"Welcome to Kurangani Hills, the Western Ghats for a glimpse into the forces of nature," says a signboard ahead of the pristine mountain ranges.
It’s tragic irony then, that it was a force of nature, a wildfire, that snuffed out 10 lives in the picturesque hills of the Western Ghats, located over 500 km from the capital of Chennai.
Seven women and three men, part of a trekking expedition, were killed in the devastating forest fire in the hills on 11 March.
The Tamil Nadu government has ordered a probe into the incident.
Kurangani Hills: A Nature Lover’s Paradise
Nestled atop the Western Ghats, Kurangani Hill range is a nature lover's paradise, albeit not as popular as Kodaikanal or the nearby Ooty in Tamil Nadu.
With its waterfalls, caves and rock crevices, diverse flora and fauna, tea, coffee and cardamom estates, Kurangani dotted by remote tribal hamlets is truly a paradise for trekkers.
Kurangani hills, which has been attracting adventure tourists, including from overseas, is known for its fast-changing weather and strong winds.
The hill ranges, with a peak altitude of around 8,000 metres, have several trekking trails to destinations such as Meesapulimala, Top Station and Rhodo Valley.
The Kolukkumalai hills situated close by, are believed to be home to highest tea estate in the world located at an altitude close to 8,000 feet, according to Nat Geo Traveller.
Forest Fires: Unusual, but Not Unheard Of
Bordering Kerala, Theni district, surrounded by the Western Ghats, is home to about 35,481 hectares of reserve and 31,094 hectares of unclassified forest. The district is also a favourite destination for film shoots.
According to government data, Theni is also a key route for the nature lovers to important tourist destinations such as Munnar and Thekkady in the neighbouring Kerala.
It takes about four to five hours to complete the trek from Kurangani village, which is at the foothills, to reach the Top Station, and two-and-a-half hours for the return trip.
While there hasn’t been a fire in the Kurangani Hills as massive as the one on 11 March, the popular tourist destinations near Kurangani have faced forest fires in the past.
In 2016, The Hindu reported multiple forest fires with no casualties in the Nilgiris Hills in nearby Ooty, approximately seven hours away, with authorities speculating human activity as the reason for the fires.
As recently as February 2018, a fire ravaged 12 acres of reserve land in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, The Deccan Chronicle reported on 3 February.
A World Heritage Site, Scarred by Horror
Coffee seeds, cardamom and mango are among the main produce of the district.
Several Tamil films including Myna and Kumki were also shot on the Kurangani hills.
According to GREEN, an NGO working in the region on "Endogenous Spices Tourism Project," Kurangani is unexploited and unexplored.
UNESCO placed the Western Ghats on its list of Natural World Heritage Sites in 2012, stating that they were “older than the Himalayas.”
However, following the deaths of at least 10 people, The Kerala Disaster Management Authority placed a temporary ban on all trekking programmes in the state till further notice.
(With inputs from PTI, The Hindu, The Deccan Chronicle and kuranganihills.com)
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