Sabarimala Pullumedu Route: Daily Spot Booking Limited to 1000 Pilgrims; No Special Pass for Erumeli Arrivals

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Travancore Devaswom Board has announced that only 1000 pilgrims per day will be allowed through spot booking via Vandiperiyar Sannidhanam on the Sabarimala Pullumedu forest path. This restriction does not apply to pilgrims who have already booked their journey through the Vandiperiyar-Pullumedu route via the virtual queue system. The decision comes following a directive from the High Court.

Many pilgrims are increasingly choosing the Pullumedu route due to its natural beauty, widely shared on social media. However, the Pullumedu forest path is a challenging 16-kilometer trek, featuring not only picturesque meadows but also steep ascents and descents. The Travancore Devaswom Board has advised children and the elderly to avoid this route as much as possible.

In recent days, several pilgrims who became stranded in the forest while traversing the Pullumedu path had to be rescued by fire force teams and transported to Sannidhanam on stretchers. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that only those with full physical fitness undertake this arduous trek.

Furthermore, reports circulating on social media regarding special passes for devotees arriving via the traditional Erumeli forest path are baseless. No such special passes are currently being issued to pilgrims using the Erumeli traditional route. While there have been requests to implement such a pass system, the final decision will be made in accordance with High Court directives. As of now, devotees are not being provided with any special passes for this route.