Reel turns real: Trekker captures resting tiger on hilltop near Kolukkumalai

A shocking encounter unfolded atop the scenic hills near Suryanelli, Munnar, when Riyas Muhammad, a native of Attamala in Wayanad, came face to face with a real tiger, all while filming panoramic views for a social media reel. The incident occurred on a hill locally known as “360,” located near Kolukkumalai, close to the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border.

Riyas, an employee at a zip line company on Kolukkumalai, was trekking to the summit last Friday evening around 4:40 PM with his colleagues and local residents Vishal and Nithin. Their goal was to capture distant views of Tamil Nadu’s landscape from the peak, which is also famous for its blooming Neelakurinji flowers.

After parking their vehicle in the foothills, the group trekked nearly two kilometres to reach the top. While Riyas was walking in front of the group, he switched on his phone camera to zoom in on the scenery, only to spot the tiger resting under a small tree, by gently sweeping the ground with its tail.

Sensing the potential danger, Riyas made sure not to disturb the big cat. He slowly retreated and signalled his friends to retrieve too. By acting calmly, Riyas not only protected himself but also ensured the safety of his fellow trekkers following him.

The tiger sighting, which was captured clearly on camera, quickly went viral on social media after a friend of Riyas shared the footage on Thursday. The footage shows the tiger resting peacefully on the grassland, its steady breathing visible as its stomach rises and falls.

According to local forest officials, sightings like this are rare on Kolukkumalai, which is a popular trekking destination with a vast expanse of grasslands. Several remote Tamil villages are also located at the foothills A huge number of people use to visit here to enjoy the sunrise view point, at Kolukkumalai trekking spot. The area in which they encountered the tigers is just five kilometers from here.