Adventure seekers visiting the popular Ettina Bhuja trekking trail in the Western Ghats face severe hardships due to missing support systems, blocked pathways, and poor management.
CHIKKAMAGALURU
Adventure seekers visiting the popular Ettina Bhuja trekking trail in the Western Ghats are facing severe hardships after its recent reopening. The route, which remained closed for several months due to seasonal weather conditions, has been made accessible again via online bookings with a fixed fee for a five-kilometer hike.
However, the resumption of trekking activities has brought serious administrative concerns to light. Tourists who secured permits online arrived only to find that standard operating procedures are completely ignored by local authorities. Essential visitor support systems, including trained guides and safety checkpoints, are entirely missing along the remote path.
To make matters worse, recent heavy downpours and strong winds have knocked down several large trees, blocking the designated hiking trails. Without clear signboards or maintenance crews to clear the debris, enthusiastic travelers found themselves stranded deep inside the thick forest trails without proper guidance or mobile connectivity.
The chaotic management has sparked strong criticism from nature lovers and disappointed visitors who expected a safe, well-organized experience. Many have called upon the district administration and the forest department to step in immediately, clear blocked pathways, and deploy necessary support staff.
Experts and local tour operators are now advising upcoming trekkers to verify ground conditions and check weather safety alerts before planning any trips to the region. Authorities are expected to review the current infrastructure gaps to prevent further inconvenience to visitors exploring the fragile ecosystem.