Thiruvilwamala Travel Guide
The thing that decides a Thiruvilwamala trip is not the weather but the Guruvayur Ekadasi calendar. The Punarjani cave opens to the public on only that one lunar day a year, so...
When to visit Thiruvilwamala, and the one day the cave opens
The thing that decides a Thiruvilwamala trip is not the weather but the Guruvayur Ekadasi calendar. The Punarjani cave opens to the public on only that one lunar day a year, so plan around it first.
- October to March: the comfortable windowFor the temple and the town, the cooler, drier months from about October to March are the most pleasant, easier for the climb up the hillock and the walk to the cliffs. This stretch also carries the year's biggest day, Guruvayur Ekadasi, which falls in November or December, so it suits both a calm darshan and the great festival.
- The one day for the Punarjani crawlThe Punarjani noozhal, the crawl through the hill cave, can be done on only one day in the whole year, Guruvayur Ekadasi, also called Vrischika Ekadasi. On every other day the cave is closed to visitors and the Forest Department restricts access. If the crawl is your reason to come, you must time the trip to that single date and confirm it in advance.
- April to May: hot, and a festival of fireThe pre-monsoon months of April and May are hot on the exposed hillock, but they bring the Parakkottukavu Thalappoli on the last Sunday of the Malayalam month of Medam, about mid-May, famous for fireworks that locals compare to Thrissur Pooram. Come for the spectacle, but carry water and keep the middle of the day for shade.
- Karkidakam: the Ramayana monthThe monsoon month of Karkidakam, about July to August, is the traditional Ramayana month across Kerala, a quiet, green, devotional time when the Rama temple is at its most reflective. Expect heavy rain and slippery steps, but a gentle, uncrowded darshan if you do not mind the wet.
Guruvayur Ekadasi is a lunar date, the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of the Malayalam month of Vrischikam, which shifts every year. For 2026 it is expected in late November or early December, but that is not a fixed calendar day, so do not trust any page that states one as certain. Reconfirm the exact date with the Guruvayur Devaswom or a reliable panchang before you book flights or rooms, because the Punarjani cave opens on that day alone.
How to reach Thiruvilwamala
Thiruvilwamala has no airport or station of its own. Most pilgrims come by train to Ottapalam or Shoranur, or by road from Thrissur or Palakkad, and cover the last hop by auto.
- By rail, via Ottapalam or ShoranurThe nearest railheads are Ottapalam, about 14 km away, and Shoranur Junction, one of Kerala's busiest junctions, about 20 km away and very well connected across the state. Tiny Lakkidi station sits just across the Bharathappuzha. From any of these an auto-rickshaw or local bus covers the run into Thiruvilwamala.
- By road from Thrissur and PalakkadThrissur, the district town, is about 47 to 50 km south, and Palakkad is about 32 to 35 km away, both with regular bus services to Thiruvilwamala. Pazhayannur is only about 5.8 km away. The roads run through classic Nila-valley countryside of paddy fields and tiled-roof villages.
- Nearest airportsCochin International Airport (COK) is the usual gateway at roughly 90 to 100 km, about 3 hours by road. Calicut International (CCJ) is roughly 75 to 85 km, and Coimbatore (CJB) roughly 85 to 95 km via Palakkad. These distances are approximate, so reconfirm your routing when you book. There are no flights into Thiruvilwamala itself.
- By car on a Kerala loopMost outstation and overseas pilgrims arrive by car, slotting Thiruvilwamala beside Guruvayur, Thrissur and the Nila cultural belt. We can arrange a car with an experienced driver so the hilltop temple fits neatly into a wider Kerala route, and so you reach the temple within its open hours.
Fly into Cochin (Kochi), about 3 hours away by road, then drive up, or take a train to Shoranur Junction or Ottapalam and an auto for the last stretch. There are no international flights to Thiruvilwamala.
Fly into Cochin or Calicut (Kozhikode), then drive or take a train to Shoranur. Thiruvilwamala sits easily on a Guruvayur, Thrissur and Nila-valley circuit.
Take a train to Shoranur Junction or Ottapalam, both well served, then an auto-rickshaw or bus into town. From Thrissur or Palakkad it is a short, scenic road trip by bus or taxi.
