Starting June 25, trekking to Kudremukh and Netravati (Hirimariguppe) peaks in the Kudremukh National Park will only be allowed through online booking. Kudremukh National Park, located in Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka, is a significant landmark place for tourists.
Sivaram Babu, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Kudremukh Wildlife Division, Karkala, announced that trekkers need to book their trips at http://www.kudremukhanationalpark.in. Each person can book for up to three individuals, with a daily cap of 300 trekkers per peak based on the scientifically determined carrying capacity.
Booking schedule and tatkal slots
Monthly bookings will open on the 25th of the preceding month, starting June 25. For instance, bookings for July will open on June 25. On weekends, though the daily limit of 300 trekkers per peak remains unchanged, there will be two tatkal booking categories: 50 slots for local villagers and 50 for last-minute bookings. Therefore, 100 of the 300 weekend slots are reserved for these tatkal categories, with the remaining 200 slots available as usual. Tatkal bookings will open every Thursday at 10 am.
Karnataka’s troubled trekking trails
The tatkal system was implemented following requests from local villagers, particularly homestay owners, who sought a dedicated quota for weekends. Meanwhile, villagers must register with Range Forest Officers of Kudremukh and Belthangady wildlife ranges by June 30 to receive login credentials after document verification.
Managing congestion
The Karnataka Forest Department introduced online booking to regulate trekking activities and prevent congestion, which became a significant issue at the Kumara Parvat in January 2024. On January 26, 2024, 954 ticketed trekkers and over a thousand hopefuls crowded near the Kumara Parvatha entry point, causing videos of the overcrowding to go viral. Environmentalists raised concerns about littering in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats, leading to this regulatory measure.
Bikers assaulted by locals near Patla Betta
On June 23, a group of bikers returning from Patla Betta in Sakleshpur taluk were allegedly assaulted by local drivers. The altercation occurred when the bikers, who chose to ride their motorcycles to the hilltop instead of hiring local jeeps and pickup trucks, were blocked and attacked by the drivers.
Bhuvit Poojary from Dakshina Kannada filed a complaint at Yeslur police station, leading to a case being registered against four named persons — Gagan, Kiran, Nishanth, and Madan. The Yeslur police are currently investigating the incident. Tourists have criticised the Forest Department for inadequate monitoring of activities at Patla Betta, resulting in such conflicts.
