Actress under forest lens for illegal Annamalai hill climb

The Forest Department has begun an investigation after a television actress allegedly violated the ban on climbing Annamalai hill in Tiruvannamalai.
The globally renowned Arunachaleswarar Temple is situated at the foothills of the 2,668-foot-high Annamalai hill. Lakhs of devotees undertake the 14-kilometre Girivalam around the hill on full moon days. The hill area comes under Forest Department control, and climbing or trekking is strictly prohibited to safeguard wildlife and the natural ecosystem.
Despite the ban, small-screen actress Archana Ravichandran reportedly climbed the hill a few days ago without obtaining permission from forest authorities.
The actress later shared photographs on Instagram, describing the climb and descent as physically demanding and frightening due to darkness. She also advised others to start trekking early and return before sunset.
Forest officials said the social media posts were viewed as encouraging illegal trekking, creating concern among authorities. The department has taken serious note of the incident and is examining possible violations of forest and wildlife protection laws.
Officials reiterated that entry into restricted forest areas is illegal and warned that strict action would be taken against those who flout the rules.