The Vilwadrinatha Temple, the twin shrines and the temple rules
Thiruvilwamala is its hilltop Sree Rama temple, the rare shrine of Lord Lakshmana, and the sub-shrines around it. A few entry rules are worth knowing before you climb.
- The Vilwadrinatha TempleCounted among the four major Rama temples of Kerala, alongside Thriprayar, Kadavallur and Thiruvangad, this hilltop temple is the heart of the town. It stands on a hillock about 100 feet high, reached by a climb of more than 50 stone steps from the western gate, with the Bharathappuzha visible about 3 km to the north. The present temple was rebuilt in 1883 by the King of Kochi after earlier fires, and is run by the Cochin Devaswom Board.
- The twin shrines of Rama and LakshmanaInside are two equal shrines set opposite each other. Popular belief holds the west-facing one as Lord Rama and the other as Lord Lakshmana, with equal worship and separate priests, though both idols are forms of Lord Vishnu. The Rama image is a swayambhu, self-born, said to be the only such Rama image in Kerala, about 5 feet tall, with the Lakshmana idol about 3 feet. Enshrining Lakshmana is itself rare in India.
- Hanuman, Ayyappan and the sub-shrinesLord Hanuman sits as gatekeeper on the southeast, a large seated idol devotees worship before entering the inner temple. On the southern side, Kundil Ayyappan resides in a pit about 50 feet below the main shrine, with Shiva and Parvati, and there are shrines to Ganapathi and the serpent gods. Devotees follow a set order of darshan, so watch and follow the flow rather than rushing straight to the main idol.
- The old gopuram remains and the pondsOn the west and east are the remains of two once seven-storied gopurams, never rebuilt after a storm, carved with scenes from the puranas. Three temple ponds, Ramanchira, Bhagavathichira and Vaikkattichira, ring the hill, and the town spreads below among the eighteen-and-a-half hills for which Thiruvilwamala is known.
This is a traditional Kerala temple. Men are expected to wear a mundu and enter bare-chested, with shirts, vests and stitched lower garments not allowed inside the sanctum; women may wear sarees, set-mundu, salwar kameez, or skirts and blouses. As with many Kerala temples, darshan may be reserved for Hindus. The temple opens around 4 am, closes near noon, and reopens in the late afternoon from about 5 pm to about 9 pm. Overseas and non-Hindu visitors should check honestly with the temple or the Cochin Devaswom Board before planning darshan.
Signature experiences in Thiruvilwamala
Beyond darshan, these are the experiences people remember, from the once-a-year cave crawl to the Ekadasi music and the walk around the sacred hills.
- Darshan at the hilltop Rama templeThe core experience is the quiet climb up the stone steps and darshan of Rama and Lakshmana in their twin shrines. It is an unhurried, deeply traditional temple far from the tourist crowds, best in the early morning after it opens around 4 am, when the conch and the first Nirmalya darshan set a calm tone for the day.
- The Punarjani noozhal, if your dates and body allowOn Guruvayur Ekadasi, and only then, men crawl the roughly 150-metre Punarjani cave about 2 km southeast of the temple, after bathing in the Ganapathi and Papanasini streams. It takes about 45 minutes through low, dark, narrow sections, and tradition holds it washes away all sins and grants freedom from rebirth. It is strenuous and men-only, so read the safety section before you commit.
- Ekadasi music and the NiramalaOn Ekadasi the Rama temple hosts a relay of South Indian classical Carnatic music and the Niramala illumination, and thousands of pilgrims fill the town. Even if you do not attempt the crawl, the day is the town at its most alive, with music, lamps and devotion from dawn.
- The Giripradakshinam around the sacred hillsDevotees have long walked the roughly 16 km Giripradakshinam, a circumambulation of the Bhoothamala, Vilwamala and Moorikunnu hills that touches the Nila, a slow, rustic pilgrimage on foot through the countryside. It is said Adi Sankara once walked it. Attempt it only if you are fit and have a local guide, and carry water.
- Ivor Madom and the Nila beltNearby at Pambady, the Ivor Madom Krishna temple is linked in legend to the five Pandavas and is a noted place for ancestral rites. The same Nila valley holds a deep seam of temples and Malayalam culture, so a curious pilgrim can turn a single darshan into a slow, meaningful day along the river.
