Kappatagudda’s balancing act

A sanctuary for wildlife, healers, and hilltop temples, this stretch is also a magnet for mining and tourism, writes Pavan Kumar H. Can one of North Karnataka’s last wild spaces withstand the strain?

Fun at Kappatagudda, a tiny oasis of a hill station in the arid region of Gadag, begins at the crack of dawn. On weekends, dozens of adventure seekers trek to the peak of this mountain range, stationing themselves at vantage points to watch the sun break through the horizon. Here, one has to be mindful of the gusty winds, which are strong enough to push onlookers off of the cliff.

The 10-km walk from the ticket counter at Doni village to the hilltop passes through a jungle path and opens up to breathtaking views of the valley at several bends. Excavation for iron ore and other minerals, along with the installation of windmills, has left blemishes on the landscape. Yet, the vast stretch of the three mountain ranges, Kappatagudda, Dronagiri, and Suvarnagiri, remains a verdant relief.

The entire 65-km stretch forms the Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary, which was recently notified as an ecologically-sensitive zone. 

Due to the presence of strong winds year-round, Kappatagudda is believed to be one of the first places in Asia to have windmills installed, dating back to the 1930s. From as far back as the British era to as recently as the 1980s, these mineral-rich hills have witnessed mining activities.

Biodiversity

Kappatagudda is often referred to as the ‘Sahyadris of North Karnataka’ for its rich biodiversity. Researchers have recorded at least 18 mammalian species here, including the occurrence of three types of antelopes — the four-horned antelope (a rare sighting on the Deccan Plateau), chinkara, and blackbuck — in one location. 

Honnavalli N Kumara, the principal scientist at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, whose report on Kappatagudda’s mammals underscored the area’s conservation value, says very few habitats in the Deccan Plateau have been assessed for biodiversity. Kappatagudda, he notes, is among these habitats, and despite being a drier landscape, it exhibits remarkable mammal diversity. “The varying gradients of the hills support three types of antelopes, which is rare. The four-horned antelope lives at the top, the chinkara at the foothills, and the blackbuck in the grasslands,” he says, adding that this patch is among the last refuges for plain-dwelling animals. 

The hills and plains host a sizeable population of wolves and hyenas, which are regularly caught on camera traps. Forest officials say more than seven leopards roam the area, along with the rusty-spotted cat, sloth bear, jackal, and others. The hills, known for their mineral wealth, including gold, are also home to at least 455 species of medicinal plants.

Legend has it that one would inadvertently step on medicinal herbs while walking through Kappatagudda. Even today, many traditional healers collect roots, barks, leaves, and other herbal material from the hills to prepare medicines, which have considerable demand. The Indian screw tree, Indian dammar tree, and Indian frankincense are among endemic plants with high medicinal value found here.

Kappatagudda derives its name from pigeons. A few centuries ago, the hills were home to several guava trees where hundreds of pigeons (kapotah in Sanskrit) nested. Kapotahgiri (pigeon hill) gradually became Kappatagudda. Dronagiri, meanwhile, has mythological associations and is believed to be the hill where Dronacharya, of the Mahabharata, meditated for years. Even today, sages are drawn to its peaceful caves and the shade of its banyan trees. The Kappatta Mallikarjuna Temple and Galigundi Basappa Temple are among the prominent religious sites located within this hill range.

The last hill in the range is Suvarnagiri. Veerannagouda, a village elder, says the Skanda Purana contains references to the presence and extraction of gold and other minerals from these hills. Even today, several mining companies continue to lobby for permission to mine gold and iron ore in the region.

Locals, along with religious leaders from various mutts, have so far managed to keep the mining lobbies at bay. However, experts warn that the threat still looms over this ecological hotspot.

Mining and conservation

The area’s conservation status may have, for now, stalled mining proposals. However, other challenges persist — windmills, encroachment of forest land for agriculture, overgrazing by cattle, and most significantly, overcrowding due to tourism. 

“The Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary is a unique biodiversity hotspot. The hills represent a mix of the Eastern and Western Ghats and are surrounded by grassland habitat. Conserving this landscape is crucial, as many medicinal herbs found here are endemic,” says Manjunath S Nayak, a Gadag-based biodiversity researcher. He notes that traditional healers are overharvesting these herbs and without thorough ethnobotanical studies, it would be difficult to fully document the area’s plant diversity.

“Several non-native plants and weeds are invading the hills, which is a matter of concern,” he says. Recently, five jungle cats and several owls were found dead after consuming rats poisoned with rodenticides.

Kumara points out that windmills have already impacted several species, especially birds. Another looming concern is unregulated tourism.

Experts fear that Kappatagudda could suffer the same fate as Nandi Hills if the carrying capacity is not taken into account before allowing a large influx of vehicles and tourists onto the fragile, muddy roads.

Forest department officials maintain that while they are promoting eco-tourism, they remain conscious of its potential impact on the sanctuary’s ecological health.

“The Kappatagudda eco-tourism master plan has been approved. Only government vehicles with a limited number of tourists will be allowed to the top of the hills,” says Santoshkumar Kenchappanavar, deputy conservator of forests, Gadag.

The department is also planning to establish a medicinal plant museum, a wildlife interpretation centre, to bring awareness to the public.

A junglecat in the wild. 

People gather at a viewpoint at Kappatagudda.