Bangalore to Sabarimala Bus for Ayyappa Devotees
Top Rated Bus & Car Rental Services
App Store
(1.2K+ Reviews)
Play Store
(1.4K+ Reviews)
Google Reviews
(2.7K+ Reviews)
100K+Customers(Since 2009)
Top Rated Bus & Car Rental Services
Sabarimala Sannidhanam
About 5 km uphill on foot from Pamba. Fifty swamis should climb in small groups with one leader each.
Pamba Ganapathi Temple
At the start of the climb. Most groups pray here first.
Nilakkal
The bus parking base in the season. Shuttle buses run to Pamba.
Erumeli Sastha Temple and Vavar Palli
On the way. Petta Thullal and a short visit.
Thekkady
Near Kumily. Only if the group has a free half day on the return.
Pandalam Valiyakoyikkal Temple
Pandalam is where Ayyappa is believed to have grown up as the prince of the royal family. The sacred ornaments, the Thiruvabharanam, are kept at the palace and carried in procession on foot to Sabarimala for Makaravilakku. Many devotees visit the Valiyakoyikkal temple before or after the pilgrimage.
Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple
An old Shiva temple at the Nilakkal base camp, where most vehicles park during the pilgrim season. Devotees often pray here while waiting for the bus to Pampa or on the way back, making it a natural part of the modern pilgrimage.
Thekkady and Periyar Tiger Reserve
Right on the route at Kumily, Thekkady offers boat rides on Periyar Lake, where elephants and bison come to the water’s edge, along with spice plantation tours and Kathakali performances. It is a relaxing stop for families on the return trip after the pilgrimage.
Distance
635 km
From Bangalore
Time
About 16 hr
Via Krishnagiri, Theni and Erumeli
Starting from
₹ 55440
3 days, 1,260 km, 27 seater
Start
90 km
205 km
295 km
370 km
445 km
485 km
505 km
560 km
580 km
610 km
630 km
Pooja and departure
Once the pooja at the temple or bhajan hall is over, the bus leaves at 4 am; pick a hall with room for a coach to wait. Irumudi kettus travel in the cabin, bags go in the hold, and the guru swami keeps the list of names, IDs and virtual queue bookings. A big bus loads best outside the city centre, where the police allow very little time for pickups. Day one runs to Kumily, about 505 km away, with breakfast at Krishnagiri.
Breakfast
For a full bus, breakfast is at Krishnagiri, about 90 km out, at a big highway hotel that can serve the swamis vegetarian tiffin in about 40 minutes. The coordinator counts heads before the bus moves on. Krishnagiri is the meeting point of NH44, NH48 and NH77, and the bus takes NH44 for Salem. The rocky hills around the town glow in the early light. The Hosur to Krishnagiri stretch is being widened, so the bus may slow at work zones.
Tea break
At about 205 km the bus halts on the Salem bypass for tea and toilets, fifteen minutes if the group moves in batches. NH44 continues south to Karur, the road the bus takes, while NH544 branches west for Coimbatore and Palakkad. Salem is a big handloom town with over 75,000 looms, and its sago is well known. Mettur dam is about 52 km away. The bus moves on for lunch at Dindigul.
Drive through
Through Karur, about 295 km out, the bus does not stop. Many of India's bus bodies are built in this town, a fact the driver may point out to the group. Karur also has spinning mills and dyeing units. It lies on the Amaravathi, Kaveri and Noyyal rivers, and October brings most of its little rain. The Pasupatheeswarar temple stands in the centre, away from the highway. Dindigul is a little over an hour ahead.
Lunch
Lunch for a busload of swamis at Dindigul, about 370 km out, takes about 45 minutes; we call ahead so the vegetarian meals are ready. Rice with sambar and rasam is the local everyday plate. The Dindigul fort, built by a Madurai Nayak king in 1605, sits on a rock about 900 ft high. Village roads around the town are narrow, so the bus stays on the highway. Theni is about 75 km west.
Before the ghat
At Theni, about 445 km out, the bus stops twenty minutes for tea and toilets before the hills. It is the last big town on the plains, tucked under the Western Ghats. Theni is very hot in summer, about 39.5 C on average, but the Mandala months are mild. The Vaigai dam near Andipatti is about 111 ft high. Fill the water cans; after Cumbum comes the climb to Kumily.
Ghat begins
The bus passes Cumbum, about 485 km out, where the plains end. Buses use the Kumily ghat every day, but in the season it is full of pilgrim vehicles, so the driver climbs slowly and keeps to his lane. Cumbum sits at about 391 m, and the climb to Kumily is about 20 km. Grapes from the valley's vineyards are sold at the roadside, and the coordinator can buy some on the return.
