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How to reach Sabarimala
Every road ends at Pampa. From there the last five kilometres belong to the pilgrim's own feet. Here is how to get to Pampa by road, rail and air, and what to expect at Nilakkal.
At a glance
Nilakkal to Pampa, by KSRTC chain bus. Private vehicles stop at Nilakkal in season.
Pampa to the Sannidhanam on foot, usually 2½ to 3½ hours.
From the nearest railway stations: Chengannur, Thiruvalla and Kottayam.
From Kochi airport. Thiruvananthapuram airport is about 170 km away.
By road
All approaches join the Mannarakulanji–Chalakkayam State Highway (SH 67), which passes Nilakkal and ends at Pampa, the last point any vehicle can reach.
Erumeli route
From Ernakulam through Vaikom, Ettumanoor, Kottayam, Kanjirappally and Erumeli, about 165 km. From Alappuzha through Changanassery and Erumeli. Pilgrims from Karnataka (through Mangaluru or Mysuru) and from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh (through Coimbatore) come down to Thrissur and continue by Muvattupuzha and Kottayam, about 210 km from Thrissur.
Chalakkayam route
From Thiruvananthapuram through Kottarakkara and Adoor, or through Kollam, Kayamkulam, Chengannur or Thiruvalla. From Nagercoil, about 250 km on the same road. From Alappuzha through Thiruvalla, Kozhencherry and Pathanamthitta, about 125 km. From Shenkottai through Punalur and Ranni.
Vandiperiyar route
For pilgrims from Madurai and central Tamil Nadu, through Kumily and Vandiperiyar in Idukki district, about 250 km from Madurai.
State transport services
In season KSRTC runs special services to Pampa from Thiruvananthapuram, Kottarakkara, Punalur, Pathanamthitta, Chengannur, Kottayam, Erumeli and Kumily, with inter-state services from Coimbatore, Palani and Tenkasi. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu state transport also run pilgrim buses.
By rail
No railway line reaches Sabarimala. The nearest stations are Chengannur, Thiruvalla and Kottayam, each roughly 90 km from Pampa by road.
Chengannur
The main railhead for Sabarimala. KSRTC buses to Pampa run round the clock in season.
Thiruvalla
In Pathanamthitta district, 9 km north of Chengannur. Convenient when coming from Thiruvananthapuram.
Kottayam
The easiest choice for pilgrims arriving from Mangaluru, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi.
Which station to get down at
- Trains that end at Ernakulam connect onward to Kottayam in about an hour and a half.
- Trains that run through Alappuzha do not touch Kottayam. Get down at Alappuzha (road through Changanassery and Erumeli) or at Kayamkulam (road through Adoor). Either way it is about 125 km.
- Coming from Thiruvananthapuram, get down at Thiruvalla or Chengannur.
By air
Other airports
Pilgrims also fly into Kozhikode, Coimbatore or Madurai and continue by rail or road. From Madurai the road runs through Kumily.
Nilakkal base camp
Since the floods of 2018, the forested plateau of Nilakkal, 22 km before Pampa, has been the base camp of the pilgrimage. In season private vehicles halt here and pilgrims go on to Pampa by KSRTC bus. Park only in the zone you are given.
- Parking grounds for more than 10,000 vehicles
- A KSRTC bus station with ticket counters
- Resting sheds, cloak rooms and an annadanam hall
- Drinking water and toilets
- Medical care and police aid posts
The ancient Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple stands close by. One-way hours and traffic diversions are announced as official notices during the season.
KSRTC chain bus, Nilakkal to Pampa
Through the season, day and night, buses leave one after another between Nilakkal and Pampa so that the banks of the holy river are spared the crush of private vehicles. The fleet has AC and non-AC low-floor buses, with ticket counters at both ends.
- Senior citizens, women and differently-abled devotees have priority boarding counters at Stand 1.
- Keep your printed ticket or QR code for the check at the Chalakkayam forest checkpost.
- Pamba KSRTC control roomStation master and fleet monitoring at the Pamba Triveni terminal, round the clock
- Nilakkal base operationsParking terminal, chain bus departures and ticketing
- Chengannur railway special cellConnecting buses for pilgrims arriving by train at Chengannur
Live departures from Pampa and buses arriving there are shown on the District Administration's KSRTC live transit page.
The climb and the trek routes
| Route | Distance | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Pampa to Sannidhanam | About 5 km | The main pedestrian path, by Swami Ayyappan Road and Marakkoottam. 2½ to 3½ hours. Cardiac centres, oxygen parlours, drinking water kiosks and emergency stairways along the way. |
| Erumeli traditional forest path | About 48 km | Two days through Kalaketty, the Azhutha river, Karimala and Cheriyanavattom to Pampa. For seasoned pilgrims keeping the traditional vows. Virtual Queue booking is compulsory. |
| Azhuthakadavu to Pampa | 18 km | Forest route. Entry at Azhuthakkadavu 7:00 AM to 2:30 PM. |
| Sathram, Pullumedu, Sannidhanam | 12 km | From Idukki district. Entry at Sathram 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM. No overnight stay on the trek. |
If your vehicle breaks down
The Motor Vehicle Department runs Safe Zone control rooms on the approach roads, round the clock through the season. Stay with your vehicle in a safe place and call the nearest one. If anyone is hurt, call 112.
- Elavunkal Safe Zone
- Erumeli Safe Zone
- Kuttikkanam Safe Zone
You can also send the vehicle details and your location through the official Vehicle Break Down Assistance form.
Ayyappa Seva Kendras on the way
SASS runs Ayyappa Seva Kendras at points along the pilgrim routes, with free food, a place to rest, toilets and emergency medical care during the season.
Routes, distances, Nilakkal arrangements and control room numbers are as published by the District Administration, Pathanamthitta on its Sabari Portal, read on 14 November 2026. Distances are approximate. Traffic rules change during the season, so check official notices before you leave.