Sabarimala is one of the most visited pilgrim centres of India. Every year 40 million devotees come here to worship Lord Ayyappan. Sabarimala is located in Pathanamthitta, a district in the Travancore region, in the state of Kerala. The place is famous for rubber plantations and wood industries. 

The meaning of Sabarimala is the mountain of Sabari, who was a prominent Hindu mythological character. 

Sabarimala is the most famous and important religious destination in Kerala. Surrounded with forests and streams, Sabarimala is situated on the banks of the holy river Pampa, amidst Sahyadri Mountains in Western Ghats, and is 468 metres above sea level. The temple of Ayyapan is nestled within 18 hills and forests. 

Before the pilgrimage, devotees need to take a vratham of 41 days, which means they have to wear a garland made of Rudraksha or Tulsi beads and refrain from non-vegetarian food, alcohol, use of abusive language, haircut, shaving and many other activities. Devotees generally come here to settle shani-dosha and make life better.

Sabarimala town, though uninhabited by people, remains busy with pilgrim’s inflow, thus, resulting in the presence of various hotels and shops. A shrine of a Muslim saint name Vavaru Swamy is one of the attractions of this place. 

The best time to visit the destination is from November to March.