[MileCruncher]

Originally Posted by adzegeek

Nikhil : any chance we can tie up to go together - looks like my company has dropped out and I would hate to travel on the road alone (on a rather bulky people mover) and zero knowledge of Telugu or local roads.

Even I would like to tag along. May be we can meet up at Shamshabad village, just before entering the airport and go together from there.

[traveloholic]

Originally Posted by adzegeek

Nikhil : any chance we can tie up to go together - looks like my company has dropped out and I would hate to travel on the road alone (on a rather bulky people mover) and zero knowledge of Telugu or local roads.

Rajesh Bhai, we can surely run along for the trip. It would be better if we all drive together. Where do you stay, this way we can coordinate our trip.

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

Even I would like to tag along. May be we can meet up at Shamshabad village, just before entering the airport and go together from there.

Ani, instead of running around Shamshabad Village, we can also do the Charminar-Barkas route, which is better than Shamshabad route. Lets meet up at the better part of the city and continue our journey.

[MileCruncher]

Originally Posted by traveloholic

Rajesh Bhai, we can surely run along for the trip. It would be better if we all drive together. Where do you stay, this way we can coordinate our trip.

Rajesh stays in Gachibowli.

Originally Posted by traveloholic

Ani, instead of running around Shamshabad Village, we can also do the Charminar-Barkas route, which is better than Shamshabad route. Lets meet up at the better part of the city and continue our journey.

I thought of reaching Shamshabad and then drive through the airport to reach the Srisailam Road. That way we can go together with Rajesh.

[DKG]

Folks just so that all activities get covered catering to the widest possible range of options, here's the final plan we suggest based on discussions with forest department staff

Saturday

Breakfast

Forest Revival Activity - involving clearing litter along the road from Mannanur to Domalpenta check post

Lunch

Rest

Wildlife viewing - Two groups heading on two separate routes, both meeting at Farahabad viewpoint to end evening enjoying a gorgeous view of the valley below and return to maingate at Farahabad

Late evening - Presentation by Fazal, discussions, plans for boosting conservation activities eg providing water to wildlife etc

Dinner

Sunday

Breakfast

Trip to Mallelathirtham OR Trip to Octopus viewpoint OR Trek near Mannanur

Lunch

Leave for Hyderabad


Note: Please bring large size garbage bags, atleast 2 per person

Does anyone have a portable LCD projector for the slide show?

[traveloholic]

We can meet enroute at Tellapur, near Shamshabad Airport Exit or somewhere.

I have attached a comparision of the route planned by you and the route as proposed by me. It has a difference of approx 30 kms.



I shall chalk out a couple of meeting points, which shall be enroute and you can reach there without much hassle.

[DKG]

Here's a Visitor Code of Conduct for the Nallamalla Forest.

Guard against forest fires. A cigarette can bring down a forest!

Avoid polluting the air, soil or water in the sanctuary

Do not feed wild animals

Always maintain a safe distance while watching wildlife. If you venture too close a wild animal may feel threatened and may attack.

Please do not step down from your vehicle while watching wildlife

The forest is first the domain of wildlife, please give all animals the right of way if you encounter them on a path

Dress in colours that blend with the forest. Khaki, brown or olive will be just right

Shooting of animals is prohibited. Firearms and pets are strictly forbidden

Use of horns, fast driving, smoking in summer or campfires when inside a forest, harassing of animals, loud conversations and consumption of alcohol inside the sanctuary are forbidden

Stop at designated rest areas only while driving through the forest. Access to the forest is restricted and un-authorised presence in non-visitor areas is treated as trespass and is a offence

[highwaylover]

Wildlife viewing - Two groups heading on two separate routes, both meeting at Farahabad viewpoint to end evening enjoying a gorgeous view of the valley below and return to maingate at Farahabad

If luck does not favor us on day-1, can we change the schedule on day-2 and include "wildlife viewing" again in the morning?

[DKG]

Considering the special relevance of this aspect of wildlife viewing its being listed separately.

While viewing wildlife please remain totally silent. Human sounds can startle animals and you end up losing the chance to observe them in their natural state.

