My Jungle Junction

Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve

India's largest tiger reserve rolls across the Nallamala hills and the Krishna gorge. Come for dry deciduous forest, shy tigers and a quiet, uncrowded safari far from the usual circuit.

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15+ years of travel experience
Hosted by Amit (MJJ)

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Plan Your Safari

Talk to a wildlife specialist.

By submitting, you agree to be contacted by My Jungle Junction.

By submitting, you agree to our Cancellation & Refund Policy and Privacy Policy.

My Jungle Junction's Guide to Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve

The Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Safari Experience

The reserve is formed from the Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and the surrounding Nallamala forests, and straddles two states. Sources give the total area as roughly 3,700 sq km, with a core of around 1,200 sq km. Tourism access is limited and varies by season and by year, so we confirm what is open before every booking.

The best-known entry point on the Telangana side is Farahabad, once a Nizam-era hunting retreat and now a viewpoint area. On the Andhra side, the forests around Srisailam, Atmakur and Dornala are the usual bases for forest drives and treks. Plan two or three nights, and combine with Hyderabad or Srisailam.

Project Tiger status dates to 1983, and the reserve has long been a stronghold for tigers, leopards and a broad mix of Deccan wildlife. It is a conservation story as much as a safari one.

3,728

sq. km reserve

1 + 1

Core + Buffer zones

1983

Declared National Park

Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Safari Packages

My Jungle Junction's Bestselling Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Safari Packages

Amit and the My Jungle Junction team plan Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam trips differently from the better-known parks. Access is controlled, tourism zones change, and the reserve spans two states, so we confirm the open routes, permits and guides before we quote. Most guests combine two or three nights here with Hyderabad or Srisailam. We handle transfers, forest-department bookings and lodges, and keep time spare so a closed track never ruins the trip.

How Many Safaris Should You Do in Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam?

Fewer drives, longer forest time

Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam is not a park where you tick off a dozen jeep rides. Access depends on what the forest department has opened, and drives are fewer and longer than in Central Indian parks. We usually plan two to four outings, mixing a vehicle drive with a guided walk or viewpoint visit, and we confirm the current options with you before booking.

Two safaris will give you a taste of the habitat, and on a short break from Hyderabad that is a perfectly good plan. You will see the forest and its smaller wildlife, but a tiger sighting is a bonus, not a promise.

Three or four outings give you more variety and the chance to try different routes and times of day. This is our recommendation for anyone who actually wants to look for tigers and leopards.

This reserve suits patient naturalists, birdwatchers and repeat visitors who want to escape the crowds. If a guaranteed sighting is your priority, one of the busier Central Indian parks may suit you better.

Best Safari Zones

Safari Zones in Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam

Tourism in Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam is far more restricted than in the better-known parks, and there is no fixed zone system of the Ranthambore or Bandhavgarh kind. Access points sit on both sides of the state border. On the Telangana side, Mannanur and Farahabad on the Srisailam road are the best known. On the Andhra side, the forests around Srisailam, Atmakur and Dornala are the usual bases. Entry arrangements change, so we always confirm which routes are open before you travel. Treat the list below as the main access areas rather than numbered zones.

Srisailam

Temple town and forest hub on the Krishna; the main base on the Andhra side for forest drives and treks.

Farahabad (Telangana)

Former Nizam-era hunting retreat on the Srisailam road with a viewpoint and short forest drive.

Mannanur (Telangana)

Entry point on the Srisailam highway into the Telangana part of the reserve.

Atmakur and Dornala

Forest ranges on the Andhra side, used as bases for drives and guided walks. Access varies.

How to Reach & When to Visit

How to Reach & Best Time to Visit Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam

✈️

By Air

Hyderabad (Rajiv Gandhi International) is the nearest major airport, roughly 200 km and four to five hours by road to Srisailam.

🚆

By Train

Markapur Road and Nandyal are the closest practical railheads on the Andhra side; Hyderabad is the main rail hub. Road transfers are needed from all of them.

🚗

By Road

Srisailam is linked to Hyderabad by NH 765 through the reserve, which runs through Mannanur and Farahabad. It is a scenic, easy self-drive or transfer.

