SABARIMALA

MASTER PLAN
FOR
DEVELOPMENT OF SABARIMALA & ASSOCIATED AREAS
SWAMY SARANAM
SABARIMALA SRI AYYAPPA TEMPLE, the mountain shrine situated in the Sahyadri Hills, within
the Periyar Tiger Reserve, attracts millions of devotees every year. The hill temple can be reached
only by trekking a four kilometer steep path through the forests. Pilgrimage to the temple,
followed by the arduous walk after crossing River Pampa, becomes a source of spiritual cleansing
and chastisement for the devotees, who undertake the pilgrimage year after year driven by divine
magnetism.

AGE OLD CUSTOMS AND BELIEFS regulate the pilgrimage to Sabarimala. Wearing Tulasi
Maala (stringed beads of Ocimum Sanctum) the devotees undertake a strict regimen of purity of
body, mind, thought, word and deed for a period of Mandalam (41 days) in preparation for the
holy pilgrimage .
TRADITIONAL BELIEFS do not permit women in the age group of 10 to 50 to visit the hill shrine.
The peak pilgrim period is from mid-November to mid-January, with Mandala Pooja in the last
week of December and Makara Vilakku in the second week of January. However, the temple is
open for the frst fve days of all the Malayalam months and for Vishu and Onam festivals.
PAMPA, the banks of river Pampa, on the foothills of Sabarimala is the base from where mountain
trekking is undertaken. Pampa Ganapathy and the shrines of Hanuman, Sree Parvathy and the
Serpent God bless the devotees before their onward trekking to Sri Ayyappa temple. A dip in the
Pampa river, Pampa Sadya (feast), Pampa Vilakku (lighting the lamps) and worshipping in the above
shrines are considered holy experiences preparing one to eventually reach the divine abode of
Lord Ayyappa.
SABARIMALA SRI AYYAPPA TEMPLE
IMPLEMENTATION OF SABARIMALA MASTER PLAN
TO ARRANGE for preparation of Detailed Master Plans and Project Plans, to evolve effective
implementation strategies, to mobilize required resources for project implementation and to
oversee Master Plan implementation, the Hon. High Court of Kerala constituted a HIGH POWER
COMMITTEE (HPC) for Implementation of Sabarimala Master Plan.
THE HPC, chaired by Shri K. Jayakumar IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Kerala,
has the following members:

President and the two Members of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB);
Devaswom Commissioner;
Chief Engineer (General), TDB;
Chief Engineer, TDB;
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests;
Chief Engineer (Transmission), KSEB; and
Chairman Pollution Control Board, Kerala
Representative of IL&FS EcoSmart, the agency which prepared the Master Plan.
TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL assistance to the HPC, a Technical Committee is nomi-
nated on the decision of the Hon. High Court of Kerala, with the following experts:
Shri A. Kasturi Rangan, (former Chief Town Planner, Government of Kerala); Dr. V.N. Sivasankara
Pillai (former Director, School of Environmental Sciences, CUSAT); and Prof. T.L. Shaji (Depart-
ment of Architecture, College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram).
The HPC for the Implementation of Sabarimala Master Plan and the Travancore Devaswom Board
work together for the development of Sabarimala and the other locations and for providing the
required pilgrim facilities.
Implementation of Sabarimala Master Plan and its Projects is envisaged as a phased development
programme.
MASTER PLAN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
OF SABARIMALA
MILLIONS of Sri Ayyappa devotees visit the hill temple every year. Since the temple is located
within deep forest under the Tiger Reserve area there is limitation of space to accommodate
the surging pilgrims. It becomes imperative to optimize land utilization to provide the required
facilities and amenities for safe and happy pilgrimage.
A COMPREHENSIVE SABARIMALA MASTER PLAN has been prepared with the objectives of
planned overall development of:
Sannidhanam area, the abode of Lord Ayyappa on the mountain top;
Pampa the river front and the Pampa area;
Trekking paths to the hill top;
Development of base camp facilities at Nilakkal;
Development of feeder towns/places like Erumeli, Pathanamthitta, Vandiperiyar etc. and
The approach roads to Sabarimala
The Master Plan envisages:
Infrastructure Development;
Ecological Sustainability; and
Pilgrim facilities
PROGRAMME PLAN: The Master Plan is considered as a broad programme plan with indicative
plans for each of the above locations/subjects.

