Nagarjunasagar Wildlife Sanctuary

Fast Facts:

Location: Spread in five districts including Nalgonda District, Mahbubnagar district, Kurnool District, Prakasam District and Guntur District.

Area: 3,568 acres

Nearest Airport: Srisailam Airport

Nearest Town: Macheria

Safari: Jeep Safari

Best time to visit: Months of October to May.

Major Fauna Species: Tiger, Panther, Sloth bear, Wild dog, Jackal, Chital, Sambar, Nilgai, Chinkara, Chouwsinga, Wild boar, Crocodiles, butterflies etc.

Number of Avifauna species: 150 species Avifauna species

Overview:

The Nagarjuna Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries of India situated in the Andhra Pradesh state. Established in the catchment area of river Krishna, this sanctuary is spread over the wide area of five districts present in the state namely Guntur, Mahboobnagar, Prakasam, Nalgonda and Kurnool. Lying at a convenient distance of 13 Kms from Macherial, it is bounded on the southern side by Nallamalai Hills and on the eastern side of the Krishna River.

The Nagarjuna Sagar wildlife reserve is one of the largest tiger reserves of India. The vivid landscapes of this wildlife reserve consist of gorges, cliffs, ridges and plateaus. This world famous tiger reserve features exotic flora and fauna. The dense forest of Nagarjuna was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1973 and was later assimilated under Project Tiger in the year 1983. The vast spread ecosystem protected by the Nagarjuna Sagar Tiger Reserve is often traversed by pilgrims from every corner of Southern India to reach Srisailam.

Climate:

This tiger reserve park features a hot and arid climate. During the summer months of March and June the area is especially hot and temperature can rise up to 40°C. While in winters in the park are present and the temperature falls to a minimum of 10°C.

Wildlife Mammals :

When talking of the fauna of the sanctuary there are a large number of wildlife animals in the forest which include Blackbuck, Chinkara, Giant Flying Squirrel, Spotted Chevrotain, Indian Tree Shrew Jackal, Sloth Bear, Four-Horned Antelope, Spotted Deer, Striped Hyena, Palm Civet, Sambar, Indian Muntjac, Wild Dog, Indian Python, Tigers and many more.

Birds:

The park is home to nearly 150 species of both migratory and resident birds. Some of the commonly spotted found birds in this wildlife park include grey hornbill and peafowl.

Reptiles:

The commonly found reptiles found in the park include Indian python, Soft –shelled turtle, marsh crocodile and monitor lizard.

Flora in Nagarjuna Wildlife Sanctuary:

In this dry deciduous forest of the sanctuary one can find some of the rare plants like Cissus vitiginea, Niebuhria apetala, Pterolobium indicum, Ziziphus xylopyrus and many more.

Entry Fees:

Best time to visit:

The best time to visit the exotic wildlife sanctuary is between the months of October and May.

Nagarjuna Wildlife Sanctuary During Monsoon:

The monsoon season in the park prevails during June to October due to the southwest monsoons. Travelers are advised to carry along with them light cotton during summers and light woolens during the winter months.

How to Reach:

Hyderabad located at the distance of 316 kms from Srisailam is the nearest airport to reach Nagarjuna Sagar tiger reserves. The South central railway route connects Sirsailam with Markapur and Hyderabad. The Srisailam is conveniently located at a distance of 220 Kms from Guntur. The distance from Kurnool to Srisailam is 190 kms and 85 kms from Mannanur. Frequent bus services are available from various towns to reach Srisailam.

Various accommodation options are available at the Nagarjuna Sagar tiger reserves. The area in the close proximity of this tiger reserve park has three guesthouses or temple cottages. The facilities for STD/ISD are available in a Srisailam and the towns situated nearby to this place.

General Tips:

Tourists are strictly advised not to cause any damage to the flora and fauna of the tiger reserve park.
Kindly do not pluck the wild flora present in the premises of the park.
Tourists are strictly advised not to light any kind of fire.
Travelers are requested to maintain the cleanliness of the park and to take along with them trash, polyethylene bags and litter along with them.
Taking of chemicals and firearms inside the forest is not allowed as it may cause harm to the wildlife and vegetation present in the park.
Playing of tape recorders and radio is not allowed as it might cause disturbance, irritate or disturb the animals present in the park.