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SANCTUARY SPOTLIGHT

Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Sanctuary

The largest of India's Tiger Reserves, the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Sanctuary was declared a sanctuary in 1973 and was came under Project Tiger ain 1983. The forest which, not having been an erstwhile royal game preserve, has always seen visitors particularly pilgrims from all over India who cross the forest to reach to reach the temple town of Srisailam.

The terrain is rugged and winding gorges slice through the Nallamalai hills. A little over 6 sq km in area, The Rollapadu grasslands near Srisailam that cover an area of a little over 6km, are home to about a hundred blackbucks. Many historical monuments dating back to the 1st and 2nd century AD have been excavated at Nagarjunasagar, which is also home to a large damn built on the river Krishna and adjacent to the forest.

Also visit: The old town of Srisailam centred around the temples dedicated to Lord Mallikarjuna and Goddess Bhramaramba, incarnations of Shiva and Parvati

Area: 3,568 sq. km in the Nallamalai Hill ranges in Andhra Pradesh Animals: Tiger, leopard, spotted deer, sloth bear, hyena, jungle cat, palm civet, bonnet macaque and pangolin, blackbucks, crocodiles, sambars, and nilgais

Best time to visit: October - June

Where to stay: Guest houses and temple cottages in Srisailam

How to get there:

Road: Macherla (29 km)

Rail: Hyderabad (150 km)

Air: Hyderabad (150 km)

Contact: Field Director, Project Tiger, Nagarjunasagar - Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Srisailam Dam (East) - 512 103, Phone: 08524-286089(O), 86140(R)

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