Press Release

2026

27 Oct 2026

Sabarimala Virtual Queue, No Spot Booking at Pamba

Pathanamthitta: Virtual Queue booking for the upcoming Sabarimala Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season (2026–2027) will open on October 29, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM. To regulate crowd management and ensure smooth darshan, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has capped the overall daily entry limit at 80,000 devotees. Out of this total, 66,000 slots are available through online Virtual Queue booking, while 14,000 slots are allocated for real-time spot booking. In accordance with Kerala High Court directives, spot booking facilities will not be available at Pamba. Instead, spot booking counters will operate only at designated base stations: Nilakkal (10,000 slots), Erumeli (2,000 slots), and Vandiperiyar Sathram (2,000 slots). Devotees can book their Virtual Queue slots free of cost via sabarimalaonline.org. The temple sanctum is scheduled to open on the evening of November 16, 2026. Authorities strongly advise pilgrims to reserve their online passes early to avoid last-minute hassle.

27 October 2026
27 Oct 2026

Sabarimala Virtual Queue Booking Opens

Sabarimala Virtual Queue Booking Opens on October 29 with 80,000 Daily SlotsPathanamthitta: The Virtual Queue booking for the upcoming Sabarimala Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season (2026–2027) will open on October 29, 2026. To manage the heavy rush of pilgrims and ensure a hassle-free darshan experience, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has limited entry to 80,000 devotees per day through a combination of online Virtual Queue and spot booking facilities. Devotees can book their darshan slots free of cost through the official website sabarimalaonline.org. The temple sanctum is scheduled to open on the evening of November 16, 2026, marking the beginning of the annual Mandala pilgrimage season. Authorities have urged pilgrims to plan their travel early and complete online registrations in advance to secure their preferred dates and routes.

27 October 2026
26 Oct 2026

TDB Sets Deadline for Sabarimala Pilgrimage Preparations

SABARIMALA / THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has designated November 10, 2026, as the firm deadline to complete all major infrastructure work and crowd-management arrangements across key transit points—Nilackal, Pampa, and the Sannidhanam.

The decision comes ahead of the upcoming Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. The board aims to streamline facilities including queue management, shelter, sanitation, drinking water, and transport logistics to ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage experience for millions of devotees expected from across the country. Officials indicated that strict monitoring will be conducted to ensure all contractors and departments meet the target date without delay.

26 October 2026 Download PDF
25 Oct 2026

Sabarimala Pilgrimage: More Special Trains

More special trains, including services from North India, will be operated to facilitate travel for pilgrims visiting Sabarimala during the pilgrimage season. These additional services are intended to improve connectivity and ease passenger congestion. Pilgrims are advised to check official Railway announcements for train schedules, stoppages and booking details.

25 October 2026
24 Oct 2026

TDB to Introduce OTP System & Mandatory Virtual Queue Linking to Stop Bulk Room Bookings at Sabarimala

Pathanamthitta: To curb unauthorized middleman networks, bulk bookings, and the black marketing of room reservations at Sannidhanam during the Sabarimala pilgrimage, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is rolling out strict digital countermeasures.

Key Measures Introduced:

OTP Verification System: Devotees must authenticate room reservations via One-Time Passwords (OTP) sent to their registered mobile numbers.

Mandatory Virtual Queue Linking: The online booking software is being updated so that room reservations are linked directly to a valid Virtual Queue darshan pass. Room bookings will only be permitted for pilgrims who have confirmed darshan slots.

Crackdown on Black Marketing: Following reports of agencies bulk-booking rooms (priced from ₹2,000) and attempting to resell them for over ₹10,000, Devaswom Board President K. Jayakumar announced that bookings without matching Virtual Queue details will be automatically cancelled, and Devaswom Vigilance has been instructed to investigate suspicious activity.

24 October 2026