With a little over two weeks for the pilgrimage season at Sabarimala to kick off, the Forest department has stepped up preparations along the traditional trekking route from Erumely, clearing the path and putting basic facilities in place ahead of the expected influx of pilgrims.Pilgrims are likely to start using the route at least a day before the two-month season begins. Officials said work would be completed over the next few days to clear the stretches from Erumely to Kalaketti and from Azhuthakadavu to Pampa. “Work is under way to clear the route and install prefabricated toilet structures, besides setting up service centres for pilgrims.
Space will also be provided at Kalaketti for the police to set up a camp,” said Praful Agarwal, Divisional Forest Officer, Kottayam. However, the route will be opened to pilgrims only on the first day of the pilgrimage season, he said.Official sources , meanwhile, said around 90 service centres will be set up along the stretch up to Kalaketti to provide drinking water and lighting.
The remaining stretch will have 194 service centres and six medical aid centres, including those at Azhuthakadavu, Puthussery and Karimala.As in previous years, pilgrims will be allowed to enter the forest stretch from Koikkakavu to Kalaketti via Azhuthakadavu between 6 am and 5 pm. On the stretch from Azhuthakadavu to Mukkuzhy, which falls within the Periyar Tiger Reserve, trekking will be permitted from 7 am to 2.30 pm.
From Mukkuzhy to Pampa, the permitted travel window will be from 7 am to 3 pm. Forest personnel, including temporary staff and forest watchers, will be deployed along the route, while elephant squads will be pressed into service to ensure pilgrims’ safety.The traditional route from Erumely passes through Perur Thodu, Koikkakavu, Kalaketti and Azhuthakadavu, and the trek usually takes two days.
The stretch from Koikkakavu temple to Kalaketti comes under the Kottayam Forest Division, while the remaining portion falls within the western zone of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Separate time slots are enforced at forest checkposts along the route to regulate trekking and ensure pilgrims’ safety.The authorities may revise the timings if the daily pilgrim inflow rises significantly. “The existing regulations will become inadequate once the inflow reaches 2,500 pilgrims a day.
At that stage, we will have to revise the timings and security arrangements accordingly,” an official said.Meanwhile, demands are mounting for the trekking route to be opened at least a day ahead of the season to prevent long queues at the entry point. Devotees point out that an early opening would allow pilgrims to reach Sannidhanam by the early hours of November 17 and attend the first morning darshan of the season.
In previous years, pilgrims, particularly those arriving on foot from other States, had to wait for hours at the Koikkakavu forest checkpost, where the route begins. These delays often triggered protests and noisy scenes.
Published - November 02, 2026 06:24 pm IST