Coimbatore: District collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar has announced that only up to 1,000 devotees will be allowed to visit Perumal Mudi temple near Thadagam, and only 500 at the Mel Mudi temple on Purattasi Saturdays, citing forest conservation and public safety.Officials said with the two temples located inside forest areas in the western ghats, the rising number of pilgrims during the Tamil month of Purattasi has created challenges in preventing littering, mitigating fire risk, regulating movement and protecting wildlife and biodiversity.As per the restrictions announced, Perumal Mudi pilgrims must use Mangarai check post, while Mel Mudi pilgrims will be permitted only through the check post at Palamalai foothills. Travel via Thadagam has been banned. Devotees will be allowed to proceed to the temples only between 7am and 10am, and those completing darshan must return to the respective check posts by 4pm.Vehicle entry has also been capped at 250 for Perumal Mudi and 150 for Mel Mudi, including both two-wheelers and four-wheelers. A security fee of ₹15 per person will be collected for cleaning and restoration work in the forest area.Pilgrims will be allowed to undertake the trek only after a health screening by the health department. Single-use plastic items and easily inflammable materials have been banned completely.The two temples are opened to the public only on Purattasi Saturdays to offer prayers to the deities at the summits. Since Perumalmudi is one of the commercial trekking routes in the district under Trek Tamil Nadu initiative, paid trekking can be undertaken on other days as well.