Into Kerala
Kumily, about 505 km out, is the night halt for the bus group. Book a lodge with bus parking on the main road, as the side lanes are narrow. Homestays and lodges have spread here since the 1980s, but rooms for a big group fill fast in the Mandala season, so book early. Cardamom, pepper and tea are sold all along the road. The bus leaves at dawn for Erumeli, about 75 km away, by Peermade and Mundakayam.
Turn for Erumeli
Mundakayam, about 560 km out, is where the bus turns off NH183, the Kottayam to Kumily road, for Erumeli. The hills here are planted with rubber, coffee, pepper and cocoa. Kottayam lies about 48 km west. Erumeli is about 12 km on, and a full bus takes the narrow estate road there carefully. The coordinator can use these minutes to split the swamis into Petta Thullal groups and remind everyone of the meeting point.
Petta Thullal
Erumeli, about 580 km out, is the Petta Thullal halt, and with a full bus it takes about an hour. On peak Mandala and Makaravilakku days the town is packed, so the bus drops the group and parks on the edge of town. The traditional forest path to Sabarimala, around 61 km, starts from here; nearly every group now continues by road. Cochin airport is about 119 km away. Nilakkal, the parking base, is about 30 km on.
Bus parking
Nilakkal, about 610 km out, is where the bus parks. All Sabarimala vehicles pass this base camp on State Highway 67, and parking on the road towards Pamba is not allowed. The ground holds 8,000 to 10,000 vehicles and runs on FASTag. From here KSRTC chain buses carry pilgrims to Pamba in season, and the tickets can be booked with the virtual queue. Many tie the irumudi at the Palliyarakkavu Devi temple, beside the Mahadeva shrine.
Nilakkal parking
The group reaches Pamba after about 16 hours of driving in all, on the morning of day two. Swamis bathe in the river first; the Pamba is the third longest river in Kerala. Climb in small groups, each with a leader, and fix a meeting point for the way down. Only those with the irumudi kettu go up the 18 holy steps. Wear plain black or blue. The bus waits at Nilakkal, and the driver keeps in touch with the guru swami by phone.
Taking an Ayyappa group of 30 to 50 swamis from your area to Sabarimala? Our Bangalore to Sabarimala Bus guide below gives the route, the halts and the price for every size. A private bus keeps the whole group and their irumudi together all the way to Nilakkal. Book a bus on rent in Bangalore with Tejas Tours & Travels.
Route | One way | Sabarimala and back | Time by bus |
|---|---|---|---|
Bangalore to Sabarimala via Krishnagiri, Theni and Erumeli | About 630 km | About 1,260 km | About 16 hr with stops |
Pamba is about 630 km away, about 1260 km there and back. That is more than the daily minimum, so the bus is billed at the actual km, about 1260. Many bus groups take four days; the km stay the same and only one more day of driver allowance is added. Tolls, parking, GST and the Tamil Nadu and Kerala permits for the bus at actual. The per km rate already pays for diesel and driver; the driver's day allowance is extra. Pick an AC or a non-AC coach; that choice sets the rate.
Vehicle | Round trip rate | Sabarimala and back, 3 days (1,260 km) | Driver allowance | Allowance for 3 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
₹44/km | ₹55,440 | ₹700/day | ₹2,100 | |
₹44/km | ₹55,440 | ₹700/day | ₹2,100 | |
₹44/km | ₹55,440 | ₹700/day | ₹2,100 | |
₹60/km | ₹75,600 | ₹1,000/day | ₹3,000 | |
₹60/km | ₹75,600 | ₹1,000/day | ₹3,000 | |
₹65/km | ₹81,900 | ₹1,000/day | ₹3,000 | |
₹54/km | ₹68,040 | ₹1,000/day | ₹3,000 | |
₹54/km | ₹68,040 | ₹1,000/day | ₹3,000 |
Up to 30 swamis: 30 seater bus. 31 to 40: 40 seater bus. 41 to 50: 50 seater bus. Irumudi bags need rack space, so do not fill every seat.
Group of 20? The Bangalore to Sabarimala mini bus costs less. Season rules, the climb and virtual queue are in our Bangalore to Sabarimala travel guide.
Cancellation: no charge more than 72 hours before pickup; see the cancellation policy for the rest.
