Trekkers make a beeline to Perumalmudi, Melmudi amid lack of safety protocols, wildlife-friendly guidelines

Perumalmudi and Melmudi, two prominent mountain peaks in Coimbatore that are open to trekkers in the Tamil month of Purattasi, are witnessing heavy footfall in the absence of proper safety protocols and guidelines to curb potential disturbances to the wildlife.

A 57-year-old man, who trekked Melmudi on September 26, got lost in the wild for several hours at night, before being located and rescued by a Forest Department team around 2 a.m. the next day. The search team had to use a thermal camera to locate the man in the reserve forest.

According to the Forest Department estimates, around 10,000 people trekked Perumalmudi and 3,000 people climbed Melmudi on September 26. The two peaks are open to the public on Purattasi Saturdays to offer prayers to the deities at the summits. Since Perumalmudi is one of the commercial trekking routes in the district under the Trek Tamil Nadu initiative, paid trekking can be undertaken on other days as well.

People making a beeline the trekking trail at Perumalmudi in Coimbatore district on September 26, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

“The footfall at Perumalmudi and Melmudi escalated after trekkers started posting videos and photos on social media platforms. Some people are found shooting reels along the trekking trail, performing yoga in available open areas and doing risky adventures in rough terrains,” said a Forest Department official, adding that it was a tough task for the Department staff to monitor every trekker with very minimal strength.

District Forest Officer N. Vengatesh Prabhu said the Department staff screen trekkers at the foothills for inflammable objects, matches, lighters, cigarettes/beedis, single-use plastic products, alcohol and other contraband.

Though trekkers are allowed to carry bottled mineral water, there is no mechanism to ensure whether they carry them back to the foothills for proper disposal.

Health complications and sudden deaths of trekkers reported at the two peaks in the past highlight the need to sensitise the public to be cautious about their health conditions while undertaking treks. As per Trek Tamil Nadu website, Perumalmudi has an elevation of 1,527 metres (MSL) and trekking is allowed between Sembukarai and Perumalmudi peak for a round trip distance of 10 km. Melmudi has an approximate elevation of 1,615 metres.

Some of the trekkers, who climbed the two peaks during this year’s Purattasi Saturdays, said no proper health advisory is issued to the public at the starting points of the two trails. A 48-year-old man from Villivakkam in Chennai, who experienced breathing difficulties while trekking Melmudi on September 26, died when he was returning to the parking area from midway.

K. Kalidasan of Osai environmental organisation observed that local people, who knew the tough terrain and the wildlife, used to trek the hills in the month of Purattasi as a spiritual activity in olden days.

“Majority of the crowd visiting Perumalmudi and Melmudi nowadays see them as adventure destination or leisure spot. There should be a cap on the number of people that can be permitted to these two prime wildlife habitats.” he said.