Season 2026–27: 16 Nov to 20 Jan

சுவாமியே சரணம் ஐயப்பா

Sabarimala Package from Chennai by tempo traveller, van or bus

A 3-day Sabarimala yatra from Chennai costs ₹38,300 in a 12-seater AC tempo traveller, about ₹3,190 per pilgrim, with driver bata included. The round trip is about 1,460 km via Erumeli and Nilakkal, with daytime driving and a night's rest before the climb.

Leaves right after your Irumudi pooja
Rested drivers, daytime driving
Reply within 30 min

At a glance

Sabarimala from Chennai: Key Facts

Distance: About 700 km each way; about 1,460 km for the round trip with Erumeli and Nilakkal
Drive time: 13–14 hours each way, with meal and rest stops
Trip length: 3 days, 2 nights (4 days with Guruvayur, Chottanikkara or on Makaravilakku dates)
Usual road: Via Trichy, Dindigul, Theni and Kumily to Erumeli; the driver picks the clearest road on the day
Where the vehicle stops: Nilakkal parking. During the season pilgrims take the KSRTC bus from Nilakkal to Pamba (about 22 km)
Darshan entry: Virtual-queue booking for every pilgrim at sabarimalaonline.org; spot booking is limited
Season 2026–27: 16 Nov 2026 to 20 Jan 2027; temple closed 28–29 Dec
Fare from: ₹38,300 for a 12-seater AC tempo traveller (about ₹3,190 per person), driver bata included
Advance: 50% for season dates; balance on the last day of the trip

Fares

Sabarimala Yatra Fare by Vehicle

For the whole vehicle, 3 days, about 1,460 km from Chennai and back, driver bata included. Divide by your group for the per-pilgrim cost. See photos, seats and features of every vehicle

Big figure: the whole trip · small figure: the approximate share per head

Toyota Innova7 seats · ₹19/km · bata ₹600/day ₹29,540≈ ₹4,220 per head Book
Innova Crysta7 seats · ₹22/km · bata ₹600/day ₹33,920≈ ₹4,850 per head Book
12-Seater Tempo Traveller12 seats · ₹25/km · bata ₹600/dayMost booked ₹38,300≈ ₹3,190 per head Book
17-Seater Tempo Traveller17 seats · ₹28/km · bata ₹700/day ₹42,980≈ ₹2,530 per head Book
Force Urbania 17-Seater17 seats · ₹35/km · bata ₹800/day ₹53,500≈ ₹3,150 per head Book
Mini Bus 21–26 Seater26 seats · ₹37/km · bata ₹900/day ₹56,720≈ ₹2,180 per head Book
Mini Bus 30–35 Seater35 seats · ₹46/km · bata ₹1000/day ₹70,160≈ ₹2,000 per head Book
Tourist Bus 40–45 Seater45 seats · ₹57/km · bata ₹1200/day ₹86,820≈ ₹1,930 per head Book
Tourist Bus 49–55 Seater55 seats · ₹65/km · bata ₹1200/day ₹98,500≈ ₹1,790 per head Book

Included

AC vehicle with driver for 3 days
Up to 1,460 km; extra km at the same ₹/km
Driver bata for every day
Pickup and drop anywhere in Chennai (pickup areas)
Fuel

Paid at actuals, with receipts

Tolls and parking (Nilakkal)
Kerala permit or entry tax
Night allowance: ₹400 (vans), ₹500 (buses) per night driven 10 PM–6 AM
GST, if applicable
KSRTC bus Nilakkal–Pamba, dolly service, offerings

3-day plan

Sabarimala Yatra Itinerary from Chennai

A typical 3-day, 2-night plan. Your guruswami sets the timings; we plan the drive around your virtual-queue slot.

Day 1Chennai to Erumeliabout 650 km
1. 4:30 AMIrumudi kettu poojaAt your temple or home with your guruswami. We pick up right after; the Irumudi rides with you in the cabin, never in the boot.
2. 6 AMLeave ChennaiBreakfast and lunch at clean, pure-vegetarian highway restaurants. Daytime driving via Trichy, Dindigul, Theni and Kumily.
3. EveningErumeliSree Dharma Sastha temple, Vavar mosque and Petta Thullal.
4. NightRest at ErumeliPilgrims and driver get a full night's rest before the climb.
Day 2Darshan dayNilakkal, Pamba, Sannidhanam
1. Early morningDrive to NilakkalThe vehicle parks at Nilakkal; KSRTC buses take pilgrims on to Pamba (about 22 km).
2. MorningPambaHoly dip in the Pamba and prayers at Pamba Ganapathy temple.
3. ClimbNeelimala to SannidhanamAbout 5 km uphill; 2–4 hours depending on pace and crowd. Dolly service is available for elders.
4. Your slotDarshanThe 18 holy steps with your Irumudi, darshan at your virtual-queue time, Neyyabhishekam and Malikappuram.
Day 3Return to Chennaiabout 700 km
1. MorningBack to NilakkalWalk down to Pamba and take the KSRTC bus; your vehicle is waiting at Nilakkal.
2. By 10 AMLeave for ChennaiLunch and dinner stops on the way. Add a 4th day for Guruvayur or Chottanikkara.
3. Late nightDrop at homeEach pilgrim dropped at home or the group at your temple.

Season dates

Sabarimala 2026–27 Season Calendar

From the tentative temple calendar; the Travancore Devaswom Board confirms each date. The days marked busy book out first.

