The Forest Department has geared up for yet another 42-day trekking season to Agasthyakoodam (or Agasthyamala) that will commence on Saturday.
During the period, the number of trekkers will be restricted to 100 persons a day. In accordance with the tradition being followed by the Kani tribal community in the region, the season commences on the Makaravilakkku day and will come to an end on Sivarathri, which falls on February 24.
According to Wildlife Warden (Thiruvananthapuram) Y.M. Shajikumar, online booking for trekking got under way on January 5 and all of the 4,200 passes on offer were sold within two hours.
As in previous years, there were many complaints about the booking procedures. Demands have been made for an extended time-frame for booking. The department has roped in nearly 30 guides to assist those undertaking the 26-km trek up dense forests and slippery boulders. Each group will commence the journey at Bonacaud at 8 a.m. and travel around 18 km to arrive at the base camp at Athirumala, where they will spend the night. The second phase of the journey, which involves an 8-km climb to reach the Agasthyakoodam peak, will begin next morning.
Mr. Shajikumar said the trekkers would be sensitised to various aspects including the need to preserve the rich biodiversity of the region, which is a part of the Western Ghats. The Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve, which includes the Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney wildlife sanctuaries, was included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of the UNESCO a year ago. The region is home to several rare species of herbs and medicinal plants, as well as some endangered animal species.
