026 and closes on 20 January 2027.

What is Makaravilakku?

Makaravilakku is the main festival of the second half of the season. On Makara Sankranti evening, a light appears on the Ponnambalamedu hill opposite the shrine, and devotees gather at Sannidhanam and other viewing points to see it. Many people call this light Makara Jyothi, and devotees regard it as sacred. We describe the festival here as a devotional tradition and do not present the nature of the light as an independently established fact.

The festival is linked to the Thiruvabharanam procession, in which the sacred ornaments of Lord Ayyappa travel from the Pandalam palace to the temple. One calendar lists the procession as starting on 13 January 2027. The ornaments are placed on the deity before the evening deeparadhana on Makaravilakku day, and the Makara Jyothi is seen soon after.

Schedule around the festival

The temple reopens at 5 PM on 30 December 2026, after the Mandala Pooja break, and stays open until 20 January 2027. One note of caution: Drik Panchang lists a Chennai-based date a day later than the temple calendars, and one guide has withdrawn its date until the TDB confirms. Please watch for the Board's notice before you plan for 14 January.

Sabarimala Temple Darshan Timings

Quick answer: On a regular day the sanctum opens at 3 AM and closes at 1 PM, reopens at 3 PM, and closes after Harivarasanam at about 11 PM. During Mandala and Makaravilakku these hours may be extended.

The schedule below comes from a published daily pooja list on hindupad.com, last updated in 2017. Another listing says the temple opens at 5 AM and closes at 10 PM on darshan days. We could not find a 2026–27 timetable from the TDB. Treat the table as a guide to the order and approximate hours, and check the day's notice at the temple.

Important Poojas and Rituals at Sabarimala

Each ritual below follows a fixed order through the day. The times are from the table above and are indicative only.

• Neyyabhishekam: The most popular offering. Ghee brought in the coconut of the Irumudi Kettu is poured over the deity. It is held in the morning sessions.

• Ganapathi Homam: A fire ritual to Lord Ganapathi, performed early in the morning at the Sannidhanam.

• Usha Pooja: The morning pooja, after the early abhishekams.

• Ucha Pooja: The midday pooja, after which the sanctum closes for the afternoon.

• Deeparadhana: The evening lamp ritual after the sanctum reopens.

• Harivarasanam: The lullaby sung when the temple closes for the night, after Athazha Pooja. It is traditionally dated to 1950, when the then chief priest began the practice.

How to Book Sabarimala Darshan Online in 2026–2027

Quick answer: Book the Virtual Queue on the official Sabarimala portal, sabarimalaonline.org, which is run with the Travancore Devaswom Board and Kerala Police. The TDB website states that Virtual-Q booking is mandatory for all pilgrims.

The booking guidelines may change, so please read the latest notice on the portal. Here is the general process, based on the portal and on guides we reviewed:

1. Open the official site, sabarimalaonline.org, and go to the Virtual Q option. Avoid third-party agents who promise guaranteed slots.

2. Register or sign in with your mobile number and email, and verify with the OTP.

3. Choose your darshan date and add the details of each pilgrim.

4. Confirm the booking and save the Q-pass (with its QR code) on your phone, and carry a printout as a backup.

5. Carry the same photo ID that you used while booking.

According to a news report dated 27 October 2026, online booking for this season opened on 29 October 2026 at 10 AM. It also said the daily limit is 80,000 devotees through online and spot booking together, with spot booking counters at Nilakkal, Erumeli and Vandiperiyar. These figures come from a news site and not from the TDB, and last season's limit was reported as 90,000 (70,000 online and 20,000 spot). Please check current figures on the portal.

Aadhaar details and an ID proof are commonly asked for. Children under 12 are usually added to a parent's booking, so carry age proof for them.

Important Guidelines for Sabarimala Pilgrims

41-Day Vratham and Dress

Devotees traditionally take the mala on an auspicious day, often at a temple, and follow 41 days of discipline. This includes a simple vegetarian diet, early baths, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and calling fellow pilgrims “Swami”. Many wear black, blue or saffron clothes and a tulsi or rudraksha mala. The Mandala vratham starts around 17 November for those who count it from the season's first day.

Irumudi Kettu

The Irumudi Kettu is a two-compartment cloth bundle carried on the head. One part holds the ghee-filled coconut and offerings for the temple, and the other holds the pilgrim's own provisions. Traditionally, only pilgrims carrying the Irumudi climb the 18 holy steps (Pathinettampadi); others use another route. The Kerala High Court has directed that the bundle should not contain plastic.

The Route: Pamba, Neelimala and Sannidhanam

Most pilgrims go to Pamba by road, bathe in the river, and then walk uphill through Neelimala to the Sannidhanam. Others use the traditional forest route from Erumeli. Wear comfortable footwear, carry water, and start early.

Health, Safety and Crowds

• Get a basic health check if you have a heart, breathing or blood-pressure condition, because the climb is steep.

• Follow police and Devaswom volunteer instructions in queues. Do not push or jump the line.

• Avoid plastic and keep the pilgrim route clean.

• Keep your Q-pass and ID handy, and note the emergency and medical aid points along the route.

• Children and elders can visit, but plan extra rest and, if needed, an assisted route.

On the entry of women of a certain age group, the matter has a long legal history. Please follow the current instructions of the temple authorities and the police.

How to Reach Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple

Quick answer: Chengannur is the nearest major railway station, about 85 km from the temple, and Pamba is the road base for the trek. Thiruvananthapuram and Cochin airports are 160–170 km away.

• By train: Chengannur (about 85 km, known as the gateway to Sabarimala), Tiruvalla (about 87 km) and Kottayam (about 96 km). Punalur is also used by some pilgrims.

• By air: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (about 170 km) and Cochin International Airport (about 160 km). A greenfield airport near Sabarimala has been approved but is not operating yet.

• By road: Pamba is the main road base. Nilakkal is the main base camp where many vehicles are halted during the season, with onward transport to Pamba. Confirm the current arrangement before you travel.

• Forest routes: The Erumeli forest route (about 61 km) and the Vandiperiyar route are open for pilgrims, with spot booking counters mentioned at both.

Road rules, parking and bus services change each season, so check the latest advisory before leaving. If you are starting from Tirupati, see our complete guide to Tirupati for onward travel planning, or read our earlier calendars for comparison: Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple Calendar 2019–20 and Sabarimala Temple Opening Dates 2019. More pilgrim stories are in our travel section and darshan guides.

Final Note for Devotees

Plan early, book only through the official portal, and carry a printed copy of your pass. Dates in this article reflect what we could verify on 12 November 2026. We will update this page when the Travancore Devaswom Board publishes its final notices. Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa.

Sources and References

• Sabarimala Online (official virtual queue portal)

• Sabarimala Temple, Wikipedia (location and routes)