Sabarimala Ayyappa temple witnesses lakhs of devotees every day, especially during the Mandala Puja and Makara Vilakku seasons. To manage the heavy rush, the Kerala Police and Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) have introduced a Spot Q Token (Spot Queue Token) facility at Nilakkal and Pamba entry points.
This system helps devotees who miss their Virtual Queue reporting time or those who arrive without online booking.
Current Sabarimala Crowd Status
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More than 4 lakh devotees are visiting daily.
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Heavy rush is observed at Pamba and Nilakkal entry gates.
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Due to overcrowding, the online quota for Pamba entry has been reduced.
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In its place, Spot Q Tokens are being issued directly at Nilakkal for devotees present in the parking area.
Spot Q Token Darshan Booking at Nilakkal & Pamba
During peak season, Sabarimala hill can safely accommodate only 80,000 to 1,00,000 pilgrims per day. However, during special days like Makara Jyothi, the number has gone up to 3.6 lakh devotees in a single day.
Because of this high footfall:
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Waiting time for Ayyappa Maala Swamis has gone up to 20+ hours
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Waiting time for civilian dress devotees is around 12 hours
Many pilgrims with Virtual Queue tickets fail to reach on time due to traffic and parking delays. To solve this issue, TDB introduced the Spot Q Token Registration System.
How Spot Q Token Registration Works
Devotees must follow these steps:
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Visit the Pilgrim Information Center at Nilakkal Bus Stand.
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Submit Aadhaar ID for verification.
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Kerala Police will take a photo and ID details.
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You will receive an entry time slot for the Pamba Queue Gate.
Important Rules for Spot Q Token
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Spot registration is currently limited to 5,000 devotees per day.
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Only Ayyappa Maala Swamis are allowed for Spot Q Token at Nilakkal & Vandiperiyar.
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These restrictions will continue until November 24 (or longer depending on crowd levels).
How to Check Sabarimala Darshan Queue Status & Waiting Time Online
To help pilgrims stay informed, real-time updates are available through multiple channels:
1. LED Displays on Sabarimala Route
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LED boards along the Pamba–Sannidhanam trekking path show:
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Hourly Queue status
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Waiting time
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Temple opening & closing timings
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Any crowd-related alerts
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2. Information Centers & Police Helpdesks
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Kerala Police Control Room
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Pilgrim First Aid Centers
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Devotee Information Centers
All these provide IVRS phone updates regarding darshan status and crowd movement.
3. Official Website Updates
Visit:
sabarimalaonline.org → News Section
for daily announcements from the Devaswom Board.
4. Official Contact Details
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Email for Grievances: grievance.virtualqtdb@gmail.com
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Kerala Police Sabarimala Station Helpline: 94979 80229
These helplines provide queue status, safety instructions, reporting times, and general assistance.
Key Highlights
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Spot Q Token registration now available at Nilakkal & Vandiperiyar.
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Only 5,000 tokens issued daily due to current crowd pressure.
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Aadhaar ID mandatory for spot registration.
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Real-time waiting time updates available via LED screens and Police IVRS.
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Online Virtual Queue booking continues on sabarimalaonline.org.