The Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve has simplified the norms for visiting the scenic, salubrious and refreshingly cool Maanjolai tea estates above the Manimuthar Falls in the Western Ghats.
In a statement, Deputy Director of Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve’s Ambasamudram Division, Ilaiyaraja said visitors going to Maanjolai in four-wheelers can get permission from the Forest Guard at Manimuthar Check-Post hereafter instead of getting permission from the Deputy Director, KMTR, Ambasamudram or the Office of the Forest Range Officer concerned. Going to Maanjolai in bikes, van and open vehicles will not be allowed.
Permission will be given everyday on ‘first come first served’ basis for the first ten vehicles coming to the Manimuthar Check-Post at 8 a.m. and the vehicles should come out of the forest before 5 p.m. Vehicles failing to come out of the forest before 5 p.m. will be fined.
Since the ghat road is not motorable, vehicles with better ground clearance alone will be allowed to go up. Inflammable materials, liquor, polythene bags, tobacco products etc. will not be allowed. Apart from the prescribed fee, registration certificate of the vehicle, insurance copy of the vehicle and the applicant’s Aadhar card copy should be submitted for getting permission at Manimuthar Check-Post.
The number of visitors travelling in the vehicles should not exceed the number of seats in the vehicle, Mr. Ilaiyaraaja said.
