Sabarimala Pilgrims Told To Avoid Forest Routes
The Pulmedu forest path covers a distance of approximately 16km. Due to the arduous nature of the forest paths, elderly devotees, persons with health issues or ailments, and small children are advised to avoid these routes.
Nellore: With the Mandala Puja approaching, Sabarimala is witnessing a heavy surge in pilgrim arrivals via the Nilakkal and Pulmedu routes.
Over 27 lakh devotees have visited the hill shrine this season, and the numbers keep rising. To ensure safety, the Pathanamthitta district police issued a media release on Monday, urging the devotees to avoid forest routes to reach Sabarimala.
The Pulmedu forest path covers a distance of approximately 16km. Due to the arduous nature of the forest paths, elderly devotees, persons with health issues or ailments, and small children are advised to avoid these routes. Only those with full physical fitness should choose this path, the release said.
The dense forest stretches lack immediate medical facilities. The safety of children or the ailing cannot be guaranteed under high-density crowd conditions.
The entry through the Pulmedu forest path via Vandiperiyar Sathram is strictly limited to 1,000 pilgrims per day. Devotees who have not secured a Virtual Q booking should not take the traditional forest routes.
These paths are monitored. Entry without valid documentation leads to congestion and safety risks for both the pilgrims and the security personnel.
No "special pass" is being issued for darshan to those arriving via the Erumely, the release clarified.
Pilgrims arriving without a prior Virtual Q booking are directed to proceed to Nilakkal first. At Nilakkal, pilgrims must use the help desks to secure a Virtual Q/Spot booking spot. After obtaining a valid booking, they should proceed to Pamba to continue their journey, the release added.