Lets keep all discussions for the late evening at the camp ! Please also educate kids in the group to remain silent when viewing wildlife and speak in whispers if they need to communicate urgently.

Please visit toilets before the safari as neither do you have toilets within the route nor are you encouraged to step down to relieve yourself in the forest. Its unsafe to venture alone into the forest.

[DKG]

Originally Posted by highwaylover

If luck does not favor us on day-1, can we change the schedule on day-2 and include "wildlife viewing" again in the morning?

By all means !!

Infact the early morning block has been kept vacant just in case a few wish to do the wildlife sighting again. I was however assured by the forest officials that the best sighting is in the evening

Do please also remember that our safari entrance fee, even in our vehicle, is Rs 500 per car (includes 5 members) per safari.

Further I was thinking to maximise our chances for wildlife sighting perhaps we should opt as much as possible for vehicles that are fairly silent. CRDI diesels should be fine but the DI engines that create a racket definately will blow our chances. Since the forest officials indicated that the routes are doable in passenger cars this makes it easier for us to plan what to take in.

Given our group's size at most it would be two batches of three to four vehicles each. We'll try to space the cars out too so everyone gets a reasonably intimate view of the forest and wildlife. Each of the routes is anywhere from 20-25 kms so we can comfortably space cars

[fazalaliadil]

Is it possible for anyone in the group to get a LCD projector for a power point show and a laptop?
Thanks.

[MileCruncher]

Originally Posted by traveloholic

We can meet enroute at Tellapur, near Shamshabad Airport Exit or somewhere.

I have attached a comparision of the route planned by you and the route as proposed by me. It has a difference of approx 30 kms.

Attachment 298840

I shall chalk out a couple of meeting points, which shall be enroute and you can reach there without much hassle.

I was thinking of going through the PVNR Expressway and not the ORR which you have taken in the map. So the difference will be about 10 Kms and not 30 Km.

Originally Posted by fazalaliadil

Is it possible for anyone in the group to get a LCD projector for a power point show and a laptop?
Thanks.

I'll have my laptop but would like to let you know that the battery backup is very bad.

[DKG]

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

I was thinking of going through the PVNR Expressway and not the ORR which you have taken in the map. So the difference will be about 10 Kms and not 30 Km.

I always used to drive upto the airport, cross over and join the Srisailam highway. But invariably you get stopped as they don't want that road to be used as a thoroughfare.

Since there are more cars travelling together you may want to give the airport route a miss and instead take the ringroad at Aramghar and head to the flyover beyond Falaknuma where you take a right under the flyover to head onto the Srisailam road. BTW for those not familiar with the route please ask for the Srisailam road as you turn/cross under the flyover as there are a couple of roads at the junction and it can confuse

If you take the PVR expressway you can make a left uturn onto a service road just at the exit onto Bangalore highway and head back onto the ringroad.

[DKG]

Day 1
Breakfast details available for 29/34 people
Lunch: 26/34
Dinner: 24/34

Day 2
breakfast:28/34
lunch:25/34

People who still need to update their food requirements please add in, will pass on the info Friday morning.

[adzegeek]

MC/Nikhil,
Please let me know the waypoint for meeting up and i will join at that point. Is it too early to ask for timings as well i.e. when we meet, by what time we are supposed to reach FRH etc etc.?

DKG,
any authoritative web resources which will help noobs like me get a better understanding of conservation and rejuvenation techniques? Also what resources will give better information on flora/fauna found in the area we are going.

Cheers, Rajesh

[traveloholic]

Originally Posted by adzegeek

MC/Nikhil,
Please let me know the waypoint for meeting up and i will join at that point. Is it too early to ask for timings as well i.e. when we meet, by what time we are supposed to reach FRH etc etc.?

Rajesh, we can meet enroute Shamshabad Airport. As Ani suggested, he is planning to take the PVNR Expressway to the Airport. I would also be considering taking the same route or going via Barkas. PVNR Expressway would surely be way out of your route, so I think we can catch up at Airport/Aram Garh, which ever sounds good.

Post Airport, we all can cruise well together on the Srisailam Highway.

As far as I remember, Deepak mentioned that we start at 6.00 am here, so that we can reach there before breakfast.