Sabarimala Temple, Kerala

It happens to be the largest annual pilgrimage in the world with a whooping approximate number of around 17 million 50 thousands devotees from the country and as well as from other parts of the globe visiting the temple every year. Ayappan or Dharma Sastha is the deity worshipped here in the temple who as per belief is the son of Lord Shiva. The temple is located at an altitude of 480m above the sea level on a hilltop surrounded by 18 hills amidst dense forest and mountains. The Sabarimala temple is the most famous and popular of all the temples Sastha temples in the state of Kerala.

The Sabarimala temple propels religious harmony as it can be visited by people of any and every religion without any distinction. Another very interesting thing about the temple is that it remains open only during the days of Vishu, Makaravilakku and Mandalapooja and not throughout the year unlike most other temples in the country. It is said that anyone who wish to visit the Sabarimala temple needs to maintain strict chastity for forty one days. The Sabarimala temple can be reached via the traditional forest route which is quite a challenge to handle as well as the one from Pamba which again is far less an uphill task physically.