Trekking ban at Thadiyandamol peak in Kodagu dampens hikers' spirits

MADIKERI/BENGALURU: A breathtaking sunrise with puffs of clouds dotting the sky, verdant forests and a stunning view of the valley - Thadiyandamol, the tallest peak in Kodagu district, is a tourist's paradise.
But the government's recent decision to ban trekking at the spot has left trippers dejected. Those who are ignorant of the ban visit the foothills only to return disappointed."We came across some rave reviews online, which showed the mountain in all its glory. The view from the top was spectacular. We reached around 10am but the forest guards denied us entry saying trekking was banned after elephants were found moving al ong the path," said Vijesh Thimmaiah, a nature lover who visited the spot last Sunday along with friends.
Thadiyandamol, which roughly translates into big mountain in Kodava dialect, is located in the Western Ghats range, perched between the Karnataka and Kerala border. It is the second highest peak in Karnataka after Mullayanagiri in the Chandra Drona hill range in Chikamagaluru district.
Since it is easy to scale and the trail is lined with thick forests and coffee plantations, Thadiyandamol has emerged as one of the most sought-after trekking destinations in South India. "As a trekker, I couldn't have asked for more," said a tourist mesmezired by the locale.
Th e trekking trail begins from the historical Nalknad Palace in Kakkabe, about 45km from Madikeri. The distance from the foothills to the summit is just about 10km, which can be reached in a day, making it not much of a strenuous climb.
Anil Kumar, a senior outdoor instructor, said, "Many trekkers must be heartbroken with the government's decision. But safety should always come before pleasure. Instead of putting a blanket ban on trekking, the forest department should allow professional trekkers. Only those in sync with wildlife should be permitted to scale the peak along with guides."
Sandeep Shett y, senior outdoor instructor and regular organizer of trekking expeditions at Thadiyandamol, however, welcomed the move. "Banning of trekking to facilitate elephant movement is a good move. Many tourists don't behave responsibly in the wild and it makes sense to deny them entry. Many are not even aware that elephants can move swiftly to attack people during musth (sexually aggressive period among male elephants). Clueless of the flora and fauna around them, tourists are often busy clicking selfies", he said.
'Preventive measure'
Forest officials defended the decision. "The temporary ban on trekking is a preventive measure. It can be very dangerous to traverse the route when el ephants are around,'' said Vijayakumar, a range forest officer in Kodagu.