At least 550 young women have sought entry into the sabarimala shrine by applying on a portal set up by the Kerala police.

They seek entry into the shrine when it opens for the annual Mandalapuja-Makaravilakku festival later this month.

The Supreme Court allowed women of all ages access to the shrine on September 27.

The police said 3.5 lakh people have applied for Lord Ayyappa’s darshan on the portal, www.sabarimalaq.com , on Friday.

The portal is being created to manage the crowd at the temple, which will be open from November 16 to December 27.

Pilgrims can book time slots for darshan on this portal, and book buses to travel from Nilakkal to Pamba.

Each ticket will be valid for 48 hours. The portal will show the available time slots for darshan, according to which pilgrims can make bookings.

The temple had witnessed massive protests from October 17-22, after it opened for the first time following the Apex court’s ruling.