Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple,Sabarimala is one of India’s most famous pilgrimage centres, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. The temple stands on a forested hilltop, reached by trekking routes through the Western Ghats. During the main Mandala–Makaravilakku season, millions of devotees, following strict vows and dress codes, undertake the pilgrimage, turning the otherwise quiet forest region into a massive, disciplined religious gathering.
About this place
History & highlights
The Ayyappa tradition at Sabarimala blends local hill-deity worship with broader Hindu legends of Lord Ayyappa as a celibate warrior-god. The shrine has ancient roots, but its large-scale popularity grew over the last few centuries under Travancore royal patronage and, later, modern roads and buses. In the 20th century, Sabarimala became a pan-South Indian pilgrimage, with devotees from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and beyond. Its history is also central to contemporary debates on tradition, gender and temple entry, making it both a spiritual and socio-cultural focal point.
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