NELLIYAMPATHY, KERALA: Local plantations and tourism groups are asking the state government to lift the ban on tourists visiting fragile regions of Nelliyampathy hill ranges like Mampara, Hill Top, Karassuri, Church Hill, Dovindamala, Katlapara, and Karapara. Nelliyampathy is a hill station 60 kilometres from Palakkad, state of Kerala, India reports the Times of India.
The ban was put in place four years ago by the Forest department after it found that the 200+ jeeps being used to ferry tourists to these locations was casing widespread damage to the environment here.
Tour operators said that the bad has affected ecotourism in the area as now visitors are allowed to access only Sitarkund View Point and surrounding areas such as Keshavanpara and Government Orange farm. This has meant less area for exploring for the general public.
The hill ranges also house the world-famous Parambikulam Tiger Reserve.
