Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple is an ancient mountain shrine located in the Pathanamthitta district in Kerala. The temple is situated on a hilltop at an altitude of 4,133 ft above mean sea level, and is surrounded by mountains and dense forests.The shrine at Sabarimala is an ancient temple of Ayyappan also known as sasta and Dharmasasta.The temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum with a copper-plated roof and four golden finials at the top, two mandapams, the belikalpura which houses the altar. In 1969, the flag staff (dhwajam) was installed.The Pathinettu thripadikal or the eighteen sacred steps is the main stairway to the temple.The temples of Lord Ayyappan's trusted lieutenants Karuppu Sami and Kadutha Swami are positioned as his guards at the foot of the holy 18 sacred steps.Manimandapam is where Ayyappa meditated, before he became one with the divine.The prasadam at Sabarimala temple is Aravana payasam and Appam. These are prepared by using rice, ghee, sugar, jaggery etc.
