Monday, January 6, 2025 A sixth safari is set to open in Hoggenekal, joining existing ones in Bandipur, K Gudi, PG Palya, Ajjipura, and Gopinatham. With thousands of visitors flocking to the MM Hills temple, the new facility is poised to enhance tourism and significantly uplift the local economy. Two decades after the demise of infamous sandalwood smuggler Veerappan, the Forest Department is set to harness the tourism potential of the region’s forests by launching a new safari from Hoggenekal Falls, located on the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border.
Building on the success of the safari at Gopinatham, Veerappan’s hometown, which has gained popularity for its unique “brigand tourism,” the new safari will span 22 kilometers of dense forest. This route will highlight Veerappan’s former hideouts within the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, home to abundant wildlife, including elephants, sambar, deer, and bears. Given Hoggenekal’s status as a favorite tourist spot, known for its scenic river boating experiences and traditional fish delicacies, authorities at the sanctuary see it as an ideal starting point for the safari, attracting visitors from both states.
The Forest Department has planned four daily safari trips, two in the morning and two in the evening, with each vehicle accommodating up to 25 passengers. New safari vehicles, designed to venture deep into the forest, have already been ordered. To cater to the growing influx of tourists, tent cottages have been set up in Gopina.
