Sabarimala is the abode of the Ayyappa temple - one of the most famous pilgrim centers in India, visited by crores of devotees every year.

Sabarimala temple history is explained in many famous books.

Of the several legends associated with the origin of Ayyappa, an interesting one is the about the heroics of Ayyan. It is said that ten generations back, there lived a man named Ayyan or Ayyappan from Vellalar kulam. He was the army chief of the Pandalam royal family. After winning the battle against the notorious bandit chief Udayanan, in which Ayyan…

Sabarimala is the abode of the Ayyappa temple - one of the most famous pilgrim centers in India, visited by crores of devotees every year.

Sabarimala temple history is explained in many famous books.

Of the several legends associated with the origin of Ayyappa, an interesting one is the about the heroics of Ayyan. It is said that ten generations back, there lived a man named Ayyan or Ayyappan from Vellalar kulam. He was the army chief of the Pandalam royal family. After winning the battle against the notorious bandit chief Udayanan, in which Ayyan was instrumental, King Pandya decided to reconstruct the ancient Achankovil Sastha temple with the help of Ayyan, Vavar (a muslim from Kanjhirapalli), and Kadutha (A nair youth from muzhukeer). But unfortunately Ayyan was killed in a clash and after his demise people thought he was the 'avatar of Sastha' and started worshiping him. Later Ayyappa and Sastha became synonymous. Since then people are worshiping him as their god.

Sabarimala stands on the mountain ranges of the Western Ghats with rich forests and is inaccessible except on foot. Sabarimala forests are filled with various wild animals and while climbing the hill, one can spot them out also. The Pamba river flows nearby the mountain. Pilgrims take a holy dip in the river before climbing to the hillock temple. The Mandala, Sabarimala Makaravilakku pilgrimage season starts in November and ends in mid January. Makarajyoti is the brilliant light which appears in the north east side of mountain called 'kantamala', when the Thiruvabharanam - Jewel box - reach the temple (‘Thiruvabharanam’ is a property of Pandalam Royal Palace). The temple remains closed for the rest of the year except for the first five days of the every Malayalam month and 'Vishu'. Sabarimala temple timings are same for those five days. Sabarimala Swami Ayyappa temple is 5 km away from Pamba, 72 km from Pathanamthitta and 102 km from Thiruvalla Railway Station. There are also a variety of tourist destinations in Sabarimala route. Kumbavaratty, Charalkunnu, Kadamanitta, Muloor, Nilackal, Kodumon (famous for chilanthy - spider well - temple) and Kozhenchery are some of the nearest spots. Niranam church and Sree vallabha temple are the other nearest pilgrimage sites. Sabarimala is a cen-percent religious hub with plentiful attractions. A Sabarimala trip can not only take one through the extreme edges of nature but can change one's life also.