Mrugavani National Park

In a world where technology and modernism are demanding more and more of the Earth’s space and resources, it seems that national parks are fast becoming the last places of refuge for indigenous species of animals and plants in the world. Governments around the world are also starting to realize the importance of preserving these last bastions of wildlife sanctuary, and as such, have declared them off-limits to human and civilization encroachment. It is a very good decision, as national parks are also among a country’s prime tourist attractions.

Mrugavani National Park in Hyderabad is one such example of a national park turned prime tourist attraction and, in a land steeped with exotic and great natural resources such as India, that is a great achievement. Located at Chilkur in Moinabad, some 25 kilometers from Hyderabad, Mruvagani National Park is sprawled over 3.5 square kilometers of pure, untamed land. It was made a wildlife sanctuary by the Indian government in 1994 and has been home to about 600 species of plant and animal life since. Like most national parks, human intervention and interaction is strongly monitored in order to ensure that all the creatures remain undisturbed in their natural habitat.

The park has a topography composed of the rocky exposures characteristic of Deccan formation, while the vegetation is one that is decidedly tropical as expected of dry forests interspersed with woodlands and grasslands. The plant life found in Nrugavani National Park include shrubs and herbs while the tree life is populated by Teak, Sandalwood, and bamboos, among others. The fauna, on the other hand, is as varied as they come. Wild boars, foxes, black-naped hares, as well as Indian vipers can be found for the curious citizen. For the avid birdwatchers, the park is also home to more than 100 species of birds, including warblers, peacocks, lapwings, and flower peckers.

The visitors can choose several acitivities that will heighten their experience in the park. Safari rides are available for those who want to get up close and personal with several of the park’s denizens. One can also take nature walks with guides, checking out the hidden beauty of the park. For accommodations, visitors can have their choice among tents, cottages, and dormitories, with price varying between each accommodation. Transportation to the park is not a problem either as there are direct bus services available from Hyderabad.