Sabarimala Darshan Time Cut To 18 Hours, Virtual Queue To Manage 80,000 Daily Visitors – News18

Last Updated:November 13, 2024, 20:58 IST

Around 70,000 will receive darshan through the virtual queue system, while the remaining 10,000 will be allowed to make on-the-spot bookings.

The daily darshan (viewing of the deity) time at Sabarimala Temple has been reduced to 18 hours, with the temple authorities introducing this measure to better manage the crowds during the pilgrimage season. Sabarimala Devaswom Board President, PS Prashanth, confirmed that darshan hours will be from 3 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 11 pm every day, starting from the beginning of the pilgrimage season.

The decision aims to streamline the flow of pilgrims, as approximately 80,000 devotees are expected to visit the temple daily. Of these, around 70,000 will receive darshan through the virtual queue system, while the remaining 10,000 will be allowed to make on-the-spot bookings.

To facilitate on-site bookings, several counters have been set up at key locations, including Pampa, Erumeli, and Vandiperiyar. Pilgrims opting for spot booking will be required to present their Aadhaar card as proof of identity. At Pampa alone, seven dedicated counters have been established to handle these bookings. Additionally, for the first time, parking spaces will be available for 1,500 smaller vehicles in Pampa. Parking will be permitted at Pampail Chukkupalam and Hill Top.

In a move aimed at enhancing the convenience of pilgrims, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will also offer online ticket booking for those wishing to travel to Sabarimala. A special provision has been made for pilgrims to purchase KSRTC tickets when booking their darshan through the virtual queue system. Furthermore, groups of at least 40 people will have the option to book seats on KSRTC buses up to 10 days in advance. If the place of departure is within 10 km of the bus station, pilgrims will be picked up directly from their location.

For the first phase of the 2024 Mandala Makaravilakku pilgrimage, 383 buses have been arranged, with an additional 550 buses planned for the second phase. Kerala’s Minister for Transport, KB Ganesh Kumar, assured that the number of buses will be increased in response to the anticipated surge in passenger numbers during peak periods.