Amrabad Tiger Reserve expands ecotourism activity
Jungle ride with Akkamahadevi cave temple visit now on
HYDERABAD: The Amrabad Tiger Reserve in Telangana, the second largest tiger reserve in the country, on Monday launched a new ecotourism activity — the Akkamahadevi-Domalapenta package — for visitors. The two-day package involves forest drives, a trek to the ancient Akkamahadevi cave temple located on the edge of River Krishna along the backwaters of the Srisailam reservoir.
The new package, the second ecotourism initiative by the tiger reserve authorities, was inaugurated by Achampet MLA Dr Ch. Vamshikrishna.
The reserve is home to around 30 tigers, and the new area, now opened for ecotourism, offers the possibility of seeing unique topography of the Nallamala hill ranges and its forest, as well as chances of seeing a variety of wildlife.
The two-day stay at the newly-developed Vana Vihanga cottages with four rooms will include a forest safari to Octopus Point, and the Vajrala Madugu watch tower providing unending vistas of river Krishna and the Nallamala forests and its hills.
On the second day, visitors will take a safari ride through the forest to the start of the trekking point to the ancient Akkamahadevi cave temple. While guides from the local Chenchu tribe will accompany the visitors, forest officials said the trek to the cave temple – around 45 minutes each way — will require a good measure of physical fitness.
The price for the two-day stay and activities ranges Rs 6,500 to Rs 8,000 for two adults per room, and for children over eight years of age, an additional Rs 1,700 will be charged, according to the tiger reserve officials.
A new guest house has been developed for visitors at Domalapenta village for this ecotourism activity, and it sits on the edge of a hill overlooking the backwaters of the Srisailam reservoir on the river, it offers stunning views, divisional forest officer Rohit Gopidi said.
Those interested in exploring the tiger reserve through the new ecotourism package, as well as the existing one that begins from Mannanur village and offers a different experience, can do so by visiting amrabadtigerreserve.com/booking-package/ or by calling 9154281766, reserve officials said.