Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Finance Department has allocated ₹377.8 crore for the renovation of roads ahead of the Sabarimala Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. According to sources, a total of 82 roads across 10 districts including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Idukki will be repaired. Roads connecting to the temple will be included in this renovation work. The fund allocation comes just days after the state government announced a series of financial measures aimed at public welfare.

The Sabarimala Ayyappa temple is expected to witness a massive influx of devotees during the upcoming Mandala pilgrimage season, which will begin on November 16 and conclude on December 27.

The Travancore Devaswom Board opened virtual queue booking for darshan on November 1. Pilgrims can register for darshan through the temple’s official website. As per the board, a maximum of 70,000 pilgrims will be permitted to visit the shrine per day through the virtual queue system, while 20,000 devotees will be allowed daily through spot booking.

The hill shrine will open for the two-month-long pilgrimage season on November 16 at 5 pm. The temple will close on December 27, marking the end of the Mandala season, and reopen on December 30 ahead of the Makaravilakku Mahotsavam on January 14. The Makaravilakku pilgrimage will conclude on January 20.