- Kuthampully handloom villageA short drive away, Kuthampully is a famous kasavu weaving village where the gold-bordered Kerala saree and set-mundu are made on traditional handlooms. It is a rewarding, honest stop to see the cloth being woven and to buy directly from the weavers.
If you do only one thing slowly, make it the early-morning darshan at the twin shrines before the day warms up. The climb, the conch, and the quiet of a temple that sees few tourists are what stay with people long after. Give yourself an unhurried morning on the hill, and Thiruvilwamala opens up in a way a quick stop on the way to Guruvayur never allows.
Where to stay near Thiruvilwamala, and how long you need
Thiruvilwamala town has very few beds. Most pilgrims base in Thrissur for choice, or nearer at Shoranur or Ottapalam, and do the temple as a half-day to one-day visit.
- Thrissur: the widest choiceThrissur, about 47 to 50 km south, has by far the broadest spread of hotels, restaurants and city life, and is the natural base if you are also seeing the Vadakkunnathan Temple or timing a trip with Thrissur Pooram. Reckon on roughly an hour and a half each way to Thiruvilwamala, so an early start makes the temple hours easy to catch.
- Shoranur and Ottapalam: closer and practicalShoranur, about 20 km away, and Ottapalam, about 14 km, are working towns with practical hotels near their railheads, the easiest bases if you arrive by train and want to be close for an early darshan or the Ekadasi crowds. They are not tourist hubs, so keep expectations simple and functional.
- Room budgetsAround Thrissur, Shoranur and Ottapalam, budget rooms run from about Rs 1,500 to 3,000, and mid-range rooms about Rs 3,000 to 6,000. Prices rise steeply and rooms sell out around Guruvayur Ekadasi and Thrissur Pooram, so book well ahead if your dates fall on either.
- How long you needOn a normal day the temple and the hill are a comfortable half-day, and one night nearby is plenty unless you are pairing it with Guruvayur, Thrissur or the Nila belt. If you come for Guruvayur Ekadasi and the Punarjani crawl, give it a full day and a night, and expect crowds.
Thiruvilwamala is a small temple town with one great temple and one once-a-year cave ritual. Do not plan two or three nights here expecting things to fill the time; you will run out. Base in Thrissur, Shoranur or Ottapalam, give the temple its half-day, and let the rest of your time go to Guruvayur, Thrissur or the Nila belt. Treated that way it is a memorable pilgrimage; treated as a standalone resort stop it disappoints.
Thiruvilwamala costs and a realistic budget
A Thiruvilwamala pilgrimage is gentle on the wallet: darshan is free, and the main costs are your room, transport and offerings.
- The temple is free to enterDarshan at the Vilwadrinatha Temple is free, as at most Kerala temples. You pay only for the specific offerings or poojas you choose to sponsor, which are modest and set by the Devaswom, and for any prasadam. There is no ticket to climb the hill or to worship.
- Rooms and transportYour main costs are a room, from about Rs 1,500 to 3,000 for budget and about Rs 3,000 to 6,000 for mid-range in Thrissur, Shoranur or Ottapalam, plus transport. An auto-rickshaw from the nearest railhead is a short, cheap hop, and a return taxi from Thrissur for the day is the bigger outlay if you base there.
- Offerings and the Punarjani ritualSponsoring a pooja or buying prasadam is inexpensive and up to you. The Punarjani crawl itself is a ritual, not a paid attraction, though on Ekadasi you should budget for the crowds, an early start and simple food, as the day is about devotion rather than spending.
- Cash is king in a small townCarry enough cash for the day. Thrissur, Shoranur and Ottapalam have plenty of bank ATMs, but the town itself and the small tea shops and offering stalls run on cash and small notes, and card or UPI acceptance is patchy once you are on the hill.
There is no entry fee here, so the only real cost decisions are your room, at about Rs 1,500 to 3,000 for budget or about Rs 3,000 to 6,000 for mid-range, and your transport from the railhead or Thrissur. Sponsor the poojas you wish, carry cash for the small stalls, and a Thiruvilwamala pilgrimage stays one of the most affordable in Kerala.
Practical logistics: dress, food, money and getting around
The small things that make a Thiruvilwamala day smooth: the mundu dress rule, temple food, cash, and how to move between the temple, the cave and your base.
