| Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
    | |
 Interactive map of Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve | |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 16°18′N78°59′E / 16.300°N 78.983°E /16.300; 78.983 |
| Area | 3,728 km2 (1,439 sq mi) |
| Established | 1983 |
| nstr.co.in | |
Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve is the largesttiger reserve in India encompassing an area of 3,728 km2 (1,439 sq mi) in five districts:Nandyal,Prakasam,Palnadu,Nalgonda andMahabub Nagar districts of Andhra Pradesh.[1] Its core area is 1,200 km2 (460 sq mi).[2]
The hill ranges contain a number of plateaus includingAmrabad, Srisailam, Peddacheruvu, Sivapuram, and Nekkanti. Nagarjunasagar receives rains from thesouthwest monsoon, which is active from the second half of June to the end of September. TheKrishna River cuts its basin almost 200 m (660 ft) deep over a distance of 130 km (81 mi) through the reserve. There are several waterfalls in the reserve such as theEthipothala Falls, Pedda Dukudu, Gundam and Chaleswaram.[2]
This reserve is located between longitude: 78°30' to 79°28' east and latitude: 15°53' to 16°43' north. Elevation varies from 100 to 917 m (328 to 3,009 ft).[citation needed]Average annual rainfall is 1,000 mm (39 in).[citation needed]
The ancienttemples at Srisailam of LordMallikarjuna and his consort goddess Bhramaramba, an incarnation ofParvathi as the fair-complexioned boon fromBrahma, contain one of the twelve sacredShaivaJyotirlingas and one of the eighteenMaha Shakthi peethas in India.
This area contains ruins ofNagarjuna Viswa Vidyalayam. The site was once the location of many Buddhist universities and monasteries.
The ruins of a fort of the 3rd centuryBCE Indian ruler,IkshwakuChandragupta overlook the Nirjivapuram (Lifeless city) valley. The ancient fort of kingPratap Rudra of theKakatiya dynasty and several other forts are visible on the banks of theKrishna River. An ancient 105 mi (169 km) wall constructed there by theKakatiyas is an impressive historic feature.
This area contains several rock shelters and cave temples including:Akka Mahadevi Bhilam, Dattatreya Bhilam, Umaa Maheswaram, Kadalivanam, and Palankasari.[2][3][4]
The main types of forestbiomes in the reserve are:southern tropical dry mixed deciduous forest,Hardwickia forest andDeccan thorn scrub forests with muchEuphorbia scrub. Important plant species here are:Anogeissus latifolia (axlewood),Cleisthanthus collinus (odcha),Terminalia spp.,Pterocarpus marsupium,Hardwickia binata (anjan tree),Boswellia serrata (Indianfrankincense or salai),Tectona grandis (teak),Mundulea sericea andAlbizia spp. (silkplants).[2]
The mainmammals in the reserve are:Bengal tiger,Indian leopard,sloth bear,dhole,Indian pangolin,chital,sambar deer,chevrotain,blackbuck,chinkara andchowsingha. Lesser fauna includemugger crocodile,Indian python,Indian cobra,rat snake,Bengal monitor,Indian star tortoise andIndian peafowl.[2]
In a study (conducted during 2016–2019) that ascertained the economic value of theecosystem services provided free of cost by the 'Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve', it was found that the economic value of 'Regulating Services' (such as carbon sequestration, water provisioning and purification, soil conservation, nutrient retention, pollination, climate regulation, gene pool protection, waste assimilation, etc.) amounted to Rs 16,041.15 crore per year. 'Provisioning Services' amounted to Rs 766.99 million per year, while 'Cultural Services' and 'Supporting Services' amounted to Rs 17.40 million per year and Rs 818.11 million per year respectively.[5]
| Assam | |
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| Arunachal Pradesh | |
| Andhra Pradesh | |
| Bihar | |
| Chhattisgarh | |
| Jharkhand | |
| Karnataka | |
| Kerala | |
| Madhya Pradesh | |
| Maharashtra | |
| Mizoram | |
| Odisha | |
| Rajasthan | |
| Tamil Nadu | |
| Telangana | |
| Uttar Pradesh | |
| Uttarakhand | |
| West Bengal | |
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