DETAILED MASTER PLANS for each of the Master Plan locations/subjects are being prepared
employing services of individual consultants.
PROJECT PLANS are being prepared for each of the components of the Detailed Master Plans
which are adopted for implementation.
LISTED BELOW ARE A FEW PRIORITISED MAJOR
PROJECTS CARVED OUT OF THE DETAILED MASTER
PLAN PROPOSALS
WORK CODE PROJECT ESTIMATED COST
(in Rs. Lakhs)
SANNIDHANAM AREA
AROUND THE LORD AYYAPPA TEMPLE
SMP/S/2
Valia Nadapandal - Reconstruction - adding one more
foor and redevelopment with better facilities
2600
SMP/S/3
Prasadam Complex Construction of a new (modern)
Appam Aravana Complex with improved machinery
1600 + 400
SMP/S/4
Food Court construction of a new food court
grouping all restaurants & eating facilities to provide
hygienic environment
400
SMP/S/5
STPs Construction of new sewage treatment plant
and improvements to the existing small and big STPs
2000
SMP/S/6
Kunnar Dam Improvements to the catchment area
and intake works at the mini dam and construction of
fltering & storage tanks and laying pipes - to augment
water supply to Sannidhanam
150+ 700
SMP/S/1A
Sarana Sethu addl. facilities to the new exit road and
provision of road side facilities
150
SMP/S/7
Health kiosks installation of three health kiosks
(standard prefabricated modules) for emergency care
at Sannidhanam
(03x3) = 09
SMP/S/8
Bio mechanical compost plants installation of three
bio mechanical compost plants at different locations at
Sannidhanam
(08x3) = 24
SMP/S/9
Accommodation Controller Computerised modern
systems in the improved centralised accommodation of
controllers offce
40
SMP/S/10
Dormitory Halls improved viri pandals 3 units of
interconnected three storeyed buildings Rs. 250 lakhs
x 3
750
SMP/S/11
Annadana Halls 3 numbers of annadana halls each of
500 sqm area Rs. 100 lakhs x3
300
A FEW MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE SABARIMALA
MASTER PLAN
LISTED BELOW ARE A FEW MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE OVERALL MASTER PLAN FOR
SABARIMALA
1. Sannidhanam Area to improve infrastructure & accommodation facilities, to decongest/reor-
ganize the area by planned relocation of the various activities including temple related activities
and to improve sanitation
2. Redevelopment of Pampa Area - to improve the environment and water quality in Pampa river,
to augment pilgrim facilities, to augment infrastructure including health facilities, to improve sanita-
tion and to improve transport terminal facilities and parking facilities of vehicles
3. Trekking Routes to widen and improve trekking routes, to construct queue complexes, to
provide way side facilities including health kiosks, to ease gradient, to provide improved facilities
for cargo transport etc.
4. Nilakkal Base Camp -- to develop organized vehicle parking facilities, to develop lodging facili-
ties for the pilgrims, to improve infrastructure, to improve sanitation, to provide hospital facilities
and to provide necessary pilgrim amenities
5. Approach Roads to Sabarimala to improve (widening/ resurfacing/ reconstructing) all the
approach roads to Sabarimala
6. Redevelopment of Erumeli and Vandiperiyar to redevelop based on detailed Master Plans
with participation of Local Government Institutions
7. Pilgrim facilities at all the identifed intermediate halts the many intermediate halting points of
pilgrims to Sabarimala would be identifed and in these stations improved pilgrim facilities would
be developed in a phased manner
8. Safe Pilgrimage this aspect is given utmost consideration in the Master Plan adoption of
Sabarimala Safety Manual, improved policing, safe transport, better emergency health facilities,
better access to potable water and sanitation, adequate cautionary signages and guidance etc. are
proposed to be ensured
Swami Ayyappan Road widening to 5m and improve-
ments (pavement/side protection/way side facilities etc.)
700
Health kiosks installation of standard prefabricated
modules of kiosks for emergency medical care four
numbers @ Rs. 3 lakhs/unit
SMP/T/5
SMP/T/2
SMP/T/4
Water kiosks installation of ten water kiosks @
Rs. 3 lakhs/unit
12
NILAKKAL BASE CAMP
30
SMP/N/1
Parking Yards - Reorganization of the vehicle parking
facilities with pavement improvement and access roads
with drains
2000 + 2000
SMP/N/2
SMP/N/3
