Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, spanning the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, is the largest tiger reserve in the country, covering approximately 3,728 square kilometers. It was established in 1983 and named after the Nagarjunasagar dam and the town of Srisailam, both prominent landmarks in the region. The reserve is situated in the Nallamala Hills, a part of the Eastern Ghats, and spreads across five districts: Kurnool, Prakasam, Guntur, Nalgonda, and Mahbubnagar.

The reserve features a variety of habitats, including dry deciduous forests, moist deciduous forests, scrublands, and grasslands, making it a biodiversity hotspot. Its vegetation is primarily characterized by teak, bamboo, and a mix of other tropical deciduous trees, providing an ideal environment for a wide range of fauna.

Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam is renowned for its population of Bengal tigers, which are the primary conservation focus. Besides tigers, the reserve is home to other major predators like Indian leopards and sloth bears. Herbivores such as spotted deer, sambar deer, and wild boar thrive here, while smaller mammals like Indian pangolins, Indian giant squirrels, and a variety of bat species add to the ecological richness.

The Krishna River, one of India’s major rivers, flows through the reserve, creating scenic gorges and valleys that enhance its natural beauty. The river and its tributaries are crucial for maintaining the reserve’s ecology, providing water sources for wildlife and supporting diverse aquatic life.

Culturally, the reserve holds significant importance with ancient temples like the Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple at Srisailam and several archaeological sites, including Buddhist relics from the Nagarjuna Konda area. These historical treasures attract both wildlife enthusiasts and pilgrims, making the reserve a unique blend of natural and cultural heritage.

Conservation efforts in the Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve focus on habitat protection, anti-poaching measures, and community engagement to ensure the long-term survival of its diverse wildlife and maintain the ecological balance of this expansive region.

Flora

The forests are mostly Southern tropical dry deciduous miscellaneous type 5A/C3 (Champion & Seth 1968), which are further sub-divided into Teak, Miscellaneous and Anogeissus types,  depending on species preponderance. The habitat has several endemics like Andrographis nallamalayana, Eriolaena lushingtonii, Crotalaria madurensis Var, Dicliptera beddomei and Premna hamiltonii. As many as 1581 taxa, spread over 149 families occur in Nallamalai and 29 species of grass and 353 species of medicinal plants have been recorded.

Fauna

Over 80 species of mammals, 303 species of Birds, 54 species of reptiles, 20 amphibians, 55 fishes, 101 Butterflies, 57 species of Moths, 45 species of Coleopterans, 35 species of Odonata and numerous other forms of insects are found in the area. Top faunal species include: Tiger, Leopard, Wolf, Wild Dog and Jackal. The prey species are represented by Sambar, Chital, Chowsingha, Chinkara, Mouse Deer, Wild boar and Porcupine. The river Krishna has Mugger, Otters and Turtles. Apart from these, there is a wide array of invertebrate fauna.
 

By Road:

Hyderabad to NSTR 200 Km

By Train:

Marakpur (62 km), Vinukonda (120 km) and Kurnool (190 km)

By Air:

Nearest Airport – Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad – 190 Km
NTR Amaravathi International Airport, Vijayawada – 238 Kms