Best Time to Visit Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam

Cool, dry months give the best conditions; summer is hot but good for waterhole sightings.

🍂
Winter
Oct - Feb

Cool mornings and clear tracks make this the best time for forest drives, birding and walks.

☀️
Summer
Mar - Jun

Hot and dry. Wildlife gathers near water, so sightings can improve, but dress for serious heat.

🌧️
Monsoon
Jul - Sep

Heavy rain and some track closures. Greenery is superb but access is limited, so check before planning.

MJJ Insight : Tourism access here changes by year and season, and slots are limited. Message us at least a week ahead so we can confirm Farahabad and the Srisailam routes before you commit to dates.

The Wildlife of Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam

Beyond the Tiger: Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam's Wildlife

Tigers share the Nallamala forests with leopards, sloth bears, dhole, wolves, hyenas and jungle cat. Herbivores include sambar, chital, nilgai, chousingha, blackbuck in the open areas and wild boar. The forests hold mugger crocodiles in the Krishna reservoirs, pangolins and rock pythons. Birdlife is rich, with raptors, peafowl, grey junglefowl and numerous woodland species, and the reservoirs bring in waterbirds in winter. Many of these animals are shy, so patient guided drives work better than hurried ones. Dawn and dusk are usually the most productive times.

Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve - wildlife sighting
Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve - wildlife sighting
Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve - wildlife sighting
Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve - wildlife sighting

Tigers of Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam

A big landscape for a recovering tiger population

Unlike Ranthambore or Bandhavgarh, this reserve has no individually famous tigers that visitors follow by name. Its story is one of landscape-scale conservation across two states, with tigers moving through the Nallamala forests. That makes any sighting special and any pugmark worth stopping for. Ask your naturalist about recent camera-trap news, sightings and pugmarks, because that is where the real stories of this reserve are told.

Nallamala Farahabad Srisailam Krishna gorge Mannanur

Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam does not have celebrity tigers that guides call by name. Sightings are rare and the animals are wary, so the story is the forest rather than the individual.

The reserve came under Project Tiger in 1983 and has been important as a habitat link in the Eastern Ghats and Deccan landscape. Camera-trap surveys by the forest departments are how the tiger population is tracked, and the animals can move between the Andhra and Telangana parts of the reserve.

If you want to follow its tigers, ask your naturalist about recent camera-trap news and pugmark finds. Your naturalist can share the latest news from the reserve and what recent surveys have found.

Your Stay in Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam

Your Stay in Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam

Where to Stay in Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam

Srisailam is the most practical base on the Andhra side, with temple-town guesthouses, APTDC and Haritha-type hotels and several mid-range options near the Krishna. On the Telangana side, you can stay in Mannanur, Amrabad and nearby villages, or use Hyderabad as a base for a long day trip. There are few wildlife lodges in the style of the big Central Indian parks, so choose by access, comfort and proximity to the gate you want. We will confirm availability and book it for you.

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Safari Etiquette

Dos and Don'ts on a Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam safari

✓ Dos

  • ✓ Keep your voice low inside the forest.
  • ✓ Listen to your guide and naturalist.
  • ✓ Respect safari routes and forest regulations.
  • ✓ Carry water, sun protection and suitable clothing.
  • ✓ Keep your camera ready without disturbing wildlife.

✕ Don'ts

  • ✕ Ask the driver to break rules.
  • ✕ Request a driver to block an animal's movement.
  • ✕ Feed wildlife.
  • ✕ Throw anything from the vehicle.

Why Should You Visit Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam

India's largest tiger reserve, and one of its quietest

Most tiger holidays follow the same circuit of busy parks. Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam is the opposite: vast, lightly visited and ecologically important, forming a corridor of Deccan forest that stretches across two states. It holds tigers, leopards and a full cast of dry-forest wildlife, and the Krishna gorge and Nallamala ridges are scenic in their own right. Come here for the process of tracking rather than a guaranteed sighting, and for the peace. It combines naturally with Hyderabad and the temple town of Srisailam, which makes it a good choice for a short break, a second park on a southern trip or a birding and photography trip.

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FAQs

Frequently asked questions about Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam

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