Planning A Trek In Karnataka? Forest Dept May Stop You At The Gate, Here’s Why

Last Updated:January 15, 2026, 15:16 IST

This is the once-in-a-few-years operation where teams move deep into forest interiors to count big cats, track their movement and assess how safe their habitats really are.

From trekking trails in the Western Ghats to safari zones in major reserves like Bandipur and Nagarhole, several popular destinations are feeling the impact. Image: Canva

Last weekend, a group of friends, techies from Bengaluru reached the edge of a forest trail in Kudremukha of Karnataka with backpacks, cameras and carefully planned weekend vibes. They barely made it past the gate. A simple notice from the Forest Department stopped them in their tracks.

No trekking. No safari. No waterfall detour. Just a quiet forest and an unexpected change of plans. The reason was not rain, repairs or paperwork.

Why forests are off-limits right now

Across several parts of the state, trekking routes and safari zones have been temporarily shut as forest officials carry out the massive tiger estimation exercise. This is the once-in-a-few-years operation where teams move deep into forest interiors to count big cats, track their movement and assess how safe their habitats really are. Camera traps are installed, pugmarks are traced and field staff work through sensitive zones, often in silence and at odd hours.

During this period, public access is restricted for a simple reason. Tourist movement can disturb animal behaviour and interfere with data collection.

More importantly, it can put visitors at risk, especially in regions where human-wildlife encounters have increased in recent months. Officials say these closures are not meant to cancel holidays, but to prevent accidents and ensure that conservation work happens without distraction.

Which places are feeling the impact

From trekking trails in the Western Ghats to safari zones in major reserves like Bandipur and Nagarhole, several popular destinations are feeling the impact. Some closures are directly linked to the census exercise, while others are part of heightened safety measures following recent tiger movement near forest fringes. The Forest Department describes this phase not as a shutdown, but as a pause that allows both animals and officials the space they need.

What travellers should know

For travellers, the message is clear. Anyone planning a forest getaway in the coming days should not rely on last year’s itineraries or social media reels.

Checking with local forest offices or official websites before heading out has become essential. Some spots may reopen in a matter of days, others may take a few weeks, depending on how long the census teams need to complete their work on the ground.

Back at the forest gate, that group of friends eventually turned around and swapped their trekking plans for coffee and conversation. No trail stories came out of the weekend, but a different kind of lesson did.

“We decided to spend the weekend in a nearby village homestay instead. This is a very realistic lesson for us too. We will certainly double check before planning our next trip" said Sandeep, one of the trekkers who reached Kudremukha from Bengaluru but could’t cross the forest checkpost thereafter.

Sometimes, the best way to care for the wild is not to enter it at all. And this week in Karnataka, the forests are quietly asking for exactly that — a little space, so their biggest residents can be counted, protected and left to rule in peace.

News lifestyle travel Planning A Trek In Karnataka? Forest Dept May Stop You At The Gate, Here’s Why