- Dress for the temple, and carry a munduMen should carry or hire a mundu, since shirts, vests and stitched trousers are not allowed in the sanctum and darshan is done bare-chested from the waist up, as in most Kerala temples. Women wear sarees, set-mundu, salwar kameez, or skirts and blouses. Dressing correctly before you climb saves a scramble at the gate.
- Food and waterThis is a small, largely vegetarian temple town with simple tea shops and eateries rather than restaurants. Plan a proper meal in Shoranur, Ottapalam or Thrissur, carry water for the hill climb and the heat, and take temple prasadam when it is offered. Options thin out sharply once you are up on the hillock.
- Money, SIM and languageCarry cash, as ATMs and reliable card or UPI acceptance are in the bigger towns rather than on the hill. Mobile coverage in the town is generally fine for calls and maps. Malayalam is the local language, but Hindi and English are understood in the temple and travel trade, so communicating is easy enough.
- Getting around townThe temple, the town and the cave are reached on foot and by auto-rickshaw. The Punarjani cave is about 2 km southeast of the temple with a walk through forest at the end, and is only open on Ekadasi, so on a normal day your movements are the hill, the ponds and the nearby temples. Agree the auto fare before you ride.
Safety, the cave crawl, and staying well
Thiruvilwamala is a calm, low-risk temple town, and the real safety question is the physically demanding Punarjani crawl. A little honesty about who should attempt it keeps the day happy.
- The Punarjani crawl is strenuous and men-onlyBe honest with yourself about the cave. Only men are allowed to crawl it, and even for a fit adult it is hard: about 45 minutes through low, pitch-dark, narrow sections where you crawl flat and feel your way by touching the person ahead. Anyone with claustrophobia, a heart or breathing condition, knee or back trouble, or who is unwell should not attempt it. Never try it outside the supervised Ekadasi ritual.
- The hill steps and the heatThe temple itself means a climb of more than 50 stone steps up an exposed hillock, tiring in the pre-monsoon heat and slippery in the monsoon. Take the steps slowly, carry water and sun protection, and rest in the shade. Seniors and anyone with mobility limits should pace the climb and avoid the hottest hours.
- A safe, quiet townThiruvilwamala, Shoranur and Ottapalam are ordinary, safe Kerala towns with no particular tourist-scam reputation. Standard precautions apply: agree auto fares before you ride, keep valuables close in the Ekadasi crowds, and you will find the area relaxed and welcoming.
- Health basicsDrink bottled or filtered water and take the usual care with food. The nearest full hospitals and pharmacies are in Shoranur, Ottapalam and Thrissur, so carry any personal medication with you rather than expecting to find it in the town, especially if you come for the crowded Ekadasi day.
This is a living pilgrimage centre, not a sightseeing set. Follow the dress code, follow the order of darshan the priests and regulars keep, remove footwear where required, and ask before photographing people at worship. On Ekadasi, when thousands gather and men queue for the cave, patience and calm matter most. You are a guest in a place of deep devotion, and the quiet dignity of it is part of what makes the visit special.
Thiruvilwamala for every kind of traveller, and on access
Thiruvilwamala rewards different visitors in different ways. Here is what it offers you, and the one tip that matters for each, including who can and cannot attempt the cave.
- Devotees and pilgrimsThis is the reason to come: a rare hilltop Rama and Lakshmana kshetram, calm and traditional, and the once-a-year Punarjani ritual. Follow the order of darshan, give the morning to the temple, and time a trip to Ekadasi if the cave crawl draws you and you are a fit adult man.
- Families with childrenThe hill, the temple and the ponds hold a child's interest for a morning, and Kuthampully weaving nearby adds a gentle stop. Remember that only men may crawl the cave and that it is strenuous, so plan the day so the whole family is not waiting on one strenuous ritual; pair it with a relaxed riverside or Thrissur afternoon.
- Senior travellers and on accessibilityDoable with planning, but be realistic. The temple means more than 50 steps up an exposed hillock, so climb slowly in the cool of the morning, carry water, and rest often. The Punarjani crawl and the 16 km Giripradakshinam are not suitable for most seniors. Base in comfort in Thrissur and treat the hilltop darshan as the highlight.
- Women travellersThe town is calm and comfortable for women with the usual sensible precautions, and darshan at the temple is open to women. Be aware, honestly, that the Punarjani cave crawl is traditionally for men only, so it is not a ritual women can join; the temple, the festival and the hills are the experience for women pilgrims.
