A personal visit by senior journalist Raymond D'cunha Taccode
How shameful and embarrassing it is that this rich cultural spot is forgotten by those in- charge of tourism a Karnataka.
Ramghad is an internationally known, picturesque, team-trekking destination through Shoaly film fame. Yet, the authorities forget to provide even basic infrastructure to make it attractive.
At the entrance gate, if tourists are denied the chance to carry a water bottle, how are they supposed to quench their thirst while climbing the hill? There is one water tap , where water can be drunk. But if you bend down to that level of water tap, the stench and filth surrounding it is such that it can make your stomach turn. Broken and decayed surroundings—so is this how you welcome someone on their first step?
There is a decent stone staircase to climb the hill. On either sides, there is a half-installed steel handrail. The plastic cover for it is thrown nearby, littering the place. Clearly, this is an incomplete project. The negligence in not removing the old rusty iron handrails is so bad that sharp iron bits now peep out dangerously, posing a risk to trekkers.
From Aa to aha, the Kannada alphabet and various sayings and quotes are printed on black-and-white laminated plastic sheets and hung along the climbing path. These sheets have accumulated blackened water, are torn, and look messy. It all seems random and unplanned.
There is a small deity idol midway up the hill. Climbing up or coming down without shoes or slippers is impossible. Who is responsible for this kind of negligence in adoring place at government-designated tourism area?
They advertise that birds and plants are here. But if a tourist completes the trek without hearing or seeing a single bird, how disappointing must that be? Those responsible for destroying the biodiversity of this area should be cursed.
Bird nests have rusted. The interpretation centre has been left unused and unexamined for years.
How can this kind of mismanagement be justified by tourism department or government?
This location could be a gold mine for the Karnataka State Tourism Department—yet it lies neglected, right under their noses. Why?
There are still many of the original villagers from the "Sholay" movie era near the entrance gate. Can’t the government at least run one official bus to this Ramagad? The bus be kept clean and ready so that visitors don’t end up staining the clean clothes of city tourists with our filth?
Below the hill, in the village of Ramgad, the houses have been may be built by the local Panchayat. Concrete roads exist, but as is typical in Karnataka, they remain unfinished. Wastewater from the homes flows into the roads. Is this the sight that greets tourists?
Why do only Google Maps show the way? Why not put up proper signboards in recognizable colors?
Instead of people coming in the morning and leaving by evening, why not employ all the local residents of Ramgad village for tourism activities? Let them be the guides, the cooks, hotelier, the assistants for the treks. Why not?
Government officers who’ve traveled the world and seen ropeways and lifts; why can't those be installed here too?
Tourism in this area must be developed. The current so-called guides are not properly trained or presented. Locals should be groomed to represent this heritage with cleanliness and professionalism.
This isn’t just a tourist spot because of the "Sholay" movie. It should be globally known as a deserving tourism destination in its own right, located on our Kannada soil. And when people come here due to its fame, it should not be a place to exploit them with overpriced fees, but one where they can spend the day joyfully and take away cherished memories.
The forest, rocks, and trekking paths near Bengaluru are disappearing. It’s up to the government, officials, and even some NGOs to coat this beautiful place in a golden polish, turning it into a world-class site. Let’s celebrate 50 years of the Sholay film with a golden jubilee celebration that shines bright.