Hassan Bans Vehicle Traffic to Hill Temple After Surge Tied to Hit Kannada Film

Authorities in Hassan have prohibited private and tourist vehicles from using roads leading to the Male Malleshwara temple at Seegegudda, a hill shrine inside a reserve forest area, from October 25 through November 11.

Deputy Commissioner K.S. Lata Kumari issued the order after visitor numbers at the temple surged from roughly 50 people a day to more than 5,000, a spike officials linked to the temple's appearance in the hit Kannada film Premada Ooralli.

The timing of the ban coincides with the Hasanamba and Siddeshwaraswamy temple festival, scheduled from October 29 to November 11, which is expected to draw large crowds. Officials noted that devotees visiting the Hasanamba temple, as well as tourists arriving from Belur, are likely to also head to the hill temple, adding to congestion concerns.

Local villagers, the Forest Department, the police superintendent and the Hassan taluk Tahsildar informed the administration that the access road is narrow, steep and lacks crash barriers, making it risky for vehicle movement.

Citing these safety concerns, the Deputy Commissioner invoked the Motor Vehicle Act of 1988 to impose the restriction. People will still be allowed to reach the temple on foot during the ban period.