Travel Destinations » Srisailam Tiger Reserve

According to local people, during late hours in the evening and early in the morning, it is not unusual to find deer, nilgai or an occasional leopard crossing the road. But between 9 pm and 6 am, this stretch of the road through the forest remains closed to public vehicles.

With special permission from the forest office at Marmanur, it is possible to explore the western corner of the NSTR, going as far as the Neelagiri Watch Tower and Pulcheru water hole. Although terrorists have destroyed the forest bungalows within and the tiger reserve is overrun by illegal cattle grazing, hopefully things will take a turn for the better once this area is opened to the tourist, as proposed by the forest department.

Before reaching Srisailam the road crests a hilltop and, past the Van Mayuri forest bungalow, drops down to the dam site. From here one again climbs to the pilgrim town perched atop another hillock.

The 512 m long Srisailam Dam at the mouth of the gorge is a popular attraction. Although vehicles are only permitted as far as the viewpoint on an upper ledge, tourists can visit the hydel project area on foot. With special permission, it is possible to go boating in the river Coracles are a common means of transport along the Krishna river.

Climate: Pleasant between October and March. Summer temperatures may go up to 44°C.

Clothing: Light woollens required in December/January.

Getting There: The nearest airport is at Hyderabad, 237 km away. The nearest railhead at Nandyal, on the Guntur-Hubli broad gauge line, is 158 km away. Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) and Devasthanam buses link Srisailam with important towns in the state like Guntur 212 km, Kurnool 178 km, Vijaywada 200 km, as well as Hyderabad.

Sightseeing: There is no organized conducted tour. Autorickshaws ply locally and can be hired but there are no fixed rates. Bargaining is allowed.

Eating Out: Srisailam is a strictly vegetarian town and offers only local dishes like dosas, idlis, puris, etc for snacks, and rice, sambar, curd for meals. All meals go by the name of tiffin, so do not be misled. The Devasthanam Committee operates both an ordinary and a superior restaurant and the latter is better. There are several eating houses in Sunnipenta but avoid them if you cannot stomach the local spicy cuisine.

Medical Facilities: Only a few pharmacies and a government hospital exist. It is advisable to carry one’s own medicines.

Accommodation: The sprawling guest house maintained by the Devasthanam Committee is the popular option. There are a few private guest houses, and those belonging to the forest department and the hydel project.