The spot where the stampede that claimed over 100 lives has been a traditional forest trekking path used mostly by devotees from Tamil Nadu to reach the hillshrine of Lord Ayyaappa.

The area is known as 'pulmedu' as it is a large stretch of grassland in Periyar Wildlife Reserve on the steps of the Western Ghats.

The trekking route is a short-cut for pilgrims from places like Cumbon, Theni an