Safari tours to be launched in Kothagudem’s Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary

The Forest Department is set to launch safari tours at Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary in Kothagudem district. Three safari vehicles have been procured and dedicated tracks developed to help visitors explore the sanctuary's wildlife, flora and scenic landscapes more effectively.

Kothagudem: The Forest Department has planned to launch safari tours at Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary near Paloncha in Kothagudem district.

The scenic wildlife sanctuary is a destination that attracts visitors from across Telangana. It covers an area of 635.4 square kilometres and is home to rich wildlife, including leopards, spotted deer and gaurs, besides different bird species.

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Kinnerasani Dam, a picturesque storage reservoir built across the Kinnerasani river in the Dandakaranya forest, offers breathtaking views of the surrounding tree-covered islands. At present, the Tourism Department, involving local people, is offering boat rides to visitors in the reservoir.

In order to help tourists explore the flora and fauna of the sanctuary and make their visit more enjoyable, the department has procured three safari vehicles at a cost of Rs 45 lakh. Safari tracks have been developed, allowing tourists to view the natural beauty across an 8-km stretch of the sanctuary, informed Forest Divisional Officer (FDO) Babu Rao.

Visitors can also visit the Mouse Deer Park as well as a Deer Park developed at the Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary. Forest guides and watchers would be engaged alongside the three safari vehicles to explain the highlights of the wildlife sanctuary, he said.

The sanctuary is located around 24 kilometres from Kothagudem, the district headquarters, and 12 kilometres from Paloncha town. The sanctuary got its name from the Kinnerasani river. The nearest major railway station is in Kothagudem. The nearest airport is in Hyderabad, around 300 km from Paloncha.