The establishment of KIOCL in 1976, infused life into a region that had hitherto remained isolated. Its operations transformed it into a bustling modern township without spoiling or endangering its beauty, writes Chitra Ramaswamy
Kudremukh Hills, literally meaning horse-faced, so named for its shape, is not just a bedrock of rich iron ore deposits in the Western Ghats. The picturesque range of hills with its peak at 6,250 feet MSL, and 13 trekking routes within the Kudremukh National Park, offers a spectacular view of the coastline of the Arabian Sea, on a clear, sunny day.
The broad hills, connected to each other by deep valleys and undulating precipices, is virtually virgin territory, pristine and little-explored as a rich tourist locale and a beckoning hill station. Its luxuriant forests interspersed with lush valleys, frothing waterfalls, exotic flora, wide ranging fauna, offer an experience that is nothing short of paradise for picnickers, holiday-makers, trekkers and adventure seekers.
The establishment of KIOCL in 1976, infused life into a region that had hitherto remained isolated. The company’s operations transformed it into a bustling modern township without spoiling or endangering its general beauty. The iron ore deposits at Kudremukh are expected to last another 20 years at least. However, with the closure of the mines in January 2006 following Supreme Court orders, KIOCL is seriously considering venturing into eco-tourism in the region, to utilise its bungalows, staff quarters and guest house that have been lying unused since the mines closure. This would mean developing upon the natural beauty and landscape of Kudremukh to make it attractive for tourists while re-creating direct and indirect employment opportunities for those who lost their livelihood means on account of the mines closure.
Such a move by the organisation would also allow it to generate revenues and incomes from existing land, capital and other resources that are currently lying in a state of disuse and waste on account of mining operations having shut down. The tourism venture would thus give a boost to the sagging local economy, severely and adversely affected by the mines closure. Once the township is so developed, it would not only be a tourist locale in itself, but could also serve as base for tourists visiting the hordes of picturesque spots and areas of pilgrimage in the surrounds of Kudremukh and Mangalore.
According to the Kudremukh CMD K Ranganath, the proposed tourism initiative would be developed in the freehold area outside the deemed bio park. It would include a snake park, natural habitat for bird watching and jungle safaris. The entire development would be eco-friendly with solar power system, electric cars, use of bio-degradable products and a total ban on plastic goods.
In addition to exploiting the tourism potential of Mangalore, Kudremukh could become an important convalescent-resort-of-sorts, for several thousands of patients who visit Mangalore from abroad and also other parts of India, seeking medical treatment. The eco resort would serve as a convenient and comfortable recuperation and convalescent base for the patients, says Ranganath, who require to stay in Mangalore for varying periods of time between consultations, treatment and follow up.
The tourist potential of Kudremukh and its environs is not difficult to visualize. The rivers that meander around the Kudremukh hills and valleys offer ample scope for boating and rafting. The innumerable trekking trails and hilltops accord scintillating panoramic views of the surrounds of Kudremukh.
While being isolated from the urban jungle, the eco-resort would boast every kind of facility that a tourist would expect, including a hospital, church, mosque and temple, making it a safe and cozy heaven for every visitor, claims Ramappa, one of the Deputy Manager’s at KIOCL. “The Lakya Dam which we built as a pollution control dam for storage of our trailing, is also a potential tourist hotspot. Lakya is a tributary of the river Bhadra and we can use its backwaters to introduce boating facilities.”
According to Ravindra, Civil Engineer at the Mines, the eight silos at the disposal of KIOCL could be put to good use in developing the tourism potential of the township. A floating experience could be provided to tourists by creating a ‘skywalk’ by connecting these silos by means of a ropeway, about 50m above the valley.
Kudremukh Township is at an altitude of 750 MSL, 50 MSL below the Kudremuck Hills. However, there are other hills in the vicinity that are above 800 MSL that can be easily climbed by adventure-seekers, trekkers and other category of tourists. However, none of these have been developed as a tourist resort to date. Kudremukh and its neighbourhood are yet to be “discovered” in full measure as an idyllic paradise that has an almost rustic allure to it.
The Sutanabbe Falls, hemmed in by dense forests and lush hills is a must-visit spot in the vicinity. The base of the falls gives rise to a pool that at once attracts swimmers.
