INTRODUCTION
With an area of 356,000 hectares and
sprawling over five districts of central Andhra Pradesh, the
Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) is the largest tiger
reserve in the country. It has also been one of the largest wildlife
habitations in the country. Off the regular tourist circuit, a visit
to the Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve helps in gaining a
closer look into a forest that was almost given up as lost until a
few years ago. It is not possible to see the entire reserve at one
go but one trip can always lead to another.
LOCATION
The sanctuary lies in the south Indian state of
Andhra Pradesh in the catchment area of the Krishna River. The
region comprises five districts of the state namely Kurnool,
Prakasam, Guntur, Nalgonda and Mahboobnagar. The sanctuary extends
between latitude 16°15˘-16°45˘ in the North and longitude
78°45˘-80°00˘ in the East. It is surrounded by the Nallamalai Hills
on the southern and eastern side while the Krishna River forms the
boundary on the other side. The sanctuary is 13 km from Macherial.
 CLIMATE
The climate of this region is hot and arid.
Summer months are especially unbearable with the maximum temperature
going above 40°C in the moths of March-June. Winters are pleasant
with the minimum temperature hovering around 10°C. Rains are brought
about by the southwest monsoon that prevails from June to October.
FLORA AND FAUNA
The sanctuary lies in an area of tropical dry
deciduous forest. The flora here can be broadly classified into four
main types: (i) the plain vegetation that comprises herbs and some
shrubs, few trees, and marshes with sedges and herbs near the river;
(ii) scrub jungle and climbers in the foothills; (iii) thorn forest
on the well-drained hill slopes; and (iv) dry deciduous forest on
the hilltops. Niebuhria apetala, Ziziphus xylopyrus, Cissus
vitiginea and Pterolobium indicum are some of the rare plants of the
region.
Fauna includes langur, bonnet macaque, tiger,
leopard, jungle cat, wild dog, wolf, jackal, Bengal fox, sloth bear,
smooth-coated otter, palm civet, striped hyena, wild boar, Indian
spotted chevrotain, Indian muntjac, sambar, spotted deer, nilgai,
four-horned antelope, blackbuck, chinkara, Indian pangolin, giant
flying squirrel, Indian porcupine and Indian tree shrew. The
avifauna is represented by nearly 150 species, including the grey
hornbill and of course the peafowl. Reptiles include Indian
soft-shelled turtle, monitor lizard, Indian python, and marsh
crocodile.
ATTRACTIONS
Evolved out of different needs, the town of
Srisailam is divided into three zones. Srisailam or the original
pilgrim town centers round the age-old temples dedicated to Lord
Mallikarjuna and Goddess Bhramaramba, incarnations of
Shiva and Parvati. A fairly stocked marketplace and several lodges
for pilgrims lie alongside the temple quadrangle. About eight
kilometers from the temple town is Sunnipenta, another ridge
top where most offices and a few eating houses are located. Also
located here is the office of the Project Tiger and the Field
Director. The dam site on the river Krishna-the Srisailam Hydel
Projects-makes up the third zone.
Nestling in the Nallamalai Hill ranges, an
offshoot of the Eastern Ghats, with cliffs, gorges, ridges and
plateaus, endowed with a variety of flora and fauna, the NSTR
protects a large portion of the once flourishing ecological system
that existed here. Without having the benefit of being an erstwhile
royal game preserve, the forest in this area was always open to
human visitation. Pilgrims from all over southern India carved out
routes through the forest to reach Srisailam. It was in 1973 that
the area was declared a sanctuary and incorporated under Project
Tiger a decade later.
A little over 6 sq km in area, the Rollapadu
grasslands near Srisailam are dotted with dry, thorny bushes and is
home of about a hundred blackbucks. From a distance, one can observe
families of blackbucks out on their breakfast trail, a couple of
bustards gazing at the horizon while taking a tentive foot forward.
At present, day visits to Rollapadu Sanctuary is permitted.
PLACES NEARBY
Mannanur is a pre-existing tribal hamlet
with a comfortably furnished camp bungalow. Next to the bungalow are
a crocodile pond and an environment education center. From Mannanur,
one can explore the western corner of the tiger reserve. The forest
area here is thickly set with miscellaneous timber species with
local names like Nallamadi (Terminalia tomentosa), Chirumanu (Anogeissus
latifolia), etc., as well as stretches of teak forest. One can also
spot spotted deers, sambars, and nilgais here.
Nagarjunsagar is the place where excavations have
unearthed many historical monuments belonging to 1st and 2nd century
AD. The place is also home to a large dam built on the river
Krishna.
REACHING THERE
By Air
The nearest airport is at Hyderabad, 316 km away
from Srisailam. Hyderabad is connected to many important cities in
India including Delhi and Mumbai, the major international gateways.
By Rail
Srisailam is connected through Hyderabad as well
as via Markapur (85 km away) on the South Central Railway.
By Road
Srisailam is 190 km from Kurnool, 220 km from
Guntur, 470 km from Chennai, and 85 km from Mannanur.
STAYING THERE
Three guesthouses/temple cottages with 248 beds
are available at present in the forest area. Therefore, the
available accommodation at these places can be depended upon while
visiting the reserve.
LINKS TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD
STD/ISD facilities are available at Srisailam and
some other places nearby. Postal and telegraph facilities are
available at Srisailam. |