- Culture and heritage loversThe four-Rama-temples context, the swayambhu idol, the Pandava-linked Ivor Madom temple and the Kuthampully looms make this a rich, uncrowded corner of the Nila valley. Give it a slow half-day and pair it with the wider cultural belt for the full picture.
- PhotographersThe hilltop temple, the old gopuram remains, the ponds and the Nila countryside are quietly photogenic, and Ekadasi brings crowds, lamps and music. Ask before photographing people at worship, follow any restriction on cameras inside the sanctum, and shoot respectfully around a working temple.
A suggested Thiruvilwamala plan
How to shape a half-day around the temple hours, and how to slot Thiruvilwamala into a wider Kerala pilgrimage without wasting time.
- The half-day, done rightReach the hill in the cool early morning after the temple opens around 4 am, take an unhurried darshan of Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuman, walk down to the ponds, and be away before the midday closing near noon. Lunch in Shoranur, Ottapalam or back in Thrissur, since the town has little to offer at midday.
- Add the Nila beltWith an afternoon, follow the valley to the Ivor Madom Krishna temple at Pambady and the Kuthampully weaving village, turning a single darshan into a cultural day along the Nila. It is a natural, enriching pause rather than a long detour.
- Pair it with Guruvayur and ThrissurThiruvilwamala sits well on a Kerala temple loop. Do the hilltop darshan, then drive about 50 km southwest to Guruvayur for the great Krishna temple, or south to Thrissur for the Vadakkunnathan Temple, building a two or three day pilgrimage of the region's finest shrines.
- The Ekadasi versionIf you come for Guruvayur Ekadasi and the Punarjani crawl, give the town a full day and a night. Expect big crowds, an early start, the men-only queue for the cave, and the Carnatic music through the day. Confirm the Ekadasi date and book a room weeks ahead, because this is the one time the town fills.
Two things break a Thiruvilwamala plan: arriving at the temple during its midday closing, roughly noon to about 5 pm, and expecting the Punarjani cave to be open on an ordinary day. Build your visit around an early morning or a late-afternoon darshan, and remember the cave crawl happens on Guruvayur Ekadasi alone. Confirm both the hours and the Ekadasi date in advance, and you will never find yourself at a shut gate or a closed cave with the day half gone.
The real questions travellers ask about Thiruvilwamala
Straight answers to the questions that come up again and again on traveller forums and temple reviews, so you arrive already knowing the score.
- Is the cave open when I visit?Almost certainly not, unless you time it exactly. The Punarjani cave opens to the public on only one lunar day a year, Guruvayur Ekadasi, expected in late November or early December 2026. On every other day it is closed and the Forest Department restricts access, so confirm the date first if the crawl is your reason to come.
- Can women do the Punarjani crawl?No. Traditionally only men are allowed to crawl the cave. Women pilgrims come for the temple, the Ekadasi music and festival, and the hills, all of which are open to them, but the noozhal itself is a men-only ritual, and it is honest to know that before you plan.
- What are the temple timings and what do I wear?The temple opens around 4 am, closes near noon, and reopens from about 5 pm to about 9 pm; reconfirm locally as pooja times shift with the season. Men wear a mundu and enter bare-chested, no shirts or vests; women wear sarees, set-mundu, salwar kameez or skirts and blouses.
- Can non-Hindus and foreigners enter?As with many Kerala temples, darshan here may be reserved for Hindus. There is no reliable single public notice, so overseas and non-Hindu visitors should check honestly with the temple or the Cochin Devaswom Board before travelling, rather than assume entry.
- How do I reach the town and the cave?Train to Ottapalam, about 14 km, or Shoranur, about 20 km, or drive from Palakkad, about 32 to 35 km, or Thrissur, about 47 to 50 km, then an auto into town. The cave is about 2 km southeast of the temple with a forest walk at the end, reachable only on the Ekadasi day.
- Is it worth the detour on a normal day?For anyone drawn to a rare, quiet Rama and Lakshmana temple and the Nila countryside, yes, as a half-day. If you specifically want the cave crawl, it is only worth planning around the single Ekadasi date. Pair it with Guruvayur, Thrissur or Kuthampully and it becomes a rewarding cultural day rather than a lone stop.