The Gangamoola hill, the source of the three main rivers namely Tunga, Bhadra and Nethravathi, 10 Kms from Kudremukh town, is a locale of breathtaking beauty. Also called Varaha Parvatha, the region is home to evergreen shola rainforest, located deep within which is a shrine dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathi. A cave designated as World Heritage Site by UNESCO here enshrines the 6 foot idol of Varaha, an added attraction for visitors. Further, the ranges here are home to over 110 species of birds.
20 km from Kudremukh is Kalasa on the banks of river Bhadra, considered a holy panchakshetra, so derived from its five sacred ponds namely Rudra, Vasishtha, Amba, Varaha and Naga Teerthas. The Madhwacharya Bande, a huge boulder in one of the ponds, claimed to have been placed by Madhwacharya, founder of Dvaita school of philosophy, is a crowd puller. The 800 year old Veera Narayanaswamy Temple near Kaleeshwara Temple, Jamalabad Fort, 50 km away from Kudremukh Town are other day tours that may be undertaken.
The granite Fort built by Tipu Sultan and named after his mother, stands 1,788 feet tall, accessed by a narrow pathway. The fort, considered a feat of engineering skills offers a good vantage point for witnessing a glorious sunrise and a serene sunset, each splashing the sky in a medley of hues. Hanumanguddi, about 10 km from Kudremukh, has been developed by the Karnataka Forest Department as a small resort and nature camp, offering safaris to the National Park. Udupi, Dharmasthala, Subramanya, Sringeri, Kornada, Madikeri, Moorbide and several other pilgrimage and other locales may be visited from Kudremukh as day trips.
Needless to say, there is no dearth of verdure and vistas that would leave visitors to the region, mesmerized and rejuvenated. KIOCL, by exploiting these to the best advantage, is sure to go great guns in its second innings in the region, even if veering off from its core competency, mining.
The company has invited expressions of interest (EoI) from reputed consultants with substantial experience in preparing detailed project report (DPR) for eco-tourism, sources said, and is exploring the possibility of a joint venture for the project. KIOCL has shown interest in entering into a partnership with Karnataka Government-owned Jungle Lodges & Resorts which has over two decades of experience in eco-tourism in the state.
The proposal, if it comes through would involve significant expenditure that would include modifications to the existing infrastructure, a facelift to the various categories of staff quarters (the mines closure has left almost 1000 houses in the township in a state of disuse!) that would be styled along resort cottages, and developed as star properties, complete with amenities. The development would take place in phases, the first phase serving as some sort of a testing ground for the venture.
Kudremukh Hills, literally meaning horse-faced, so named for its shape, is not just a bedrock of rich iron ore deposits in the Western Ghats. The picturesque range of hills with its peak at 6,250 feet MSL, and 13 trekking routes within the Kudremukh National Park, offers a spectacular view of the coastline of the Arabian Sea, on a clear, sunny day.
The broad hills, connected to each other by deep valleys and undulating precipices, is virtually virgin territory, pristine and little-explored as a rich tourist locale and a beckoning hill station. Its luxuriant forests interspersed with lush valleys, frothing waterfalls, exotic flora, wide ranging fauna, offer an experience that is nothing short of paradise for picnickers, holiday-makers, trekkers and adventure seekers.
The establishment of KIOCL in 1976, infused life into a region that had hitherto remained isolated. The company’s operations transformed it into a bustling modern township without spoiling or endangering its general beauty. The iron ore deposits at Kudremukh are expected to last another 20 years at least. However, with the closure of the mines in January 2006 following Supreme Court orders, KIOCL is seriously considering venturing into eco-tourism in the region, to utilise its bungalows, staff quarters and guest house that have been lying unused since the mines closure. This would mean developing upon the natural beauty and landscape of Kudremukh to make it attractive for tourists while re-creating direct and indirect employment opportunities for those who lost their livelihood means on account of the mines closure.
Such a move by the organisation would also allow it to generate revenues and incomes from existing land, capital and other resources that are currently lying in a state of disuse and waste on account of mining operations having shut down. The tourism venture would thus give a boost to the sagging local economy, severely and adversely affected by the mines closure. Once the township is so developed, it would not only be a tourist locale in itself, but could also serve as base for tourists visiting the hordes of picturesque spots and areas of pilgrimage in the surrounds of Kudremukh and Mangalore.
According to the Kudremukh CMD K Ranganath, the proposed tourism initiative would be developed in the freehold area outside the deemed bio park. It would include a snake park, natural habitat for bird watching and jungle safaris. The entire development would be eco-friendly with solar power system, electric cars, use of bio-degradable products and a total ban on plastic goods.
