HR&CE begins feasibility study for bitumen road to Parvathamalai hillock temple

The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department is conducting a feasibility study to lay the first bitumen road, for a distance of around 4.5 kms, to Parvathamalai hillock Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy (Lord Shiva) temple near Kalasapakkam town in Tiruvannamalai.

The initiative by HR&CE, is being done at a cost of ₹8.63 lakh, and comes in the wake of two women devotees from Chennai who were washed away in a flash flood after they slipped into a stream while climbing down from the hillock temple in August. “The study, which will be completed in two months, will help to ascertain the shortest route available in the hills to reach the temple with a less steep gradient. The initiative is aimed to ensure the safety of pilgrims,” S. Shanmugasundaram, Assistant Commissioner, HR&CE (Tiruvannamalai), told The Hindu.

At present, Parvathamalai hillock, which is maintained by Pudupalayam range of the Forest Department, has more than 30 tribal hamlets including Kanamalai, Ezhuthampattu, Neepathurai and Arasanoor in the hills. The existing mud pathway, laid during the 1920s by the British, is the lone mode of connectivity for the tribals to reach towns in the plains.

For pilgrims, a three feet mud pathway at Then Mathimangalam and Then Kadaladi villages in the plains provides access to reach the hillock temple by foot. They climb the hillock by navigating through thick forests. On an average, the hillock temple gets around 1,000 visitors on weekdays and doubles up during weekends.

“Sick and injured devotees and tribals were carried down from the hillock by abled men. A proper bitumen road will end our ordeal,” said G. Maragatham, a resident.

Based on orders of Tiruvannamalai Collector K. Tharpagaraj, HR&CE officials have initiated a study to build a road in the hills. As per norms, three metres width of forest land is required to lay the new stretch to provide access to two-wheelers, cars, tractors and ambulances. The Forest Department has also been roped in for the purpose. 

HR&CE officials said that efforts are also being taken to study the possibility of laying water pipelines and Tangedco power cables in the hills. The new water pipelines will help temple officials to set up more drinking water taps and washrooms on the route, especially in the temple premises. At present, a large water tank with a capacity of 4,000 litres helps to meet the water needs at the temple. Water is being pumped from borewells in the hills.

Currently, the temple manages power supply through solar rooftop panels. New power lines will help to provide better lighting facilities on the trekking route to the temple and also supply electricity to the tribal hamlets. It will also ensure the safety of pilgrims from wild animals. The study is meant to assess all these possibilities. At present, around 1,500 temples are maintained by HR&CE in the district.

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