29 Seater Bus A/C 2/2
NORMALAC29 Seats
₹14,086 ₹16,909
+ ₹2409 (Taxes & Charges)
30 Seater Bus A/C 2/2
NORMALAC30 Seats
₹14,086 ₹16,909
+ ₹2409 (Taxes & Charges)
32 Seater Bus A/C 2/2
NORMALAC32 Seats
₹14,086 ₹16,909
+ ₹2409 (Taxes & Charges)
33 Seater Bus A/C 2/2
NORMALAC33 Seats
₹14,086 ₹16,909
+ ₹2409 (Taxes & Charges)
.jpeg?tr=w-64,h-64,c-at_max)
40 Seater Bus A/C 2/2
LUXURYAC40 Seats
₹19,042 ₹22,848
+ ₹3248 (Taxes & Charges)
45 Seater Bus A/c 2/2
LUXURYAC45 Seats
₹20,497 ₹24,609
+ ₹3509 (Taxes & Charges)
49 Seater Bus A/C 2/3
NORMALAC49 Seats
₹17,296 ₹20,733
+ ₹2933 (Taxes & Charges)
50 Seater Bus A/C 2/3
NORMALAC50 Seats
₹17,296 ₹20,733
+ ₹2933 (Taxes & Charges)
27 Seater Bus A/C 2/1
LUXURYAC27 Seats
₹14,086 ₹16,909
+ ₹2409 (Taxes & Charges)
30 seater bus A/C Executive 2/2
LUXURYAC30 Seats
₹15,250 ₹18,319
+ ₹2619 (Taxes & Charges)
45 Seater Benz Bus A/C 2/2
LUXURYAC45 Seats
₹21,952 ₹26,371
+ ₹3771 (Taxes & Charges)
Volvo Bus A/C 2/2
LUXURYAC45 Seats
₹22,000
+ ₹3780 (Taxes & Charges)
Travelled to Bangalore
We had a great experience with this travel agent while arranging a bus for our team outing. The response was quick and professional, and all our requirements were handled smoothly. The bus arrived on time, was neat and clean, and the journey was very comfortable. Special thanks to Mahantesh, who was the coordinator and supported us with all last-minute changes. The overall coordination was excellent, which made our trip hassle-free. Highly recommended for group travel arrangement.
Sagar Bamashetti
11/9/2025 Bangalore
5/5
Travelled to Bangalore
Sharing a quick note of appreciation for the bus arranged through Tejes Travel for our team outing. The 40-seater bus was very comfortable, clean, and well maintained, which made the journey smooth and enjoyable for everyone. The driver was punctual, polite, and cooperative, and the overall coordination from the Tejes Travel team was very good.
Saroj Gupta
6/11/2025 Bangalore
5/5
Travelled to Bangalore
I had booked to go to a resort on a day trip with senior citizens too.. Ms. Revathi was so good arranging a very good, comfortable bus. Which came in time. Driver was also very polite.. Thanks a lot ms. Revathi and Tejas tours and travels.
Somaasunder Ks
2/6/2025 Bangalore
5/5
Travelled to Bangalore
Lead Consultantancy, we had booked the bus from Tejas Tours and Travels. The experience was great. 1. Good Customer service 2. Soft spoken driver 3. Clean seats and Good AC They were professional, great experience. Overall we support and recommend.
Ramesh Thirugnanam
13/10/2024 Bangalore
5/5
Pamba is about 630 km from Bangalore, so the round trip is around 1,260 km. The bus runs south on NH44 to Dindigul, west by Theni and Cumbum, over the Kumily ghat and on through Mundakayam and Erumeli to Nilakkal. Driving time is about 16 hours for a full bus, split with a night at Kumily.
About 1260 km at actual. A 40 seater at ₹60/km is ₹75,600; a 50 seater at ₹54/km is ₹68,040. Driver allowance ₹1,000/day a day, tolls, permits and GST extra.
In the season, usually not. Buses park at Nilakkal and shuttle buses take pilgrims to Pamba. We check the year's rule before you start.
Three days is tight with fifty people. Most bus groups take four; the km stay about the same.
The 50 seater. All sizes are on bus on rent in Bangalore.
Salem, Dindigul, Theni and Kumily. The Palakkad road is longer.
The Mandala season, about 15 November to 26 December, and the days around Makaravilakku on 14 January. Erumeli, the Kumily ghat and the Nilakkal parking are full then, and a big bus loses time in queues. The monthly openings, the first five days of each Malayalam month, and Vishu in April are lighter. In the southwest monsoon the ghat is wet and slow.
We avoid it. The Kumily ghat and the estate roads after Mundakayam are narrow and crowded with pilgrim traffic in the season, and a big bus needs daylight there. A straight run would also need two drivers. With one driver the Kumily night halt is part of the plan, and the swamis reach Erumeli rested.
.jpeg?tr=w-350,c-at_max,q-50)
