Updated for 2026–27 · checked by the KMS travel desk
Sabarimala Virtual Queue Booking Step by step, with the 2026–27 changes
Book the Sabarimala virtual queue free at sabarimalaonline.org, the Travancore Devaswom Board's site. Register with your mobile number and a photo ID, add up to 5 pilgrims, choose a date, route and time slot, then download the QR coupon. Carry the coupon and the same original ID to the check at Pamba, on your booked date.
What's new
Changes for the 2026–27 Season
From the Kerala High Court's order on the season's arrangements, reported in April 2026. The Board publishes the final details on sabarimalaonline.org.
- 75,000 pilgrims a day
The Kerala High Court upheld the Travancore Devaswom Board's cap of 75,000 pilgrims a day for 2026–27, for virtual queue and spot booking together.
- A small refundable deposit
A fixed, refundable deposit per slot is to be introduced. It is refunded when you arrive in your window, or adjusted against prasadam, and can be forfeited if you don't come.
- Cancel and real-time updates
The booking site is to be upgraded with real-time updates and an option to cancel, so unused slots can go to other pilgrims.
- Slots are strictly checked
Last season the High Court directed that passes for another date, or fake passes, be refused entry, and that slot times be followed.
Before you start
Keep These Ready
- A mobile number that receives SMS, for the one-time password (OTP)
- A photo ID number for every pilgrim: Aadhaar, voter ID or passport
- A clear passport-size photo of every pilgrim (a JPG; guides cite a 30 KB–1 MB limit)
- Each pilgrim's name, address, date of birth and gender exactly as on the ID
- Your travel plan: the date you will be at Pamba and roughly what time
Step by step
How to Book the Sabarimala Virtual Queue
About 10 minutes for a group of five, once the photos and IDs are ready.
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1Open the official site
Go to sabarimalaonline.org, run by the Travancore Devaswom Board. Booking is free; ignore look-alike sites and agents who charge for the pass.
Bookmark the official address; search ads sometimes show copies.
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2Register with your mobile number
Enter your name, address, date of birth and gender, choose the ID type, type the ID number and upload your photo. Confirm with the OTP sent to your phone.
Type the name exactly as printed on the ID. A mismatch can stop you at the check.
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3Log in and open Virtual-Q
Log in with your mobile number or email and password, then click Virtual-Q at the top left of the page.
Book early in the morning, when the site is least busy.
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4Add your group
Add up to 5 co-pilgrims to the booking, each with their own ID number and photo. Larger groups split across several bookings.
Guruswamis booking for a sangam: make one list of names and IDs first, then book group by group on the same date.
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5Choose the date
Dates with places are shown in green; full dates are red. Weekends, Mandala Pooja (27 Dec) and 12–15 January fill first.
Last season, slots up to 26 November were already full by 9 November.
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6Choose the route
Most pilgrims take Pampa–Marakkoottam (about 4 km). The traditional Erumeli–Kalaketti forest path is about 46 km, and Vandiperiyar–Sathram–Pulmedu about 16 km.
Choose the forest paths only if your group is fit and has done them before.
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7Choose the time slot
Each slot shows how many places are left; full slots show in yellow. Pick a slot your group can reach comfortably from Chennai.
Use the slot planner below to see when to leave Chennai.
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8Download and print the coupon
Click Book Now. The coupon shows a QR code, the pilgrim's photo and the slot time. Save the PDF on your phone and print one copy for each booking.
If you lose it, log in again and download it.
The three routes you can book
| Route | Walk | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Pampa–Marakkoottam | about 4 km | Most pilgrims; the usual climb via Neelimala |
| Vandiperiyar–Sathram–Pulmedu | about 16 km | Pilgrims coming from the Kumily side |
| Erumeli–Kalaketti (traditional) | about 46 km | Experienced groups walking the forest path |
Slot planner
When to Leave Chennai for Your Slot
Enter your darshan slot. The plan drives by day, rests overnight at Erumeli and reaches Pamba about 3 hours early.
- Day before, 6 AMLeave ChennaiDaytime drive via Trichy, Dindigul, Theni and Kumily.
- EveningErumeliPetta Thullal, then rest overnight.
- Slot dayNilakkal, then PambaPark at Nilakkal, KSRTC bus to Pamba, reach about 3 hours before the slot.
Pick your darshan date to see exact times.
