Battle for Kerala's off-road paradise, Sathram Route, turns violent as bikers, jeep drivers fight for monopoly

The Sathram Route in Vandiperiyar, Idukki, a popular tourist spot known for its off-road stretches, was recently in the news after a clash between a team of bikers and off-road jeep safari drivers over the use of the road.

Two drivers were arrested in the incident at the bikers' complaint. The route stretches for more than 20 kilometres from Kumily to Sathram via Vallakkadavu. The dispute reportedly erupted after jeep drivers questioned a group of bikers travelling along the same off-road stretch that safari operators commonly use. The argument later escalated into a violent confrontation.

The incident and arrest
Vandiperiyar police said the investigation into the alleged assault on bikers, who were staying at a resort near Sathram, is progressing. Two jeep drivers from Kumily — Kalesh (32) and Karthik Kannan (28) — were arrested shortly after the incident. Police said CCTV footage has helped identify several other individuals allegedly involved in the attack, and further action will follow.

According to investigators, the dispute began when a group of 27 bikers from Thrissur visited the Sathram area on Saturday. Jeep drivers reportedly questioned the group for travelling along a route frequently used for off-road safari operations, leading to an argument.

The complaint states that later, a group of about 20 drivers in five jeeps arrived at the resort where the bikers were staying. One of the bikers, Aneesh, was allegedly assaulted with a stick while standing outside the resort. He reportedly suffered a fracture to his arm. The accused are also alleged to have threatened the tourists and the resort owner.

Based on Aneesh's complaint, a police team led by Vandiperiyar Sub-Inspector Amrith Singh Nayak arrested the two main accused in the early hours of Sunday.

Who is allowed to use the road?
Authorities say that the road is not an officially designated route exclusively for jeep safaris. Officials said the Sathram route is not included in the list of roads approved for off-road tourism activities, and no special travel rights have been granted to any particular category of vehicles. District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) Secretary Jithesh Jose said the Sathram route is also not included in the list of roads officially classified by the Motor Vehicles Department for adventure tourism activities.

Although there had been plans last year to formally list the route and introduce a sticker-based identification system for approved vehicles, the proposal was never implemented. Jithesh said stakeholders are now awaiting a fresh order from the District Collector regarding revised guidelines for adventure tourism operations.

Jeep drivers allege their concerns are ignored
KS Rajeev, Secretary of the Auto Taxi CITU Kumily Panchayat Committee, said jeep operators are willing to comply with any regulations prescribed by authorities, but feel their concerns are often ignored. He alleged that jeep drivers are frequently portrayed as being at fault whenever disputes arise. According to Rajeev, the initial disagreement was between the bikers and tourists travelling in a jeep, and the jeep drivers had initially simply intervened to resolve the issue.

He claims the confrontation escalated later after another nearby resort's owner approached drivers waiting at Sathram View Point after dropping off tourists and brought up the earlier dispute again.

'Stretch not suitable for bikes'
Rajeev further stated that the off-road stretch is not suitable for motorcycles in the same way it is for jeeps, arguing that bikers face a higher risk of accidents when attempting to give way to larger vehicles on the narrow route. However, he emphasised that jeep operators do not consider the road to be reserved exclusively for safari vehicles.

What draws tourists
Sathram View Point is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Kumily region. The destination lies more than 20 kilometres from Kumily. While the first 17 kilometres up to Vallakkadavu are on a well-maintained road, the remaining stretch is rugged off-road terrain.

The adventurous jeep safari through this route is a major draw for tourists. Safari services begin as early as 5.30 am, with a maximum of six passengers per vehicle. Operators charge between ₹2,000 and ₹3,000 per trip, with the journey lasting around three-and-a-half hours, including multiple stops for sightseeing and photography.

Off-road jeeps from both Kumily and Vandiperiyar regularly operate on the route. During peak tourist seasons, more than 400 jeeps reportedly use the stretch every day. The area features three major viewpoints known as Sathram One, Sathram Two and Sathram Three.