Temples Redevelopment of the two temples (Siva
temple and Devi temple)
150
Water Supply Improvements - OH Tank and
construction of check dam and laying distribution lines
70 + 450+20
Water kiosks 10 numbers @Rs. 3 lakhs/unit 30
SMP/N/5
SMP/N/4
Sabari Homes construction of pilgrim facilities
Andhra/ Karnataka/ TN/Kerala etc.
30 x 4
SMP/N/6
SMP/N/7
Hospital - a new fully equipped hospital infrastructure
will be developed at Nilakkal this may function in full
scale during November to January and may be
downscaled during the remaining months
400
300
Facility Centre construction of a central facility
centre (for information centre, shoplets/
communication kiosks/food courts/lockers/etc.)
SMP/N/8 Construction of Electrical Sub Station (through KSEB)
200
200 SMP/N/9
Bus Shelter and Resting Bays Construction of bus
terminals (for long distance buses and for shuttle
services separately) at Nilakkal
900
150
400
200
150
40
150
1000
SMP/S/12
SMP/S/13
PAMPA BASE OF SABARIMALA
LPG Storage & Gas line providing LPG storage tanks
at Sannidhanam and at Pamba and laying supply lines
Aazhi- modernization of aazhi (ghee coconut burning pit)
SMP/P/1
Emergency Road construction of a new service road
to facilitate movement of emergency vehicles
By ABASS Addl.
road furniture
100
1200
(Part under
construction)
200
SMP/P/2
Hospital Complex construction of a new hospital
complex (for all the three streams of medicine) in the
place of the existing facilities plus mini-ambulance facility
SMP/P/3
STPs construction of new sewage treatment plant and
improvements to the existing small and big STPs
SMP/P/4 Vehicle Parking facilities improved/organized parking
facilities
SMP/P/5 Exit Bridge- construction of a new exit bridge to
serve the new emergency road
SMP/P/6 Facility Centre Construction of a pilgrim facility centre
at Pampa
SMP/P/7 Bus Terminal and Resting Bay
TREKKING PATHS AND CARGO MOVEMENT
ROPE WAY erection of material ropeway between
Pampa and Sannidhanam to ease cargo movement
(for temple needs, commercial needs & construction
purposes)- gradually eliminating head load/donkeys and
reducing tractor movement
SMP/T/1A
Two Queue Complexes construction along the
trekking path to hold the surging crowd and to provide
way side facilities. Addl. construction of ten units @Rs.
20 lakhs/unit
SMP/T/3
The projects listed in the table above are not an exhaustive list of projects identifed within
the Sabarimala Master Plan, but gives only the prioritized projects proposed to be implemented
in the frst phase. Huge investment requirements are identifed and detailed project reports have
been prepared accordingly using services of eminent consultancy frms. Since even the identifed
project investments on infrastructure developments in the frst phase are beyond the fnancial
resources of the Travancore Devaswom Board, the High Power Committee for the Implementa-
tion of Master Plan (HPC) and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) have together proposed
to raise fnancial support through donations and sponsorships from devotees and from Corporate
Houses.
In order to provide focused assistance and facilities to the millions of pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, who trek every year to worship Swami Ayyappan at Sabarimala, it has
been proposed to earmark three parcels of land, each measuring about 2 hectares (about 5 acres)
at Nilakkal Base Camp for the construction of buildings of each of these three States specif-
cally to provide facilities (accommodation, dining halls, lockers, information desks and communica-
tion centres) to the pilgrims from each of these States. These three States have evinced interest
to invest in the construction of Sabari Bhavans.
The HPC and the TDB have decided that in addition to the contentment and happiness that the
donors and sponsors get, in addition to the blessings of the Lord, the TDB should offer additional
facilities listed out later in this brochure.
SABARIMALA MASTER PLAN INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
IMPLEMENTATION of the proposals in the Sabarimala Master Plan through various projects and
programmes at the various locations depend on::
Preparation of well-conceived detailed Master Plans/Layout Plans and Project Plans; Mobiliza-
tion of required resources for project implementation; and Effective project implementation and
monitoring.

