Organised groups larger than 10 pilgrims require written permission to travel to the Temple.

IMPORTANT

To find out details on the new procedure to bring coaches and how you can help the Temple click here

The planning Inspectorate of the Welsh National Assembly has dismissed our appeal against Carmarthenshire County Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for the coach park we built at the Temple.

We are now not permitted to use this facility. This remarkable decision means increased cost and difficulties for those coming on pilgrimage.

As coaches are no longer able to directly travel and park at Skanda Vale we advise groups to either travel directly by minibus or if this is not feasible transfer from coach to a privately contracted local minibus shuttle. The Temple does not have the resources or manpower to operate its own shuttle service outside the grounds of Skanda Vale. Transfers from coach to minibus should be arranged away from the village of Llanpumsaint at a suitable safe location. Details of various companies that would operate a shuttle can be obtained from Carmarthenshire Tourist office Tel: 01267 231557

Click here for a application form for Group Pilgrimage

Permission to come to Skanda Vale will only be granted to those groups coming specifically on pilgrimage. Skanda Vale Ashram and its Temples are not a tourist attraction. Groups travelling as part of an organised sight seeing tour will not be permitted to use the temple facilities.

The Community accepts in good faith the information given on the Group Application Form. You will be issued with a detailed itinerary based on your proposed arrival and departure times. Prasad is cooked to cater for the numbers of pilgrims in your group. Unfortunately some organisers have given misleading information on their Application Forms and, contrary to the ethos of the Temple, are profiting from bringing people on pilgrimage. Changes in departure times may result in substantial waste of sacred Prasad. It is a sin to throw away food that has been blessed in the Temple and which could be used to feed the many starving people throughout the world. Consequently if groups do not adhere to the program agreed with the Temple they will not be permitted to come on pilgrimage in the future.

Unfortunately we are currently unable to provide overnight accommodation for coach groups.

MAHA SHAKTI FULL MOON POOJAS

Click here for the calendar

• Passes for this pooja are given out free of charge after the 1.30 pm pooja.

• Passes cannot be reserved in advance

• If you don’t get a pass you can still see the pooja on the screen on the temple terrace. At the end of the pooja you may then go inside for aarthi and darshan, provided you have been vegetarian for the last three days.

• If you are elderly and/or have a medical condition DO NOT ATTEMPT to walk up the hill to the Maha Shakti Temple. Our own transport will drive you up in the afternoon.

• This transport is only available for the pooja. There may be several trips with the last one leaving at 5.40 pm.

• Please remember you are visiting sanctified grounds.

• Your behaviour and conduct must be appropriate for that of a Temple.

• Do not drop any rubbish at Skanda Vale or in the surrounding countryside and farms or at the point of the coach/minibus transfer.

• No talking inside the three Temples.

• No photography inside the Murugan Temple or Maha Shakti Temple.

• Please do not pull out any plants or ferns, or pick any flowers. They are there for everyone to enjoy.
   

We believe that God should be available to anyone.
Everything at Skanda Vale is free of charge. This includes: accommodation, meals, poojas, and transport to Maha Shakti Temple

If a group leader has charged you more than necessary for the cost of travel, please inform us and we shall ban that person from visiting Skanda Vale.

Any donations from pilgrims must be on a voluntary basis and are not to be organized or collected by group leaders.
It must be left to the free will of each individual pilgrim to make any donations if they so desire.

Bring only small luggage bags. We have no storage space for luggage and the rooms are very small.