Sabarimala pilgrimage: Forest routes see record crowds this season

India Dec 14, 2025

This year's Sabarimala pilgrimage is seeing a significant rise in devotees choosing forest trails over the usual paths—over 1.02 lakh people have already taken these forest routes.
The Azuthakadav-Pamba and Sathram-Vandiperiyar routes are especially popular, with thousands making the trek each day.

Big turnout means tighter food safety checks

With footfall at Sannidhanam crossing 24 lakh and daily records being set, officials are stepping up food safety.
Over 600 inspections have been carried out at key spots, and food outlets now have to display helpline numbers so pilgrims can easily report concerns.
Special squads are also running awareness programs to help keep everyone safe during this busy season.