Considering the fact that the required resource mobilization and ordering of implementation
arrangements are key activities which contribute to effective implementation, a Sabarimala
Master Plan Infrastructure Fund is established and registered as a Trust in 2009 with
Justice Arijit Pasayat, Former Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Shri T.K.A. Nair,
Advisor to the Prime Minister of India as Patrons.

The Hon. High Court of Kerala has reconstituted the Sabarimala Master Plan Infrastructure
Fund Trust Board with the following Trustees:

President, Travancore Devaswom Board as Chairman, Board of Trustees

Shri K. Jayakumar IAS, Chairman, High Power Committee

Devaswom Commissioner as Secretary, Board of Trustees

Shri G.M. Rao, Group Chairman, GMR Group, IBC Knowledge Park, Phase II D Block,
10th Floor, 4/1, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore 560 029

Dr. P. Raja Mohan Rao, M.D., United Telecom Ltd., 18A/19, Doddanakundi, Industrial
Area, Mahadevapura Post, Bangalore 560 048

Shri R.K. Krishna Kumar, Vice Chairman, Indian Hotels Ltd., Bombay House, 2nd Floor,
24, Homi Modi Street, Mumbai 400 001

Shri P.R. Kumar, M.D., Kumaran Silks, 12, Nageswara Rao Road, T. Nagar, Chennai
600 017

Shri P.N.C. Menon, Chairman, Sobha Developers Ltd., Anugraha, 30/48, Sreepuram,
Punkunnam, Thrissur 680 002

