Alappuzha, Kumarakom & Kottayam · Ayyappa hill shrine
Sabarimala group trip guide
Sabarimala: Ayyappa hill shrine in Alappuzha, Kumarakom & Kottayam, Kerala. From Kochi it is 173 km by road (to the Pamba side; in the season vehicles park at Nilakkal), 5–6 hours with stops. Groups give it 2–3 days with the trek. A 17-seater tempo traveller with driver from Kochi costs ₹14,000–17,100 for a 2-day round trip, as of Oct 2026.
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Photo: Dhinakar01, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
- From Kochi
- 173 km by road (to the Pamba side; in the season vehicles park at Nilakkal)
- Time to give it
- 2–3 days with the trek
- Best season
- Mid-November to mid-January (Mandala–Makaravilakku)
- Fare from Kochi
- ₹14,000–17,100 round trip (Oct 2026)
- Nearest airport
- Kochi (COK) or Thiruvananthapuram (TRV)
The Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha (Ayyappa) temple stands in the forest hills of Pathanamthitta district and is run by the Travancore Devaswom Board.
The main season is Mandala–Makaravilakku, from mid-November to mid-January; the temple also opens for the first days of each Malayalam month.
Pilgrims observe a vow (vratham) before the trip and climb on foot from Pamba to the shrine (Sannidhanam).
How many are going?
Slide to your group size: the vehicle that fits, and its fare to Sabarimala from each city, from the tables below.
Fits your group
Tempo Traveller 17-seater or Force Urbania (luxury van)
13–17 or 10–17 seats
₹6,800–8,400 for a full day (250 km)
Palakkad → Sabarimala
₹16,900–20,800
Tempo Traveller 17-seater · 281 km one way · 2 days, round trip
Tap a route:
Indicative fares from the tables on this page (see the notes under them); operators quote the exact price.
Why groups go
Every season, Ayyappa groups from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra hire a tempo traveller or bus for the yatra, often adding Guruvayur, Ettumanoor or Erumeli.
Temples, churches & mosques
How far is Sabarimala
Distances are to the Pamba side; in the season vehicles park at Nilakkal.
| From | Road km | With stops | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palakkad | 281 km | 7–8 h | Route: Palakkad to Sabarimala |
| Kochi | 173 km | 5–6 h | Route: Kochi to Sabarimala |
| Kozhikode | 347 km | 8–10 h | – |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 205 km | 6–7 h | – |
Group fares from Kochi
Round trip with driver, 2 days, by vehicle.
| Vehicle | Seats | Round trip, 2 days |
|---|---|---|
| SUV / Innova | 6–7 | ₹9,800–12,900 |
| Tempo Traveller 12-seater | 9–12 | ₹11,900–15,000 |
| Tempo Traveller 17-seater | 13–17 | ₹14,000–17,100 |
| Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater | 18–26 | ₹16,100–20,300 |
| AC Coach 40–49 seater | 36–49 | ₹30,200–40,700 |
Indicative range, updated Oct 2026; actual quotes from verified operators may differ. For a round trip with driver: vehicle hire at the class's ₹/km band (minimum 250 km a day), driver allowance ₹500 a day, night halt ₹300, 5% GST. Tolls and parking are extra, at actual cost. Post your trip for exact itemised quotes.
Indicative range, updated Oct 2026; actual quotes from verified operators may differ. For a round trip with driver: vehicle hire at the class's ₹/km band (minimum 250 km a day), driver allowance ₹500 a day, night halt ₹300, 5% GST. Tolls and parking are extra, at actual cost. Post your trip for exact itemised quotes.
When to go and how long
- Best season: Mid-November to mid-January (Mandala–Makaravilakku).
- Time to give it: 2–3 days with the trek.
- Who goes: Pilgrims, Ayyappa groups.
Add on nearby
Circuits that include Sabarimala
Arriving from abroad or another state
- Nearest airport: Kochi (COK) or Thiruvananthapuram (TRV).
- Nearest railway station: Chengannur or Kottayam.
- Operators quote the airport or station pickup with the whole trip: put your arrival in the request.
Operators for Sabarimala
Approved operators who take groups to Sabarimala. Ask for quotes here: your request reaches them through the platform and you compare itemised offers.
Nalkco Trip Mentors
VerifiedVehicle Owner
Palakkad, Kerala
281 km by road from Sabarimala
2 vehicles · 16 seats
- Replies in ~10 min
Saravanabhava Translinks
Vehicle Owner
Karur, Tamil Nadu
Serves Sabarimala
Fleet details on request
Seventree holidays
Vehicle Owner
Bengaluru, Karnataka
536 km by road from Sabarimala
Fleet details on request
R M A Travels
Vehicle Owner
Puducherry
Serves Sabarimala
Fleet details on request
Official pages and sources
Opening hours, tickets and permits change: check them on the official pages before you travel.
How booking works
- Post your trip onceDates, pickup, places and group size. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- Verified operators quoteWe invite up to 6 verified operators near you, aiming for 3 quotes, and invite more if fewer reply within 2 hours.
- Compare itemised quotesVehicle, driver allowance, night halts, tolls and taxes, line by line, side by side.
- Book and pay the operatorAccept a quote and pay the operator an advance (25%) directly. No Yippigo fee: free until 31 December 2026.
Questions groups ask
Kochi-il ninnu Sabarimala-lekku ethra dooram? (How far is Sabarimala from Kochi?)
173 km by road (to the Pamba side; in the season vehicles park at Nilakkal): 5–6 hours in a tempo traveller or bus with tea and meal stops (group vehicles average 45–50 km an hour, about 35 on ghat roads). Road distance from our route catalog.
Sabarimala-lekku tempo traveller-inu ethra rate aakum? (What does a tempo traveller to Sabarimala cost?)
Round trip from Kochi (173 km one way, 2 days) with driver: 17-seater ₹14,000–17,100, 40–49 seater bus ₹30,200–40,700. Indicative, as of Oct 2026; post the trip for the exact rate.
What does a group trip to Sabarimala cost?
Round trip from Kochi with driver: SUV / Innova ₹9,800–12,900; Tempo Traveller 12-seater ₹11,900–15,000; Tempo Traveller 17-seater ₹14,000–17,100; Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater ₹16,100–20,300; AC Coach 40–49 seater ₹30,200–40,700. Indicative, as of October 2026, with driver allowance and 5% GST; hotels, food and entry tickets are extra.
How many days do we need for Sabarimala?
2–3 days with the trek. With the drive from Kochi, plan 2 to 3 days in all. Every season, Ayyappa groups from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra hire a tempo traveller or bus for the yatra, often adding Guruvayur, Ettumanoor or Erumeli.
When is the best time to visit Sabarimala?
Mid-November to mid-January (Mandala–Makaravilakku).
Which vehicle for our group?
4 people: Sedan; 7 people: SUV / Innova; 12 people: Tempo Traveller 12-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 17 people: Tempo Traveller 17-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 26 people: Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater; 45 people: AC Coach 40–49 seater.
How do we reach Sabarimala from abroad?
Nearest airport: Kochi (COK) or Thiruvananthapuram (TRV). Nearest railway station: Chengannur or Kottayam. Operators quote the airport pickup and the whole trip with a driver.
- Free to post
- Compare itemised quotes
- Pay the operator a 25% advance only after you accept a quote
- Operators quote only once their vehicle's papers are approved