The Trek to Sabarimala Sannidhanam in Kerala

Posted Date: 08-Jan-2011	Category: Temples in Kerala	Rating:
Author: Latha Jayaprakash	Member Level: Diamond	Points: 30 (Rs 25)

From Erumeli the pilgrims trek for about 60 kilometers to see their Lord Ayyappan at Sabarimala, sitting in splendour, on top of the neelimala. This is a very arduous and difficult trek and only the Saranam Vilis of the Ayyappas are heard all around calling him for help to see them through safe and sound.

The trek to Sabarimala Sannidhanam
There are three terekking routes to reach Sabarimala Sannidhanam which you can choose according toyour age and other capabilities. They are, the Erumeli route, the Chalakayam route and the Vandiperiyar route.
The trek of the Ayyappas to Sabarimala

About Erumeli / Eruma kolly

Erumeli, an important pilgrim center located at about 65 kilometers from Kottayam, is also known as the gateway to the Sabarimala Sri Swamy Ayyappan temple. Erumeli is located at the base of the Sabarimala Hills and river Koratti marks the entrance of the Erumeli town.
Erumeli is known as a place of communal harmony as Erumeli Sastha temple or Kochambalam and the Erumeli Mosque, which is dedicated to Vavar swamy are placed just opposite to each other. The name Erumeli is said to have been derived from the name Eruma kolly or Buffalo kill, because it is said that Ayyappan killed Mahishi who was in the shape of a buffalo. As the tribals helped out Ayyappan in his mission, Petta thullal a ritual dance of the tribals is performed by the Ayyappans who visit Sabarimala.

How to go to Sabarimala Sannidhanam from Erumeli?

The route to Sabarimala is very tedious and has been the main route for a longtime. This is the longest trekking route, for about 60 kilometers, to Sabarimala. The route passes through forested hills and the Ayyappans go through after praying at Kochambalam, Vavar palli and then Valiyambalam and start trekking to sabarimala. Nowadays there are many who take bus to Pamba and then trek from there to the Sannidhanam.
The route from Erumeli to sannidhanam will be through Perurthodu ( 4 kms from Erumeli), Kaalaketti ( about 10 kms from Perurthodu), Azutha river, a tributary of the Pamba river ( 2 kms from kaalaketti), Inchipparakota, Karimala and then Pambanadi.

How to go to sabarimala via Chalakayam route?

Chalakayam route is the easiest of the three routes to the Sabarimala Sannidhanam. Chalakayam is located very close to the Pamba and is just about 8 kilometers trekking to Sabarimala Sannidhanam.

How to go to Sabarimala through Vandiperiyar route?

Vandiperiyar route is on the Kumily Kottayam road and passes through Kozhikanam, Pullumedu, Uppupara and Uralkuzhi Theertham. For those coming in to Kerala from Tamilnadu Vandiperiyar route is the closest and the convenient route.
You can get KSRTC bus services and private jeep services from Vandiperiyar and Kumily for about 25 kilometers to Uppupara. From Uppupara it is trekking through Pandithavalam which has become a major camping area for the pilgrims of Swami Ayyappan. This is about 4 kilometers trek from Uppupara to Ayyappa Sannidhanam.
Another route from Vandiperiyar is to travel to Mount Estate for about 8 kilometers by vehicles and then trekking to Sabarimala for 12 kilometers.

Route from Pamba to Sannidhanam

From Pamba to the sabarimala Sannidhanam the trekking route is the same for all pilgrims and is aboutn 5 kilometers long.
The trek from pamba to sannidhanam will be through Pamba sadya / Feast, Pamba vilakku, Sabari peetham, Saramkuthi and then Pathinettampadi. From Saramkuthi, where the Kanniswamis leave a wooden arrow which they got from Erumeli, it is just 15 minutes walk to the Pathinettampadi.
There ends the trek to Sannidhanam and you can see the Lord Ayyappa siting in all his splendour and grace.

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