In the very olden days, route for Vrathadharis ,used to cover 18 hills.The hills were Kalaketty,Inchipara,Puthusseri,Karimala,Nilimala,Ponnambalamedu,Chuttambalamedu,Mayiladum medu,Thalappara, Nilakkal,Devanmala,Sreepadam mala,Nagamala,Goundanmala, and Sabari mala. Nowadays when pooja is done for each Padi (steps) ,for eighteen padis ,these hills are mentioned by name ,one for each Padi.

In modern times it becomes very difficult for anyone to go through such a long route due to problem of carrying food or exist on roots and fruits all the way.Many of these areas are now covered by dwellings and may result in security hazards also.The present route is also somewhat difficult since one has to walk without slippers or shoes and that too through a forest path.It is said that Ayyappa followed this present path after killing the Asura Mahishi on his way to Sabarimala.Erumeli the starting point of yatra was where he camped for killing the Demon.

 At Erumeli the devotee has to do Petta thullal (may be a type of tribal War Dance)
(After the death of Mahishasura, his sister did penance and got a gift from Brahma that no human can kill her .To kill her Sastha came down to the world as Ayyappa.People say that the house in Which Ayyappa lived, called Puthanvidu,is still existing.) Mahishi means Female buffalow (Eruma)and hence the place was known as Erumakolli or Erumeli.It is also a folk tale that some light emanated out of the dead Mahishi and it became Malikapurathamma.
ERUMELI
Narayaneeyam chambu states that Sreekrishna gave to Arjuna three images of Krishna to be installed at Guruvayur,Thripunithura and Erumeli. The vigraha(image)at erumeli was later removed and installed at Ambalapuzha.
This may be the reason why the petta thullal of the group from Ambalappuzha has been given importance at Erumeli.Another important petta thullal is by the group from Alangad where the Deity is Siva. Ayyappa is supposed to be the son of both Vishnu and siva "HariHara Puthra".(Dharma Sastha)
 Before going up the hill all devotees are supposed to do this ritual of petta thullal at Erumeli.After  filling their Irumutikettu with some betel leaves,arecanut pieces and a few coins they have to do namaskar to Ayyappa.Then they smear their body with sandal paste and ash(vibhuthi) and dance like tribals of the olden days.When they move round and round they go on singing  loudly " swamy thinthakathom ayyappa thinthakathom ".The dance creates a sort of bliss in them.
Erumeli was earlier a junction of the paths from Tamilnadu ,north Kerala, and south Kerala.Accordingly it was also a business centre in the earlier days.For ayyappas this is the place to collect all their requirements and carry it in their Irumudikettu.
 An arrow is to be carried by the devotees from here. The first destination after Erumeli is Kottapadi.
KOTTAPADI :-This place is considered to be the entrance to the Holi Garden (Poonkavanam)of Sabarimala.
PERUNTHODU :-  The next  place of importance is PERURTHODU 

KALAKETTI.:-  it is said That Paramasiva tied his OX(Rishabha) here. The Anjali tree on which Rishabha was tied can be seen here. A Siva temple also exists here.
AZHUTHA.:- It is on the banks of Azhutha river and a bath in the river is very refreshing for Ayyappas and is considered to remove all sins. This river is a branch of Pampa river.On the banks of Azhutha river Ayyappas spread their clothes and take the night's rest. After the bath in Azhutha, Ayyappas carry a stone from the bed of the river
 KALLITAMKUNNU :- This place is also called AZHUTHA MEDU which is the next destination..To reach Kallitamkunnu the ayyappas have to go up a steep climb .The stone carried from Azhutha river is deposited on top of the hill..Kallitamkunnu in malayalam means "the place to drop the stone". 
 INCHIPARAKOTTA:-. Here there is water shortage and hence not a resting place. Ayyappas continue the Yathra from here.After a somewhat steep decline Ayyappas reach KARIMALATHODU. From here it is a tiresome up hill climb which is the most tiring of the journey. Most Ayyappas get exausted on this climb and many loud cries of Saranamvili (Swamiye saranam ayyappa)is heard here.
The most surprising thing is the ever full tank and well on top of the hill. From here the climb down starts to two level fields 1. CHERIANAVATTOM 2.VALIANAVATTOM. Here the Ayyappas can take rest and become fresh after their tiresome journey. This place is adjacent to PAMPA.Pampa is the place which cannot be avoided by ordinary pilgrims also. It is the junction from which the climb to sabarimala starts and is on the coast of Pampa river.Here there are hotels and resting places for the pilgrims.
The other normal devotee pilgrims who reach Pampa by road from Pathanamthitta, kottayam etc in large numbers make this place very crowded. For all the devotees bath in Pampa river is a must .About 500 metres upstream at Pampa  there is a small rock jutting into the river.On it one can see clearly two steps of Sree Rama (SREEPADAM). Even though there is a wall aroud it,since there is no one to oversee the cleanliness of the place,it remains very dirty.
 PAMPA :- There are a number of temples here. The main one is for Ganesh but there are Upadevathas like Parvathi,Nagas,Hanuman,Sreerama etc. Since there was a PUNAPRATHISHTA (reinstallation)for Ganesha, some people erected another temple for the old idol and thus a second Ganesha temple.
  From Pampa to the top of the Neelimala hill (Sabarimala)there are two ways. One is the traditional route and the other is the Subrahmanyam road.The traditional route is very steep but shorter. This way is also concreted and is about 4 km. The Subrahmanyam (Ayyappan) road is about 5 kms. Appachimedu is on the traditional route. Here there is a deep Gorge.  The devotees throw food into the gorge to the Bhoothas. The next place the devotees reach is called SABARIPIDHAM. It is said that sabari attained Moksham (salvation) here. A few metres away the two routes,the road and the traditional pathway, meet and that place is called MARAKOOTTAM.. From here also there are two ways to reach the temple. Both reach the Saramkuthy from which there is a covered passage to Pathinettampati ie 18 steps. The arrows carried by Ayyappas from Erumeli are depositted at Saramkuthy.  In peak season the Queue for Darsan extends up to Saram Kuthy from the temple.
SARAMKUTHY:- Panthalam Raja wanted Ayyappa to show him the place where the temple is to be built (or renovated).He took his bow and arrow and sent the arrow which fell at saramkuthy. This may be the reason why all ayyappas deposit their arrows at Saramkuthy.

