Gopinatham | |
Pushpin Map: | Karnataka#India |
Coordinates: | 12.05°N 119°W |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | India |
Subdivision Type1: | State |
Subdivision Type2: | District |
Subdivision Name1: | Karnataka |
Subdivision Name2: | Chamarajanagar District |
Gopinatham is a rural village located in Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka, India, in the border area of Tamil Nadu. It is the birthplace of Veerappan.[1] The village is 144km (89miles) from the district centre at Chamarajanagar[2] among thick scrub forest and mountainous terrain.
The village is now a small-time tourist attraction and trekking is encouraged on a 12km (07miles) trail. A trekking camp, managed by Government agencies, is located in the forests of Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, near the village. The Hogenakal falls is 12km (07miles) from Gopinatha and cycles are provided in the trekking camp to reach the waterfalls.[2] Trekking is also arranged to Yekehalla, where a small memorial is built by Forest Department of Karnataka State, to remember DCF P. Srinivas, who was beheaded by Veerappan, when the officer was lured to the spot on the pretext of surrender proposed by the brigand through his brother Arjun.[3] Srinivas was attacked from behind when he was crossing a stream.[3]