The NSTR, Nagarjuna Sagar Tiger Reserve in the Srisailam area, has been visited by us since over 16 years. It is on our monthly travell itenary.
3,558 square kilometers is the expanse of this reserve forest.
In 2004 we had a face to face with an
armed to the teeth dalam of naxalites numbering over 150, when they saw us in the deep bamboo jungles of Dronala with families, they did not bother us were extremely decent and henceforth did not even look in our direction till the time we cooked our lunch and left at sunset.
There have been many experiences in all these years, the best were in the days when the naxalites were as abundant as the animals in this reserve forest until 2005-6 that is when they were driven out by the Grey Hounds (anti naxalite force). That was the time when the forest dept. guys would not set foot inside the interior roads and would vanish before sunset.
We have gone deep into the forest in the anticipation of sighting a tiger or panther, but in vain. The closest we have come to is fresh pug marks. At 03:00 hrs we were in there, at sunrise we were there and at sunset we were there, sighted many other animals and recorded on still and video cameras.... bears, Packs of Indian wild dogs, wild boars, antelopes of all species present there and many other smaller members of the food pyramid.
Cooking on firewood deep in the forest or in a village nearby is our USP as 30% of our orientation is on food which happens to be 100% non-veg and
men only cooking is our bigger USP even when we travell with our families, with friends, sherbet is continuous until food and the oxygen levels are unmatched here and do wonders to your general system in 2-3 straight days spent here.
Camped overnight many times in villages with no light or candle, inspection bunglows, guest houses, hostels and parked cars too, many many memorable moments is what we always come back with in the countless times we have been there, Oops! sorry for it is not there, but HERE, in our heart, this is a unanimous view whether we have been there with family or with friends.
We have covered and explored so much in the interiors in our search for the elusive tiger in these years, I beleive that we have done about 20% of exploration and the rest is unexplored territory.
I have written articles and reported for newspapers...TOI, ETEMAAD recently on 18 May 09, I was quoted by the
Times of India on page 4
"Poachers on the prowl set off an alarm". link below: Welcome - Times Of India ePaper
Ifyou have time....go there and enjoy nature in its glory, just 150 kms from Hyderabad. My daughter has been there since she was 2 and a half years old, if she is lucky she will see it 10-15 years from now.
Slim chance though.
CONSERVE NATURE AND RESPECT THE FOREST AND ITS INHABITANTS. p.s.I will be posting a few pictures later
Regards,