Illegal and ‘hidden spot’ tourism is raising alarm in Karnataka

Residents and environmentalists across the Western Ghats, particularly in Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru districts, have expressed concern over the growing trend of private groups and tour operators promoting hidden and remote natural sites for commercial trekking and adventure activities.

Locals fear that the sudden influx of tourists to ecologically fragile areas could cause irreversible damage to forests, water resources and natural habitats.

Residents say several travel agencies and private groups, mainly from Bengaluru and Mysuru, are identifying lesser-known hills, waterfalls and other natural sites and promoting them on social media. Treks are subsequently organized to these places without the permission of the forest office.

The increased traffic has resulted in tourists leaving behind plastic waste and other garbage, they claimed.

The Kodagu Forest Department has recently stepped up action against unauthorized commercial trekking in sensitive forest areas and has warned tour operators and tour operators against promoting illegal trekking routes.

The warning followed the circulation of videos on social media showing tourist activities to mountains, waterfalls and areas where Strobilanthes kunthiana, popularly known as Neelakurinji, an endemic shrub seen in the Western Ghats, is blooming in Perur village near Napokl. The ministry said social media posts are being used to promote mass commercial trekking in sensitive areas around Nelji, Peruru and neighboring regions.

“Over the last few days, we have seen several illegal tour operators organizing treks and taking tourists to hidden places in the hills without permission. The main problem is that several lesser-known places in and around the forest areas are now being exposed to tourists for commercial purposes,” Thimmaiah KB, a resident of Nelji, told The Hindu.

He said the area has several small waterfalls and other natural sites that are increasingly being visited by tourists. Many of these sites are located in or near sensitive forest areas and are not equipped to handle large numbers of visitors.

“Since Neelakurunji is in bloom, more people are coming here. If visitors are allowed to enter these places without restrictions, they could damage plants and other vegetation. Such activities can also disturb wildlife and increase the possibility of human-wildlife conflict. We fear that continued unregulated tourism will seriously affect the fragile ecosystem,” he said.

Another resident, Biddappa of Marandoda in Madikeri taluk, said his village faces a similar problem at a place locally known as Baliyatre, where a small waterfall is located on a hill.

He said that Baliyatre was never meant to be a tourist destination and more importantly, the water source is vital for the villagers. “The water from this area is an important source of drinking water for the people of Marandoda. It is a place that needs to be protected and not converted into a tourist spot,” Mr. Biddappa told The Hindu.

“People promote the site on social media, make reels, drive tourists and organize treks for commercial purposes. Visitors have already started leaving garbage and polluting the area, threatening our source of drinking water and the surrounding forests,” he added.

Chikkamagaluru is seeing a similar trend

A similar trend emerged in Chikkamagaluru, where environmentalists urged the district administration and forest department to ban private groups from running adventure and sports activities in forest areas without permission.

Recently, private groups have organized off-road activities in parts of Kalasa and Koppa. After objections from local groups, the forest department intervened and stopped the activities in Kalasa. However, environmentalists said that similar activities continue in the Koppa region.

Activist Nagaraj Koove said environmentalists were studying the impact of such activities on the fragile Malnad ecosystem. “The impact was huge and such activities could cause serious damage. In the name of sports activities or exploring the Malnad region, private organizations organize such events with profit as the primary objective. They offer participants a sense of adventure and excitement, but the environmental cost is borne by the forests and local communities,” he told The Hindu.

“Forest areas are not playgrounds for private commercial activities. Such activities, especially those involving vehicles and large groups, should be stopped unless properly regulated and permitted by the authorities,” he added.

The risks were highlighted recently when a group of tourists allegedly drove a vehicle to the edge of a nearly 3,000-feet deep gorge at Rani Jhari lookout in Mudigere taluk. The visitors were reportedly on site to shoot videos/reels for social media. Kalasa Range forest officials impounded the vehicle and registered a case against the group.

Meanwhile, Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy, who was in Kodagu on August 28 for a ministry meeting, said he had received complaints from residents regarding unauthorized trekking and tourism activities in the forest areas and directed officials to take action against those illegally trekking in the forest areas.

“Forest areas cannot be made available for commercial activities just because some places become popular on social media. If such activities are allowed unchecked, they can disturb the wildlife and affect the ecological balance. Officials have been asked to identify such activities and take action against tour operators and private groups who violate the rules,” he added.

(With inputs from Sathish GT)

Published – 30 Aug 2026 06:30 IST