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Sabarimala Forest Route Special Passes Temporarily Suspended

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has temporarily suspended issuing special passes for devotees trekking to Sabarimala through the forest route. This decision comes amidst a significant surge in pilgrims opting for the forest trail, increasing fivefold compared to earlier arrangements for 5,000 devotees.

The special passes, introduced last month, provided exclusive privileges such as a separate queue for darshan and were issued with tags by the Forest Department. However, the influx of forest route pilgrims began causing delays for those using the virtual queue and spot booking systems at Pamba. To prevent extended waiting times for darshan, the TDB has decided to halt special passes until further notice.


The Lord Ayyappa temple, a revered pilgrimage destination, reopened on December 30 to mark the Makaravilakku festival, celebrated on January 14. With the festival drawing large crowds, the board emphasizes the need for crowd management to ensure a smoother experience for all devotees.

While the restrictions may inconvenience some, the TDB assures devotees that the move is aimed at enhancing overall pilgrimage efficiency and safety during this peak season. Pilgrims are advised to stay updated on future announcements regarding special pass availability.

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