Sabarimala in June
Kerala, India
Monsoon floods make the mountain trek impassable and dangerous in June
June in Sabarimala is when the southwest monsoon arrives — Kerala is the first state in India to receive the SW current, on or around June 1. Rainfall hits 800-1000mm across 22-25 wet days at the 914m hill. Daytime 22-26C, humidity 95 percent. The shrine opens only for the 1st-of-Malayalam-month brief opening — Mithunam (the Malayalam month roughly mid-June to mid-July) opens for a 5-7 day pooja window, exact dates verified each year at sabarimalaonline.org. Outside this window, the trek path is closed, KSRTC special-bus services suspend, Pampa parking shuts. The Pampa River roars dangerous in monsoon — the 5km Pampa-Sannidhanam trek route through the Periyar Tiger Reserve buffer zone floods, with sections submerged on heavy-rain days. The Pampa Triveni confluence runs at full Western Ghats catchment volume. Closest railhead Kottayam (100km) — the trek itself is closed in everything but name. Wait for November when the Mandala-Makaravilakku window opens.
Why June scores 2.0/10
Weather
SW monsoon. Temple closed except 1st-of-Malayalam-month brief opening. Pampa River dangerous.
Who should go
- ✓Travelers with basic fitness
- ✓Remote workers (network available)
Who should think twice
- ✗Those with mobility issues
- ✗Families with young children
- ✗Everyone
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 10.0/10 | Mandala-Makaravilakku peak Jan 1-14. 5-22C at 914m. 5km Pampa-Sannidhanam trek. Black-dhoti pilgrim crowds. |
| February | 2.0/10 | Mandala season ended Jan 14. Temple closed except 1st of Malayalam month brief openings. Skip. |
| March | 2.0/10 | Post-Mandala closure. Temple opens only for brief 1st-of-Malayalam-month windows. Skip. |
| April | 4.0/10 | Vishu Apr 14 brief opening. Temple opens for 10-day Vishu window. Otherwise closed. |
| May | 2.0/10 | Post-Vishu closure. Temple opens only for brief 1st-of-Malayalam-month windows. Skip. |
| Juneviewing | 2.0/10 | SW monsoon. Temple closed except 1st-of-Malayalam-month brief opening. Pampa River dangerous. |
| July | 2.0/10 | Peak monsoon. Temple closed except 1st-of-Malayalam-month brief. Trek path dangerous. |
| August | 2.0/10 | Monsoon continues. Temple closed except 1st-of-Malayalam-month brief. Onam not Sabarimala-anchored. |
| September | 2.0/10 | Monsoon retreating. Temple closed except 1st-of-Malayalam-month brief. Skip — wait for Mandala. |
| October | 2.0/10 | Pre-Mandala closure. Temple opens only for 1st-of-Malayalam-month brief. Mandala opens Nov 16-17. |
| November | 10.0/10 | Mandala-Makaravilakku opens Nov 16-17. 19-25C at 914m. 5km Pampa-Sannidhanam trek active. |
| December | 10.0/10 | Mandala peak-build. 8-22C at 914m. 5-10M pilgrims pass through in December alone. Book virtual queue 6 weeks ahead. |
Ready to book your stay?
We sit before the booking layer, not beside it — compare prices on the platforms below.
Tours and experiences
Treks, safaris and day tours — compare on the platforms below.
We don't take payment to feature any destination, stay or operator. Book through a link here and we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It never affects our scores or recommendations. Editorial policy
Don't miss the next Sabarimala window
One Sunday briefing on where to actually go in India, plus a 3-week heads-up before each destination you save hits its peak month. No spam.
Free. No sponsored picks. Unsubscribe in one click.