After 4,000 trekkers climbed the Kumara Parvatha peak in the ecologically fragile Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary on the Republic Day weekend, an alarmed Karnataka government temporarily banned trekking in the State. Until a standard operating procedure is put in place, routes without an online booking system would remain closed, it said.
Although temporary in nature, the ban will effectively extend until September, as trekking is not allowed in the forest from March to September due to the risks associated with the monsoon months and probable forest fires.
Also read | Karnataka’s troubled trekking trails