In addition to exploiting the tourism potential of Mangalore, Kudremukh could become an important convalescent-resort-of-sorts, for several thousands of patients who visit Mangalore from abroad and also other parts of India, seeking medical treatment. The eco resort would serve as a convenient and comfortable recuperation and convalescent base for the patients, says Ranganath, who require to stay in Mangalore for varying periods of time between consultations, treatment and follow up.
The tourist potential of Kudremukh and its environs is not difficult to visualize. The rivers that meander around the Kudremukh hills and valleys offer ample scope for boating and rafting. The innumerable trekking trails and hilltops accord scintillating panoramic views of the surrounds of Kudremukh.
While being isolated from the urban jungle, the eco-resort would boast every kind of facility that a tourist would expect, including a hospital, church, mosque and temple, making it a safe and cozy heaven for every visitor, claims Ramappa, one of the Deputy Manager’s at KIOCL. “The Lakya Dam which we built as a pollution control dam for storage of our trailing, is also a potential tourist hotspot. Lakya is a tributary of the river Bhadra and we can use its backwaters to introduce boating facilities.”
According to Ravindra, Civil Engineer at the Mines, the eight silos at the disposal of KIOCL could be put to good use in developing the tourism potential of the township. A floating experience could be provided to tourists by creating a ‘skywalk’ by connecting these silos by means of a ropeway, about 50m above the valley.
Kudremukh Township is at an altitude of 750 MSL, 50 MSL below the Kudremuck Hills. However, there are other hills in the vicinity that are above 800 MSL that can be easily climbed by adventure-seekers, trekkers and other category of tourists. However, none of these have been developed as a tourist resort to date. Kudremukh and its neighbourhood are yet to be “discovered” in full measure as an idyllic paradise that has an almost rustic allure to it.
The Sutanabbe Falls, hemmed in by dense forests and lush hills is a must-visit spot in the vicinity. The base of the falls gives rise to a pool that at once attracts swimmers.
The Gangamoola hill, the source of the three main rivers namely Tunga, Bhadra and Nethravathi, 10 Kms from Kudremukh town, is a locale of breathtaking beauty. Also called Varaha Parvatha, the region is home to evergreen shola rainforest, located deep within which is a shrine dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathi. A cave designated as World Heritage Site by UNESCO here enshrines the 6 foot idol of Varaha, an added attraction for visitors. Further, the ranges here are home to over 110 species of birds.
20 km from Kudremukh is Kalasa on the banks of river Bhadra, considered a holy panchakshetra, so derived from its five sacred ponds namely Rudra, Vasishtha, Amba, Varaha and Naga Teerthas. The Madhwacharya Bande, a huge boulder in one of the ponds, claimed to have been placed by Madhwacharya, founder of Dvaita school of philosophy, is a crowd puller. The 800 year old Veera Narayanaswamy Temple near Kaleeshwara Temple, Jamalabad Fort, 50 km away from Kudremukh Town are other day tours that may be undertaken.
The granite Fort built by Tipu Sultan and named after his mother, stands 1,788 feet tall, accessed by a narrow pathway. The fort, considered a feat of engineering skills offers a good vantage point for witnessing a glorious sunrise and a serene sunset, each splashing the sky in a medley of hues. Hanumanguddi, about 10 km from Kudremukh, has been developed by the Karnataka Forest Department as a small resort and nature camp, offering safaris to the National Park. Udupi, Dharmasthala, Subramanya, Sringeri, Kornada, Madikeri, Moorbide and several other pilgrimage and other locales may be visited from Kudremukh as day trips.
Needless to say, there is no dearth of verdure and vistas that would leave visitors to the region, mesmerized and rejuvenated. KIOCL, by exploiting these to the best advantage, is sure to go great guns in its second innings in the region, even if veering off from its core competency, mining.
The company has invited expressions of interest (EoI) from reputed consultants with substantial experience in preparing detailed project report (DPR) for eco-tourism, sources said, and is exploring the possibility of a joint venture for the project. KIOCL has shown interest in entering into a partnership with Karnataka Government-owned Jungle Lodges & Resorts which has over two decades of experience in eco-tourism in the state.
The proposal, if it comes through would involve significant expenditure that would include modifications to the existing infrastructure, a facelift to the various categories of staff quarters (the mines closure has left almost 1000 houses in the township in a state of disuse!) that would be styled along resort cottages, and developed as star properties, complete with amenities. The development would take place in phases, the first phase serving as some sort of a testing ground for the venture.
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