Unprecedented rush of the pilgrims to the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple, the two forests routes to the hill temple from Erumely and Vandiperiyar Sathram have been witnessed on the annual pilgrimage season.

On Tuesday afternoon at Erumely 15,000 devotes passed through the trekking route,and during the same period 6,928 pilgrims trekked through the Sathram-Pullumdu. These routes are opening announced by the Forest Department and become active after the ‘Panthrand Vilakk’ (twelfth day ritual) at Sabarimala.

Erumely-Karimala route has recorded a subscriptive rise with each passing day and it will hot the peak during the Makaravilakku season in January. This route previous record of 3.75 lakh passengers are reported during the 2017-18 season,said B.R.Jayan Range Forest officer, Erumely. Trekking through the Erumely path the forest department has made elaborate arrangements in association with members of the Vana Samrakshana Samithi(VSS) for the camping of pilgrims during nights.

Route of the opening portion from Koyikkakavu Temple to Kalatty Falls with the Kottayam forest division.To ensure the safety of the pilgrims along the karimala route,which reported instances of wildlife encounters in the previous year, the Forest Department has deployed as many as 40 forest officers and 80 temporary staff including forest watchers.Two Rapid Response Teams(RRTs) from peermade and Ranni too have been deployed to confront any emergency situation.