The Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary is a hilly and undulating forest region of the Adilabad district (northern region of Telangana state). Named after the River Pranahita, a tributary of the Godavari, that flows through it and acts as the main source of water for the Sanctuary, the forest is an exhilarating experience. Established in 1980, the park is known to be one of the oldest protected area in the Telangana region. This Sanctuary borders with Maharashtra state.

Covered in thick dry deciduous trees, the forest is sprawled over an area of 136 square km and lies in the Chinnur- Mancherial forest division. Located at a distance of 70 kms from Mancherial to be precise, the forest is home to several endangered species of animals including the Black Buck, Chinkara and the Wolf. The well-distributed grasslands and the scrub jungle provided by the 21.8 square km of reserve forest area that is found within the forest premises is a perfect breeding ground for the Black Buck.

In fact it is also said that the Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary was built primarily to serve as a protection area for black bucks ((Antelope cervicarpa) which is an endangered species according to schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act. The forest is also abuzz with the chirping of a whole host of avian fauna as well as the call of and herbivores. In addition to the fauna that is found here, the area is abundant in natural beauty as well. The natural rock formations that adds to the beauty of the landscape is a major attraction for tourists.

Some of the other animals that help to attract tourists include the Nilgai, Sloth Boar, Tiger, Leopard, Forest Cat, Langur, Rhesus, Palm Civet, Indian Otter, Wild Dogs and Hyena. In addition to these, aquatic birds like the Brahminy Ducks, Teals, Strokes and Herons can also be found.

The forest flora includes an abundant growth of Teak, Bamboo, Terminalias and Anogeisus. In addition to these the forest also attracts tourists with a rich growth of fossils. The growth of fossils act as rich repositories of knowledge that interested tourists can explore to glean information about the history of the forest.

The Pranahita Sanctuary provides a hot and dry climate with minimum and maximum temperatures varying between 15 degree Celsius to 40 degree Celsius and is a Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests of India. The best time to visit the Sanctuary is between October – March. A visit to this sanctuary is definitely an enjoyable experience.

Special Attractions:
– The Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary is home to several engendered species like the Black Buck, Chinkara and the Wolf. This is therefore a unique opportunity for tourists to view these fast disappearing species in their natural habitat.

Specialty of the place:
– In addition to the animal population, Pranahita Sanctuary is also famous for the splendid view it provides of the Deccan plateau. Additionally the intriguing rock formations help to further enhance the beauty of the landscape.

Distance:
– Hyderabad to Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary is 300kms
– Distance from Mancherial is 70 Kms

How to reach:
– Mancherial is well connected with major cities of Telangana: Hyderabad, Warangal, Karimnagar, Adilabad, Nizamabad, etc.
– Plenty of buses ply to Mancherial from all the major cities of Telangana.
– One can reach Mancherial by train or bus and Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary is only 35 kms from Mancherial. One can get buses or private vehicles to this Sanctuary from Mancherial
– Also Adilabad (well connected with Mancherial) is well connected to all major cities and towns. Buses ply from all locations and are usually the preferred mode of local transport. Tourists can also avail trains or even flights till Hyderabad or other nearby cities to reach Adilabad. The closest airports are at Nagpur and Hyderabad.

Nearest Railway Station: Mancherial, located at a distance of 35 km is the closest railway station.

Where to stay:
– The forest rest houses available at Mancherial and Chinnur are the ideal stay options for tourists.
– In addition, tourists can also avail the accommodation options available at Mancherial, Ramagundam, Godavarikhani and Adilabad. Some of the popular places to stay in
Adilabad include Haritha Hotel, Sanjay Lodge, Kamadhenu Hotel, Asra Lodge, Hotel Laxmi Residency and Tirumala Lodge.

Best Time to Visit: October to March

Nearby by Tourist Attractions:
– Kuntala Waterfall
– Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary
– Mahatma Gandhi Park
– Pochera Waterfall
– Kadam Dam
– Shivaram Wildlife Sanctuary
– Dharmapuri
– Kaleshwaram
– Singareni Collieries Company Limited

Useful Contact Numbers:
– Adilabad Tourism Officer : 9440816087
– State Tourism Department: 040-23450444
– State Tourism Department Toll free Number: 1800-42-545454