TDB Abolishes Refundable Room Deposit System; Devotees Can Now Book Rooms at Sannidhanam with a Nominal ₹50 Service Charge
Sabarimala: At a special Board meeting held on July 10, 2026, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) decided to introduce a major reform to its accommodation system at Sannidhanam by abolishing the refundable room deposit and replacing it with a nominal ₹50 service charge. The move is expected to make room bookings simpler and more convenient for pilgrims.
The decision was taken at a special Board meeting convened to review measures aimed at improving the efficiency of Sabarimala's operations ahead of the upcoming pilgrimage season.
Under the revised system, 550 of the 608 rooms available for devotees at Sannidhanam will be open for online booking, enabling pilgrims to reserve accommodation in advance without the hassle of paying and later claiming a refundable security deposit.
Instead of the earlier deposit system, devotees will now pay only a ₹50 service charge while booking a room. The Board expects the new arrangement to simplify the booking process and improve convenience for pilgrims.
As part of its efforts to enhance accommodation facilities, the Board has also decided to outsource housekeeping services to a professional external agency to ensure better cleanliness and maintenance of rooms. In addition, a new guest house will be constructed near the existing Sabari Guest House to expand accommodation capacity.
The existing ₹5 charge associated with virtual queue tickets will continue.
The accommodation reforms form part of the Board's broader initiative to improve cleanliness, transparency and efficiency at Sabarimala. The Board has also announced that all financial transactions at the hill shrine, including vazhipadu bookings, will gradually be shifted to a digital payment system.