Mon 16 Nov 2026, 5 PMTemple opens for the Mandala season
Tue 17 Nov 2026Mandala period begins (1 Vrischikam)
Sun 27 Dec 2026Mandala Pooja; the temple closes that nightBusy
28–29 Dec 2026Temple closedClosed
Wed 30 Dec 2026, 5 PMReopens for the Makaravilakku festival
Thu 14 Jan 2027Makaravilakku (Makara Jyothi); some calendars show 15 JanBusy
Wed 20 Jan 2027Season closes

Before you travel

The Virtual Queue in Five Steps

Log inOpen sabarimalaonline.org, the Travancore Devaswom Board's booking site, and create an account or log in.
Choose Virtual-Q and a datePopular dates fill weeks ahead, especially weekends, Mandala Pooja and Makaravilakku.
Choose the routeMost groups take Pamba–Marakkoottam (about 4 km). The traditional Erumeli–Kalaketti forest path is about 46 km; Vandiperiyar–Sathram–Pulmedu about 16 km.
Choose a time slotEach slot shows how many places are left; full slots show in yellow. Add every pilgrim's details.
Save the pass and send us the timeReach the start of your route about 3 hours before the slot. We plan the pickup and drive around it.

Full step-by-step guide Open sabarimalaonline.org

The guide covers the 2026–27 changes, spot booking, Makaravilakku limits, booking problems and a slot planner from Chennai.

What to carry

Irumudi kettu
Virtual-queue pass and ID for every pilgrim
An ID card with a contact number around the neck of children, elders and malikappurams
A shawl or light jacket for the night
Regular medicines and a small first-aid kit
A torch and a power bank
A steel water bottle and a cloth bag
Cash in small notes for offerings and dolly service

Police help line on the pilgrimage route: 14432 (medical help, missing persons, breakdowns)

Why groups choose KMS

A Yatra Handled With Care

Daytime driving, rested drivers
The plan drives by day and rests at night; drivers get at least 8 hours' rest in every 24.
Pickup after your Irumudi pooja
From your temple or home, at any hour; the Irumudi travels in the cabin.
A vehicle fit for your vratham
Cleaned before the yatra; no smoking or alcohol by anyone, ever.
Drivers who know the road
Experienced on Theni, Kumily and Mundakayam ghat roads and the Nilakkal parking routine.
One coordinator for sangam groups
Several vehicles travel together with one coordinator and one invoice.
Honest, fixed-rate billing
₹/km and bata quoted up front; tolls, parking and Kerala permit charged at actuals with receipts.

ஐயப்ப சேவா சங்கங்களுக்கு

Organising for an Ayyappa sangam?

Tell us how many pilgrims; we suggest the mix of vans and buses, keep the convoy together and send one invoice.

Plan for my sangam

FAQ

Sabarimala Trip from Chennai: Questions

How much does a Sabarimala trip from Chennai cost by tempo traveller?

A 3-day Sabarimala yatra from Chennai costs ₹38,300 in a 12-seater AC tempo traveller: 1,460 km × ₹25 plus ₹1,800 driver bata. That is about ₹3,190 per person for 12 pilgrims. A 17-seater costs ₹42,980 (about ₹2,530 per person). Tolls, parking, Kerala permit or entry tax and GST are extra at actuals.

Fares for all 9 vehicles

How many days do we need for Sabarimala from Chennai by road?

Plan 3 days and 2 nights: day 1 Chennai to Erumeli, day 2 darshan, day 3 back to Chennai. Add a 4th day for Guruvayur or Chottanikkara, or around Makaravilakku when crowds and road controls slow everything down.

See the 3-day plan

How far is Sabarimala from Chennai, and how long is the drive?

About 700 km each way to Nilakkal, the parking base for Pamba. The drive takes 13–14 hours with meal and rest stops, usually via Trichy, Dindigul, Theni and Kumily.

Can our vehicle go up to Pamba?

No. During the season private vehicles park at Nilakkal, and pilgrims take the KSRTC bus to Pamba, about 22 km. Your driver waits with the vehicle at Nilakkal.

Do we need a virtual-queue booking for darshan?

Yes. Book a slot for every pilgrim at sabarimalaonline.org, the Travancore Devaswom Board site. Spot booking exists but is limited, and the wait can be long. Send us your slot time and we plan the drive around it.

Virtual queue booking, step by step

When is Makaravilakku 2027, and how should we plan for it?

Makaravilakku is on 14 January 2027 in temple calendars (some show 15 January); the Travancore Devaswom Board confirms the day. Last season, entry on Makaravilakku day was capped at 30,000 virtual-queue and 5,000 spot bookings, and private vehicles were kept off the hilltop from 12 to 15 January. Book the slot early and plan 4 days.

Makaravilakku entry limits and spot booking

Which vehicle should we book for our group?

1–7 pilgrims: Innova or Innova Crysta. 8–12: 12-seater tempo traveller. 13–17: 17-seater tempo traveller or Force Urbania. 18–26 and 27–35: mini buses. 36–55: tourist buses. Larger sangams book several vehicles with one coordinator.

Compare fares by group size

Do you pick up after the Irumudi kettu pooja at our temple?

Yes. We pick up from your temple or home anywhere in Chennai at any hour, right after the pooja. The Irumudi travels with you in the cabin.

How much advance confirms a Sabarimala booking?

Season dates need a 50% advance by UPI or bank transfer; the balance is paid on the last day. Peak-season advances are non-refundable, but the date can be moved once within 60 days.

Booking and cancellation terms

Is the night drive safe?

Our plan drives by day and rests at night, and drivers get at least 8 hours' rest in every 24. If the vehicle runs between 10 PM and 6 AM, a night allowance of ₹400 (vans) or ₹500 (buses) applies per night.

More pilgrimages from Chennai

Other Temple Tours

சுவாமியே சரணம் ஐயப்பா

Your yatra. Our responsibility.

Pickup after the pooja, a clean vehicle, a rested driver and a travel desk that answers until you are home.

Get my Sabarimala fare