CHIKKAMAGALURU
Popular tourist destinations in Chikkamagaluru turned into scenes of total gridlock as thousands of vehicles flocked to the hills. The surge in visitors, taking advantage of the current holidays, has left travelers stranded for hours in massive traffic jams near Seethalaiyanagiri.
The influx began early, with tourists heading toward Mullayanagiri, Dattapeeth, and Galikere. However, the narrow, winding roads in the Giri area were quickly overwhelmed. Travelers reported being stuck for hours near the Pandaravalli-Seethalaiyanagiri stretch, with movement slowed to a crawl as the sheer volume of cars exceeded the roads’ capacity.
Beyond the surge in visitors, the situation has been worsened by allegations of mismanagement at local entry points. Reports suggest that the official online ticketing rules mandated by the Tourism Department are being ignored. Frustrated tourists and witnesses claim that staff at the check posts have been charging cars anywhere from 1,000 to 1,500 rupees to bypass regulations and allow vehicles directly onto the hills.
This unchecked entry of extra vehicles is widely blamed for the intense congestion currently paralyzing the area. Local police and check post staff are struggling to control the scene and clear the gridlock, but the heavy volume of traffic makes progress slow. Visitors are now facing significant delays, and the local administration faces mounting criticism over the failure to maintain order at these popular beauty spots. Officials are currently working to manage the overflow as traffic continues to pile up across the hillsides.
