Owing to complications caused by traffic traversing through the Bandipur tiger reserve, a combined effort of Chamarajanagar district administration, forest department and conservationists, the crowd at the reserve has been controlled, along with which the area has been rid off its noise and air pollution.

The Himavad Gopalswamy temple, situated in the heart of the reserve in Gundlupet taluk of Chamarajanagar, draws one of the largest number of devotees throughout the year. It is estimated that more than 800-1,000 cars and maxicabs, more than 3,000 two-wheelers and other vehicles were using the seven-kilometre stretch between the first check post and the temple.

“Since the temple is on a steep hill with a narrow road, the traffic used to move slowly and linger there for the entire day. Many times, due to traffic snarls, the forest used to reverberate with all kinds of noises, which disturbed the wildlife,” said BR Praveen conservationist from Vanya, an NGO.

To deal with the issue, the district administration has introduced shuttles between the check post and the temple. It stops entry of vehicles and has helped restore the sanctity of the reserve.

According to the officials of the muzrai department, the KSRTC will run four vehicles from the parking lot near the first check-post to the temple and back. The buses will run till the last group of devotees return. The Bandipur tiger reserve is also home to elephants, leopards and deer.