[fazalaliadil]

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,

[fazalaliadil]

In continuation to my previous mail, are photographs of landscapes, water falls, from some of our trips to NSTR. Out of the many photographs taken through the years I am attaching some recent ones that are on my system unlike the others which are stored on discs.
The beauty of this place captured on camera by me is a fraction compared to what the reality there is.
The forest is not acessable to all but can be arranged by prior permission from the forest department at Hyderabad. There are some places where you can visit like the water fall at Maleela theertam a left turn from Vatvarla Palli without the forest permission.
Though this is a perrinial stream which runs the whole year through, but the water falls only in monsoon.
In the early years of our visit here, back in 1992 onwards we had a SLR cameras, as digital cameras were not there (atleast with us) and the powerful lenses with their magnificient reach we imported much later, a lot of our documented matter is on 35mm film which I want to develop again, scan and convert to discs, as this will be invalueable reference material in years to come.
We have had a great time and continue to whenever we can even if we have been there a week back. One never gets tired or feels that they have been here before, as there is so much to see so much to enjoy and remember time is running out for this most beautiful 3,358 square kilometer tiger habitat and the flora and fauna within.

CONSERVE AND PROTECT NATURE AND RESPECT THE FOREST AND ITS INHABITANTS.

The road leading to Mannanur (ghats in front, that is where the reserve forest starts from.) collaborate this pic with the last pic showing the road on the bottom right to Hyderabad.

A road tearing through the reserve.

The only Tiger sighted since 92, with my daughter atop.

Farahabad road leading to the magnificient view point.

My brother documenting the tiger trial in monsoon as my friend Devidas (rear) does the tougher part of tracking pugmarks.

A small glimpse of the vast expanse.

A long forgotten machan by a waterhole.

Me cooking for the clan (taking consensus on how much chilli to add) at a requested makeshift village home.

Mallela Theertam water falls ( notice the man on bottom right red arrow ) for scale of waterfall

3 miles downstream on foot. We have been where forest staff dare.

A jungle fowl.

Rhesus monkey, a native.

Spotted deer or Chinkara alarmed. Distance of 300 feet

Curious stares, before scampering away.

Red Sun.

Mannanur,heading back to Hyderabad only 150 kms . (notice road on centre right where the first photo was taken from).

[Ardy]

@Fazal: Lovely pictures and location ... An ideal place for some nature camping ...

[suren181]

Fazal Bhai, Lovely pics, Lovely location, am sure seeing nature up close would have really made an indelible image in your mind of it's beauty.

OT: Fazal bhai, what was that you were cooking? Time for a men cook Biryani meet?

[fazalaliadil]

Originally Posted by suren181

Fazal Bhai, Lovely pics, Lovely location, am sure seeing nature up close would have really made an indelible image in your mind of it's beauty.

OT: Fazal bhai, what was that you were cooking? Time for a men cook Biryani meet?

Hi Suren,
That was tala huva gosth and Khatti daal with white rice. my speciality, like nearly all have their own in our group and Devidas is the specialist bar tender.
You have met my daughter, she was 2 and a half month old when she made her maiden visit to this reserve and not years, which I wrote in my last mail yesterday. No photograph or words can capture the beauty of Nallamalla.
Regards,

[muralisk]

Hi Fazal, they are some really good pictures.

I agree that inside the tiger reserve, there are some amazing sites, but due to poachers and naxals, most of these places are restricted.

Back in 1989-90, we did visit one such water hole and it was an awesome experience. Unfortunately, most of the pics are in physical form for me to post on this forum.

[fazalaliadil]

Originally Posted by Ardy

@Fazal: Lovely pictures and location ... An ideal place for some nature camping ...

Ardy,
Being in Hyderabad have you not been here yet, What are you waiting for an invitation from the tiger????
Go and do now what you should have done 10 years back.

Originally Posted by muralisk

Hi Fazal, they are some really good pictures.

I agree that inside the tiger reserve, there are some amazing sites, but due to poachers and naxals, most of these places are restricted.

Back in 1989-90, we did visit one such water hole and it was an awesome experience. Unfortunately, most of the pics are in physical form for me to post on this forum.

Murlisk,
Thanks to the naxals, when they were there the poachers were restricted.
Why dont you scan the hard copies of the 89-90's best pics and post them, it would be a treat for many to see.
Regards,

[MileCruncher]

@ IndianNomad: Good pictures. The stretches look very inviting for a day road trip

@Fazal Sahab: As usual very interesting pictures from your side.

[Ardy]

Originally Posted by fazalaliadil

Ardy,
Being in Hyderabad have you not been here yet, What are you waiting for an invitation from the tiger????
Go and do now what you should have done 10 years back.

Its high time I should plan a trip there ... So far I have been keeping myself happy with the inhabited destinations like NagarjunaSagar, Srisailam etc ... But, a jungle camp is a tempting proposition ...

[muralisk]

Originally Posted by fazalaliadil

Muralisk,
Thanks to the naxals, when they were there the poachers were restricted.
Why dont you scan the hard copies of the 89-90's best pics and post them, it would be a treat for many to see.
Regards,

Sure, I am on the job and you should see them soon.

[mobike008]

Fazal bhai, awesome pictures. I am surprised you still havent ventured into the non-official auto image thread. Some cool photography there, do post some of yours there too.

[fazalaliadil]

Originally Posted by mobike008

Fazal bhai, awesome pictures. I am surprised you still havent ventured into the non-official auto image thread. Some cool photography there, do post some of yours there too.

Thanks Avi,
The thread you mention.....I am totally unaware of its exsistance. Lead me and also thanks for your kind appreciation. I feel the moment monsoons start we can go to this heaven on earth, same group most welcome.
Regards

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by fazalaliadil

Thanks Avi,
The thread you mention.....I am totally unaware of its exsistance. Lead me and also thanks for your kind appreciation. I feel the moment monsoons start we can go to this heaven on earth, same group most welcome.
Regards

Your welcome Sir. I sent you a PM

Let us know allow IN to continue his thread

[vnabhi]

Bumped into this thread after a long time----some of the pics posted by Fazal and Indiannomad could be not very far from where YSR's chopper crashed last week.

Fazal, the state govt should have contacted you when the search operations were on---I guess nobody knows that forest so well as you do.

[mobike008]

Yeah that's a point Venu.

I guess, i too would have been happy to be part of the search party knowing Fazal Bhai will ensure the party members are treated to his speciality ( Tala hua ghost and khatti dal rice)