Get the fare for these datesOn the day
At Nilakkal and Pamba
Come on your booked date
Passes for another date are refused. Plan the drive so you reach Pamba well before your slot; Onmanorama's guide says about 3 hours early.
Carry the coupon and the original ID
Staff check the QR coupon against the original ID used for the booking. Keep a photocopy as a backup.
Parking and the bus
During the season private vehicles park at Nilakkal and pilgrims take the KSRTC bus to Pamba (about 22 km). Allow about an hour, more on busy days.
Elders and children
A dolly (carried chair) can be hired at Pamba for elders. Hang an ID card with a contact number around the neck of every child, elder and malikappuram.
No pass?
Sabarimala Spot Booking
- Spot booking is for pilgrims without a virtual-queue pass, at a few counters on the way.
- In November 2025 it was limited to 5,000 a day by the High Court, and open only at Nilakkal and Vandiperiyar (paused at Pampa, Erumeli and Chengannur).
- Waits can be long and places run out, so treat it as a last resort, not a plan.
Makaravilakku entry limits, last season
| Date (Jan 2026) | Virtual queue | Spot |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Jan | 35,000 | 5,000 |
| 14 Jan (Makaravilakku) | 30,000 | 5,000 |
| 15–18 Jan | 50,000 a day | 5,000 a day |
| 19 Jan | 30,000 | 5,000 |
Private vehicles were kept off the hilltop from 12 to 15 January, and forest routes closed early. Expect similar limits around 14 January 2027.
Troubleshooting
Common Booking Problems
- The OTP does not arrive
- Check the number, wait a few minutes and request it again; try early morning, when the site is quieter.
- The photo will not upload
- Use a clear passport-size JPG of the pilgrim's face; resize it if the file is too large.
- The date shows red
- It is full. Try another slot or date. With the 2026–27 cancellation option, slots may free up later.
- The name does not match the ID
- Edit the pilgrim's details before booking; the name must match the ID you will carry.
- The coupon is lost
- Log in again and download the PDF from your bookings.
- A site asks for payment for the pass
- Close it. The virtual-queue pass is booked only at sabarimalaonline.org.
சுவாமியே சரணம் ஐயப்பா
Travelling from Chennai?
3-day Sabarimala yatra by tempo traveller from ₹38,300 for 12 pilgrims (about ₹3,190 each). Pickup after your Irumudi pooja; we plan the drive around your slot.
FAQ
Sabarimala Virtual Queue: Questions
Is Sabarimala virtual queue booking free?
Yes. The pass is booked free at sabarimalaonline.org. For 2026–27 a small refundable deposit per slot has been approved; it is refunded or adjusted against prasadam when you arrive in your window.
How many pilgrims can I book at once?
Up to 5 co-pilgrims on one booking, each with their own ID and photo. Bigger groups and sangams make several bookings for the same date and slot.
Which ID proof is accepted for the virtual queue?
Aadhaar, voter ID or passport for adults. Carry the original ID you booked with; the name must match the coupon.
When should I book for the 2026–27 season?
As soon as booking opens on sabarimalaonline.org. Last season, slots up to 26 November were already full by 9 November, and weekends and the Makaravilakku days fill first.
Season dates 2026–27What happens if I miss my slot or come on another date?
Passes for another date are refused, and slot times are checked. From 2026–27 the refundable deposit can be forfeited if you don't arrive in your window, so plan to reach Pamba well before the slot.
Can I get darshan without a virtual-queue booking?
Only through spot booking, which is limited. In November 2025 it was capped at 5,000 a day and open only at Nilakkal and Vandiperiyar. Book the virtual queue whenever you can.
How spot booking worksWhich route should we choose?
Most groups choose Pampa–Marakkoottam, about 4 km via Neelimala. The Erumeli–Kalaketti forest path (about 46 km) and Vandiperiyar–Sathram–Pulmedu (about 16 km) suit experienced groups.
Compare the three routesHow many pilgrims are allowed on Makaravilakku day?
Last season, entry on Makaravilakku day (14 January) was capped at 30,000 virtual-queue and 5,000 spot bookings, with 35,000 on 13 January and 50,000 a day from 15 to 18 January.
Spot booking and Makaravilakku limitsWhen should we leave Chennai for our slot?
Plan to reach Pamba about 3 hours before the slot. The drive to Nilakkal takes 13–14 hours plus stops, so most groups leave Chennai at 6 AM the day before and rest overnight at Erumeli.
Open the slot planner