Sri Venkateshwara National Park - Andhra Pradesh

Named after the Lord Venkateshwara, the 'Lord of Seven Hills of Tirupati', Sri Venkateshwara National Park is one of the famous tourist destinations in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Extending over an area of 353 sq. Km, this National Park offers a wonderful contrast of dry and deciduous vegetation cover in the forest and moist deciduous in the valleys.

Sri Venkateshwara National Park is designed in such a way that the animals inhabited here are not caged, instead, they are allowed to graze on a vast natural enclosure same as that of their natural habitat.

The entire design and concept of this National Park are based on mythological theme and the Park is divided into different sections which are named after famous personalities and locations like Kishkinta, Jambhavantha-van, Airavata-van, etc that are mentioned in Indian mythology and epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana.

The entrance of the Park is made so admirable with the depiction of Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha avatars which are the incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

The statue of Lord Ganesha at the entrance is an added attraction. Sri Venkateshwara National Park is enriched with a wide variety of flora and fauna.

Red sanders, Shorea talura, Sandalwood, Cycas beddomei, Terminalia pallid, Shorea thumburggaia, Syzygium alterninfolium, and Psilotum nudun are some of the rare and endemic plant species found here.

Sri Venkateshwara National Park is renowned for housing very rare slender Lorises, the rare and endangered golden Gecko and Stump-Tailed Macaque (Afacaca arctoides).

This Park also provides shelter to about 168 mammals, 349 birds, and 138 reptiles.

Speacilty:

Sri Venkateshwara National Park in Andhra Pradesh is given the status of both a national park as well as a biosphere reserve.

Sri Venkateshwara National Park forms a part of the Seshachalam Hills which was declared as one of the biosphere reserves of India by the government of India in 2010.

This Park is acknowledged for being a special theme park which features animals mentioned in ancient Hindu Manuscripts and Epics.

Sri Venkateshwara National Park is renowned for its numerous waterfalls including the Talakona, Gunjana and Gundalakona.

Major Attractions:

The world famous Tirupati Sri Venkateshwara Temple situates near Sri Venkateshwara National Park.

Sri Padmavathi Ammavaru Temple, Kalyana Venkateshwara Temple, and Govindarajaswamy Temple are the other temples situated in the vicinity of this National Park.

Seshachalam hills of Cuddapah district and Tirumala hills of Chittoor district that encircles Sri Venkateshwara National Park is other major attraction here.

Sri Venkateshwara National Park is home to famous Slender Lorises, Stump-Tailed Macaque (Afacaca Arctoides), Four-horned Antelope, Golden Jackal, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Mouse Deer, Barking Deer, and Indian Fox which forms the major wildlife attraction of the park.

Activities Suggested:

Explore the national park.

Sightseeing.

Trekking.

Way to Reach:

 By Air -  Tirupati Airport is the nearest airport to Sri Venkateshwara National Park which is situated at a distance of 29.9 Km.

 By Rail -  Tirupati Central Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Sri Venkateshwara National Park which is situated at a distance of 8.4 Km.

 By Road -  Tirupati Bus Station is the nearest bus station to Sri Venkateshwara National Park which is situated at a distance of 9 Km.