Mysuru: Pilgrims undertaking the padayatra to the Malai Mahadeshwara Swamy Hill temple from Talabetta during the upcoming Mahashivaratri festival will be protected by specially deployed security teams equipped with firearms, machetes, walkie-talkies and other field gear, as authorities strengthen safety arrangements along the forest route.
The Malai Mahadeshwara (MM) Hills in Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar district is a major pilgrim centre that attracts several lakh devotees during the annual Shivaratri Jatra Mahotsava. This year’s festival is scheduled to be held from February 14 to 18. In view of heavy footfall and a recent wildlife-related incident along the route, multiple departments have coordinated to implement enhanced security and monitoring measures.
Measures stepped up after wildlife incident
Authorities intensified preparations after a devotee from Mandya district lost his life following a leopard attack along the padayatra route near Rangaswamy Oddu on January 22. The incident had caused fear among pilgrims and concern within official circles.
Following the incident, forest personnel launched a combing operation and successfully captured a three-year-old male leopard through tranquilisation. Officials said the swift response helped restore confidence among devotees planning to attend the jatra.
Subsequently, the Forest Minister and the district in-charge minister chaired review meetings with senior officers and directed departments to ensure pilgrim safety while also safeguarding forest and wildlife zones.
Seven specialised teams along eight-km stretch
According to forest officials, seven dedicated security teams have been formed to monitor and protect pilgrims along the Talabetta to MM Hills padayatra stretch, which runs for about eight km through forested terrain.
Each team will be responsible for roughly one km of the route. The teams include five personnel drawn from multiple wings — the Forest Department, Police Department, anti-poaching camps, home guards and the MM Hills Temple Development Authority.
Range Forest Officers will supervise the deployment and movement of these teams.
Officials said each unit will be equipped with guns, walkie-talkies, torchlights, firecrackers for deterrence, machetes and lathis to respond quickly to any emergency situation. In addition, mobile patrol units led by Deputy Range Forest Officers and forest guards will move along the route in vehicles to provide rapid support where required.
Drone and task force deployment proposed
The Forest Department has also requested permission from the government to deploy a specialised leopard task force team from Mysuru and drone surveillance units during the festival period.
If approved, drone teams will be positioned at key points to monitor animal movement and crowd flow along the route. Officials said aerial monitoring would help in early detection of any potential risk and enable faster field response.
Authorities added that surveillance and patrolling plans are being aligned with expected crowd density on specific days of the jatra.
District administration outlines pilgrim guidelines
District officials said coordinated steps have been taken by the district administration, Forest Department and temple authority to ensure safe movement of pilgrims.
Senior district authorities stated that lakhs of devotees from Karnataka and neighbouring Tamil Nadu are expected to visit MM Hills during the Shivaratri celebrations. Many pilgrims traditionally undertake padayatra through forest stretches after crossing the Cauvery and moving via interior routes toward the hill shrine.
Joint inspection of the padayatra route has already been carried out by officials. Based on the assessment, personnel are being stationed at sensitive points to reduce the risk of wildlife encounters and manage crowd movement.
Timings and vehicle restrictions announced
Authorities have fixed specific timings for padayatra movement during the festival window. Pilgrims will be allowed to walk the Talabetta–MM Hills route only between 7 am and 4 pm to ensure adequate daylight visibility and safer monitoring.
Movement outside these hours will be restricted as a precautionary measure.
Further, from February 13 to 18, two-wheelers and three-wheelers, including autorickshaws, will be stopped at the Koudalli border checkpost to regulate traffic and reduce congestion near forest entry points.
Officials said these restrictions are intended to balance pilgrim convenience with safety and environmental protection.
Conclusion
With several lakh devotees expected for the Shivaratri Jatra, authorities have adopted a multi-layered safety plan combining armed patrol teams, route supervision, timing controls and proposed drone monitoring. The coordinated approach aims to ensure that pilgrims can undertake the padayatra with confidence while maintaining vigilance across the forest corridor leading to MM Hills.