Evolved
out of different needs, the town of Srisailam is divided into three
zones. Srisailam or the original pilgrim town centers round the age-old
temples dedicated to Lord Mallikarjuna and Goddess Bhramaramba,
incarnations of Shiva and Parvati.
A
fairly stocked marketplace and several lodges for pilgrims lie alongside
the temple quadrangle. About eight kilometers from the temple town is
Sunnipenta, another ridge top where most offices and a few eating houses
are located. Also located here is the office of the Project Tiger and
the Field Director. The dam site on the river Krishna-the Srisailam
Hydel Projects-makes up the third zone.
Nestling in the
Nallamalai Hill ranges, an offshoot of the Eastern Ghats, with cliffs,
gorges, ridges and plateaus, endowed with a variety of flora and fauna,
the NSTR protects a large portion of the once flourishing ecological
system that existed here. Without having the benefit of being an
erstwhile royal game preserve, the forest in this area was always open
to human visitation. Pilgrims from all over southern India carved out
routes through the forest to reach Srisailam. It was in 1973 that the
area was declared a sanctuary and incorporated under Project Tiger a
decade later.
A little over 6 sq km in area, the Rollapadu
grasslands near Srisailam are dotted with dry, thorny bushes and is home
of about a hundred blackbucks. From a distance, one can observe families
of blackbucks out on their breakfast trail, a couple of bustards gazing
at the horizon while taking a tentive foot forward. At present, day
visits to Rollapadu Sanctuary is permitted.
Reaching There
- By Air
The nearest airport is at Hyderabad, 316 km
away from Srisailam. Hyderabad is connected to many important cities
in India including Delhi and Mumbai, the major international
gateways.
- By Rail
Srisailam is connected through Hyderabad as
well as via Markapur (85 km away) on the South Central Railway.
- By Road
Srisailam is 190 km from Kurnool, 220 km from
Guntur, 470 km from Chennai, and 85 km from Mannanur.
