The need for safe, responsible trekking in the Western Ghats

IF you are looking for trekking trails in south India, the Western Ghats are the ultimate paradise. The mountain range – which spans across the southern states of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu – abounds in some amazing adventure hot spots, where you can trek your way through undiscovered hills and verdant forests, sweeping valleys and coffee plantations, meadows and cascades, roaring rivers and bubbling streams.

However, the increasing trend of thousands of trekkers thronging the ghats – which brim with rich biodiversity – poses risks to the environment and water resources.

A proliferation of social media coverage has resulted in over-tourism in these mountains, which has resulted in chaos and raised questions about safety. The overcrowding – especially on weekends – has led to littering, including the indiscriminate disposal of plastic carry bags, bottles, plates, and leftover food items in villages on the forest edges and in ecologically sensitive areas.

After environmentalists raised concerns about the crowds, the Union and state governments have put in place several regulatory measures.

Karnataka

Online booking was introduced by Karnataka to regulate trekking activities and prevent congestion as there were challenges in managing and monitoring the huge influx of people. The state government also introduced a cap on the number of people at trekking sites across the state.

All online bookings that were done earlier by the Eco Tourism Board will henceforth be under the purview of the Forest Department. Apart from asking trekkers to book online for certain select treks, as per the rules only 300 people will be allowed to scale the peaks in one destination in a day. The limit was fixed based on the scientifically calculated carrying capacity of each peak. Online booking will soon be extended to other activities like wildlife safaris too. An app is in the pipeline to monitor attendance at the entrance to forests.

The Forest department’s website also provides brief descriptions and images of the various trekking routes in the state. To ease the traffic in the Western Ghats, trekkers are also encouraged to look beyond and opt for treks that range from short, easy day-long walks to weekend hikes. Popular treks include Skandagiri, Avalabetta, Devarayanadurga, Makalidurga, Savandurga, Anthargange, Uttari Betta, etc., all within driving distance from Bengaluru. You can also embark on the Golden Trek along the coastline from Karwar to Gokarna marching to the rhythm of the lapping waves.

Though Karnataka does not have a separate adventure tourism policy, the Karnataka Tourism Policy 2020-2026 has introduced some guidelines for adventure tourism activities in the State. Development of adventure tourism shall be done in coordination with the Union Ministry of Tourism, the state Department of Youth Empowerment & Sports, and adventure tourism operators in the state. Detailed guidelines would be issued from time to time for the operation of adventure tourism activities. Plans are also on the anvil to introduce a sustainable eco-adventure tourism policy to promote safe and legalised adventure sports and tourism in forest areas in coordination with the Tourism, Youth Empowerment, Sports, and Forest Departments.

Kerala

Kerala was the first state to make registration mandatory for service providers in the adventure tourism sector for conducting aqua, aero sports, and terrestrial activities to ensure safety of participants. The procedures and protocols of the Adventure Tourism Safety and Security Regulations for according registration to operators were drawn up by the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPS), which functions under the state Department of Tourism.

“In Kerala, online booking is mandatory for trekking in certain areas like the Periyar Tiger Reserve, Parambikulam National Park, and Agasthyarkoodam, which comes under the Forest Department. But in Munnar and neighbouring areas there is no control on trekking by day trippers. The government should run an awareness campaign to guide and educate the public,” says Pradeep Murthy, Managing Director, Muddy Boots, a consultant to Kerala Tourism.

Tamil Nadu

In a bid to benefit trekkers and hikers planning to explore trails, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department has compiled a comprehensive list of 40 trails. ‘Trek Tamil Nadu’ is a joint venture of the state Forest Department and the Tamil Nadu Wilderness Experience Corporation, a TN government undertaking.

With 40 treks across 14 districts, the options are incredibly diverse, from scenic forests and waterfalls to panoramic peaks with a range of difficulty levels. “Booking is simple – through trektamilnadu.com – where your entry fee covers everything you’ll need – guides, insurance, refreshments, and more. The guide-to-trekker ratio is capped at 1:5, which means each group gets a personalised experience,” says BV Prakash, a hardcore trekker and mountaineer. The efforts to organise safe, responsible trekking gives everyone a chance to explore TN’s natural beauty sustainably.

However, there are always risks when it comes to trekking. “With an increase in backpack adventure tourists and outdoor promoters, mishaps and emergencies are on the rise. Sometimes trekking holidays can go awry like the tragic death of the nine Karnataka trekkers in Uttarakhand who lost their way due to bad weather. Natural calamities can be disastrous in the absence of emergency relief and rescue protocols,” laments Padmanabha KG, ex-banker, photographer, and avid trekker.

Role of Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI)

To mitigate the problems faced by trekkers and adventure tour operators, the Union Ministry of Tourism along with the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) has developed a set of safety guidelines. The ‘Safety and Quality Norms for Adventure Tourism in India’ is a comprehensive document that sets out the safety standards for adventure tourism in the country. The Ministry of Tourism has also established the National Board for Adventure Tourism, where ATOAI plays a crucial role. The sole aim of this initiative is to help adventure tour operators understand and execute the safety guidelines in a better manner.

According to Ajeet Bajaj, president, ATOAI, “The board focuses on sustainable growth strategies, risk mitigation, product development, marketing, and promoting responsible tourism practices. To prevent mishaps and accidents on trekking routes, ATOAI ensures timely access and communication, medical support, and trained first aid staff at all locations. They also ensure regular inspections of equipment and detailed briefings on conditions, and provide continuous support from the point-of-entry to the adventure destination.”

ATOAI is actively engaging with the government to develop a national adventure tourism forum rescue system and encouraging insurance policies for adventure activities. Emphasis is being laid on responsible tourism practices that benefit local communities, aligning with travellers’ desires to contribute positively to the places they visit. Environmental challenges such as difficult terrain and variable weather conditions require thorough preparation and human errors can be minimised through strict adherence to safety standards.

Experts say it is imperative to have a single window nodal agency for managing adventure activity administration, accreditation or licensing and to create a sustainable risk management plan for adventure activities across destinations.

Susheela Nair is an independent food, travel and lifestyle writer and photographer contributing articles, content and images to several national publications besides organising seminars and photo exhibitions. Her writings span a wide spectrum which also includes travel portals and guide books, brochures and coffee table books.