The ornaments of Deities ,Ayyappa and Malikapurathamma ,are normally kept safe at Panthalam kottaram (palace)since the Temple at Sabarimala remain closed during most of the time in the year. These ornaments are carried to the temple at Sabarimala as a ritual only once during the year  for Makara vilakku.

The route taken by the boxes containing  Thiruvabharanam, pooja articles and vessels of the temple.
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 The ornaments are carried in three cases or caskets. They are the main Thriuvabharanam box, the Velli Petti and the Kodi Petti. These contain the following:
Box 1
Thirumugham
Prabha Mandalam
Valia Churika
Cheria Churika
Aana (Elephant) - 2 (miniature replicas)
Kaduva - 1 (miniature replica)
Velli Kettia Valampiri Sankhu - 1 (Conch shell with a right hand spiral - Silver covered)
Lakshmi Roopam
Poothattam (A ceremonial plate for carrying flowers)
Navarathna Mothiram (9 jewelled ring)
Sarapoli Mala - Traditional temple necklace
Velakku Mala - Traditional temple necklace
Mani Mala- Traditional temple necklace
Erukkum Poomala - Traditional temple necklace
Kanchambaram

Box 2
Thaila Kudam for Kalasam
Required Pooja utensils

Box 3
Kodi Petti
Netti Pattom for the elephant
Chattah Idunna Jeevatha
Flags of Talapara and Udampara
Mezhuvatta Kuda
.( One box shaped like a Gopura containg ornaments,second made of silver containing vessels and in the shape of a square and a third , a long box containing Nettipattom etc. A representative of Panthalam Raja carrying the sword given the by the Valia Raja, escorts the Yathra.)

Dhanu 28 (About Jan 13) :- Yathra by foot(almost at running speed) begins in theafternoon.GoesthroughKulanata,ullanur,nalkalikal,kitangannur,Aranmula,Ponnumthottam,Pambatimannu,Cherukol and reaches Ayirur Puthiyakavu temple. Here the group takes rest in the night.

Dhanu 29 (jan14) (Second day )Yathra begins at Brahmamuhurtham (about 3 in the morning)Goes through Itappavur,Perurchal,Azhikunnu,Vatasserikara,Prayar,Matamannu,Perunatu and Through the Chemmannu Kayattam(Upslope of red mud) reaches Satram at LHAHA ie the second night’s halt.
 
Dhanu30 (Jan15) Yathra starts again at Brahma Muhurtham and goes through Rajapara,Kottathatti, Kutamurutti, Thalappara, Nilakkal, Attathodu,Kollamuzhi and passes through the downhill of Vellachimala,goes through kurunkayam and reaches Valianavattom.
Valianavattom and Cheriana vattom as already stated is adjacent to Pampa and the troupe takes rest here and  the escort goes to Pampa and takes rest there.
 After taking rest for the day the troupe with the ornaments proceeds to the temple at the top of the hills and delivers the ornaments to the Poojari. The boxes ,the square and the long one, proceeds to the temple of Malikapurathamma. On Makaram 4 only the escort (representative of Panthalam Raja)goes up th