Chikkamagaluru
Tourist entry to Mullayanagiri, Seethalayanagiri and other important tourist and religious spots in the Chandradrona mountain range will be restricted on September 14 in view of the Gauri-Ganesha festival, the Chikkamagaluru district administration has announced.
The restriction has been imposed as thousands of devotees from more than 40 surrounding villages are expected to visit the hill region on the festival day. Devotees traditionally travel to Mullayanagiri, Seethalayanagiri and Sri Guru Narukante Mutt to offer fruits and coconuts and perform the customary ritual of breaking coconuts as part of their religious observance.
The district administration said the temporary restriction is necessary to ensure that the traditional religious activities are conducted smoothly without disturbance from tourist traffic. A large number of devotees are expected to arrive in vehicles, and the administration has expressed concern that the heavy movement could lead to traffic congestion on the narrow hill roads.
Chikkamagaluru Deputy Commissioner Bhanwar Singh Meena has appealed to tourists to postpone their visits to the popular hill destinations by a day. The advisory covers Mullayanagiri, Seethalayanagiri, the Inam Dattatreya Bababudan Swamy Dargah and Manikyadhara. Tourists have been requested not to plan trips to these places on September 14 and instead visit after the festival-related restrictions are lifted.
Officials said the decision has been taken primarily in the interest of public convenience and the safety of devotees and tourists. The administration is also seeking cooperation from visitors to avoid unnecessary traffic and ensure that devotees can reach the religious sites without difficulty.
The Chandradrona mountain range attracts a large number of tourists throughout the year, particularly to Mullayanagiri and other scenic locations. However, officials said the special arrangements on September 14 are intended to give priority to the festival traditions and the large gathering of devotees expected in the area. Tourist access is expected to resume normally after the restricted period.
