German tents at Pamba and Nilakkal to accommodate 5,000 Sabarimala pilgrims

To ensure comfortable resting facilities for devotees visiting Sabarimala during the Mandala-Makaravilakku season, spacious German tents have been set up at Pamba and Nilakkal. The temporary structures near the Triveni main bridge can accommodate up to 5,000 pilgrims at a time, providing crucial relief during peak rush periods.

The move comes as a replacement for the historic Ramamurthy Mandapam, which had a capacity to host around 3,500 pilgrims when crowd control measures halted movement at Pamba. The mandapam was completely washed away in the devastating floods of 2018. The newly erected German tents feature an open, column-free interior, allowing seamless movement and enabling large groups of devotees to rest together comfortably. Designed to withstand heavy rain, strong winds, and extreme heat, the tents are equipped with wooden flooring mats, making it convenient for pilgrims to lay out their bedding.

Nilakkal and Sannidhanam infrastructure updates
At Nilakkal, three German tents have been constructed. Two of these are dedicated resting spaces for pilgrims, while the third houses a joint control room for the police and revenue departments. Meanwhile, eight permanent buildings constructed under the Nilakkal Master Plan have been allocated for administrative use — six for police accommodation and mess facilities, and one each for KSRTC and Devaswom Board staff.

Despite these arrangements at the base camps, resting facilities at Sannidhanam remain limited. Devotees seeking shelter from rain and sun at the hilltop shrine currently rely on designated areas along one side of the Valiya Nadapandal and the Ayyappa Nilayam at Malikappuram.