Shri M.S.P. Rao, B-201, Stemwood Apartments, 14- Factory Road, Ansari Nagar West,
New Delhi 110 029
The Master Plan Infrastructure Fund Trust proposes to mobilize resources, plan and invite
donations/sponsorships and private partnerships, prioritize projects for implementation and to
manage the fund.
Rs. One Crore and above
Rs. 50 lakhs to One Crore (-)
Rs. 25 lakhs to 50 Lakhs (-)
Rs. 05 lakhs to 25 lakhs (-)
Rs. 03 lakhs to 05 lakhs (-)
Rs. 50,000 to 03 lakh (-)
- For 10 years -
- For 10 years -
- For 05 years -
- For 05 years -
- For 03 years -
- For 02 years -
(i) Rent free accommodation for 05
days/year (excluding 04 days preced-
ing Mandala Pooja & Makara Vilakku)
(ii) Facilities for convenient Darshan
(iii) Prasadam kit (containing two cans
of 250 ml. each of Aravana and two
packets of Appam)
(i) Rent free accommodation for 04
days/year (excluding 04 days preced-
ing Mandala Pooja & Makara Vilakku)
plus (ii) & (iii) above
(i) Rent free accommodation for 03
days/year (excluding 04 days preced-
ing Mandala Pooja & Makara Vilakku)
plus (ii) & (iii) above
(i) Rent free accommodation for two
days/year (excluding 04 days preced-
ing Mandala Pooja & Makara Vilakku)
plus (ii) & (iii) above
(i) Rent free accommodation for one
day/year (excluding 04 days preceding
Mandala Pooja & Makara Vilakku) plus
(ii) & (iii) above
(ii) & (iii) above
FACILITIES OFFERED TO SPONSORS AND DONORS
by Travancore Devaswom Board
The Travancore Devaswom Board and the High Power Committee for Implementation of
Sabarimala Master Plan offer the following additional benefts/facilities to the Sponsors and Donors
* The privileges will be extended to a nominee in the case of Firms / Companies & Joint Donors
/ Sponsors, Individual Donors/ Sponsors.
* The name of the Sponsor / Donor who contribute for a project as a whole will be exhibited at
a conspicuous place.
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THE TEAM TO PROVIDE PILGRIM FACILITIES IN
SABARIMALA Sannidhanam, Pamba, Nilakkal and at other locations.
Besides the sponsorships, we also appeal to all to contribute generously for the noble cause of
providing better infrastructure facilities, which are essential for the beneft and welfare of the
millions of Ayyappa pilgrims to make their annual pilgrimage smooth and comfortable.
HOW TO DONATE / SPONSOR FOR SPECIFIC
PROJECTS?
SABARIMALA MASTER PLAN INFRASTRUCTURE FUND TRUST proposes that the projects
prioritized for execution as part of Sabarimala Master Plan can be implemented by raising funds
by:
Sponsorships from devotees of Swami Ayyappa and from Corporate Houses for
specifc projects;

HPC TDB partnerships with private donations of the devotees;

Special funding from State and/or Central Governments; and
Contributions from devotees and Voluntary organizations
Willing Sponsors (for any specifc projects) and others who wish to make donations may
communicate their willingness to the Member Secretary, High Power Committee (Devaswom
Commissioner, Travancore Devaswom Board).
PAYMENTS may be made through Crossed demand Draft / Cheques drawn in favour of
Sabarimala Master Plan Infrastructure Fund.
DONATIONS are exempt from Income Tax under Section 80 G (5) (vi) of the Income Tax Act
Account Numbers for RTGS / NEFT transactions are:
1. State Bank of Travancore, Nanthancode, Thiruvananthapuram
Account No. 67086664997 IFS Code: SBTR0000690

2. Dhanlaxmi Bank, Nanthancode, Thiruvananthapuram
Account No. 027500100003035 IFS Code: DLXB0000275
Online donations will be accepted through net banking facility of:
STATE BANK OF TRAVANCORE (www.sbtonline.in) and
DHANLAXMI BANK (www.dhanbank.com)
NAME:
ADDRESS
CITY: PIN CODE: COUNTRY

TEL. No: FAX No:
EMAIL-ID MOBILE NO:


Mention project for which sponsorship is made or tick General Donation





PAYMENT OPTIONS

Cheque / DD number: Date:
Drawn on:

Amount Rs.
(in words) Rupees:
Signature

Sabarimala Master Plan Infrastructure Fund
Travancore Devaswom Board, Nanthancode, Thiruvananthapuram 695003
SPONSORSHIP FORM
Project Work Code
General Donation
This form shall accompany payments. Donations by means of crossed demand draft/cheques drawn in favour of
Sabarimala Master Plan Infrastructure Fund may please be sent to the Member Secretary, High Power Committee,
Devaswom Commissioner,Travancore Devaswom Board, Nanthancode,Thiruvananthapuram - 695 003

V E A D S
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HIGH POWER COMMITTEE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF SABARIMALA MASTER PLAN

and
SABARIMALA MASTER PLAN INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
Devaswom Commissioner and Member Secretary,
Travancore Devaswom Board, Nanthancode, Thiruvananthapuram - 695 003
Tel No: +91 471 2314288 , Fax : +91 471 2315156 , Mail ID : sabarimalamasterplan@gmail.com