Planning Thiruvilwamala from abroad
Thiruvilwamala is the calm, traditional Rama kshetram of the Nila valley, a moving roots pilgrimage for NRI families. A little preparation around temple rules and the Ekadasi date makes it effortless.
- Check the temple entry and dress rules firstThis is a traditional temple where men enter bare-chested in a mundu and darshan may be reserved for Hindus. If you are an NRI Hindu family, you will feel at home; if any traveller in your group is non-Hindu, check honestly with the temple or the Cochin Devaswom Board before you plan darshan, rather than being turned away at the gate.
- Time it to the Ekadasi if the cave draws youThe Punarjani crawl, men-only and strenuous, happens on Guruvayur Ekadasi alone, expected in late November or early December 2026. If it is the reason for your trip, confirm the exact lunar date well ahead. If not, come in the cooler October to March window for a peaceful darshan.
- Fly into Cochin and drive upCochin International Airport, roughly 90 to 100 km and about 3 hours away, is the usual gateway. From there Thiruvilwamala slots onto a Kerala pilgrimage loop with Guruvayur, about 50 km southwest, and Thrissur, an easy and meaningful roots itinerary through the Nila valley.
- Base in comfort, visit in the morningThe town has few beds, so base in Thrissur or nearer at Shoranur, and drive in for an early darshan. Carry a mundu, water for the hillock steps, and cash for the small stalls, and the visit is smooth. It is one of the more authentic, uncrowded temple experiences in Kerala.
Money, connectivity and what makes this temple matter
The practical basics an overseas pilgrim needs for a small temple town, and the context that turns a hilltop darshan into a deep experience.
- Carry cash, get a SIM at the airportDarshan is free, but the small stalls, autos and tea shops run on cash, and ATMs are in Shoranur, Ottapalam and Thrissur rather than on the hill, so draw cash before you arrive. Pick up an Indian tourist SIM or eSIM at Cochin airport; coverage in the town is fine for maps and calls.
- Why this temple mattersVilwadrinatha is one of only four major Rama temples in Kerala and one of very few anywhere to enshrine Lakshmana, with a swayambhu Rama image said to be the only one in the state. For a family tracing roots or drawn to the Ramayana, seeing Rama and his brother worshipped as equals on a quiet hill is a rare and moving thing.
- Understand the Punarjani beliefThe cave crawl is a belief carried in tradition, not a claim of fact: that passing through the hill on Guruvayur Ekadasi washes away sin and grants freedom from rebirth, which is what the name Punarjani, rebirth, means. Approach it as devotion and legend, and it is one of the most striking living rituals in Kerala.
- How much time to give itOn a first Kerala trip, half a day at Thiruvilwamala is the right weight, slotted between Cochin, Guruvayur and Thrissur. It is a cultural and devotional anchor, not a resort stay, so do not over-allocate; one calm morning on the hill is enough to carry the memory home.
For an NRI family, Thiruvilwamala is an unusually rewarding stop: small, calm, and utterly traditional, with none of the hard sell of bigger sights. Slot it into a Kerala temple loop after Cochin, pair it with Guruvayur and Thrissur, and let it be the quiet chapter where the family climbs a hill to see Rama and Lakshmana worshipped as brothers. Many overseas visitors say the stillness of this temple stays with them longer than any beach or backwater.
The hill you crawl through once a year to be born again
East of the Vilwadrinatha Temple, between the hills of Vilwamala and Bhoothamala, runs a natural rock tunnel about 150 metres long called the Punarjani Guha, the cave of rebirth. Tradition tells that Lord Parasurama, seeking salvation for the ghosts of those he had killed, asked the divine architect Vishwakarma to shape this passage, and that the ghosts crawled through it and were freed. When human sages asked to do the same, they were told they could, but on one day alone in the year: the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of Vrischikam, the day known as Guruvayur Ekadasi. To this day, on that single date, men fast, bathe in the Papanasini stream, and crawl for about forty-five minutes through pitch-dark, narrow sections, feeling their way by the feet of the man ahead, until the light at the far end guides them out. The belief they carry is that the crawl washes away every sin and frees them from the cycle of birth, which is exactly what the word Punarjani, rebirth, means. It is one of the most striking living rituals in Kerala, and it is honest to tell it as devotion and tradition rather than as fact: only men may attempt it, only on that one lunar day, and the cave stays closed to all the rest of the year.
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