Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia (MS)

Sullia, Oct 6: Trekking on the Kumara Parvata mountain range near Subramanya, also known as Pushpagiri trekking,begins today on Sunday, October 6. Only those who have registered online are permitted to enter the area.

Access to Kumara Parvata can be gained from Devaragadde near Kukke or from Somwarpet. Last year, a significant influx of trekkers created chaos, prompting this year’s limit on the number of participants allowed.

Trekking was prohibited during the summer and monsoon seasons. Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre introduced online booking and new guidelines for trekking last summer at Subramanya.

To participate, trekkers must register on the Aranya Vihara website of the forest department. Only 335 trekkers are allowed per day, with three trekking routes available online: Kukke Subramanya-Kumaraparvata, Beedahalli of Kodagu-Kumaraparvata-Beedahalli, and Beedahalli-Kumaraparvata-Subramanya.

Previously, trekkers could stay overnight at Girigadde and continue trekking the following morning. However, this year, such overnight stays are prohibited.

Entry to the Kumara Parvata trekking zone is allowed only between 6 am and 9 am, and trekkers must begin their ascent from Girigadde by 11 am. All trekkers must return by 6 pm; resting during the trek is not permitted, and a same-day return is mandatory. The forest department has put several conditions in place this year.

With overnight stays in Girigadde no longer allowed, trekkers will need to navigate a challenging 12-kilometer route from Subramanya, with a maximum completion time of 12 hours (6 am to 6 pm).