Mysuru: Over 12 tribal girls of Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserves, who are taking part in a Himalayan trekking expedition, met the children participating at Chinnara Mela Summer Camp at Rangayana this morning and shared their thoughts about their adventure.

Twelve girls including two lady staff and two male staff drawn from Viveka Tribal Centre for Learning, an Institution run by Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, are taking part in this expedition organised by Tiger Adventure Foundation under ASHA project-2019 and funded by more than 130 donors.

They will leave the city on May 1 and will scale the Himalayas between May.5 and May.15 and will return to Mysuru on May 17 after visiting heritage sites in New Delhi, Agra Fort and Golden Temple at Amritsar.         

The girls will scale Mt. Saurkund Pass in Dhauladhar range of Western Himalayas at an altitude of 14,000 feet. “I am delighted to take part in this expedition. We girls and other tribals of the forest who spend most of our time in the forest can now see Himalaya Mountains,” said M. Kavya, of Kanthanahaadi of H.D. Kote taluk.

Another girl M. Ashwini of Beguru Haadi also expressed her happiness about her participation and thanked the organisers for taking her on this expedition. She said that the organisers had selected them after conducting physical endurance test.

Speaking on the occasion, Director of Rangayana Dr. Bhagirathi Bai Kadam appreciated the organisers for conducting the expedition for tribals, who find it difficult to take up such adventures due to financial and other constraints.

Deputy Director of Department of Archaeology, Heritage and Museums Nirmala Matapathi, makeup artist Ramachandra and others were present.