The historical Hyderabad city has an enticing natural beauty that can capture the attention of visitors. Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park is a prominent deer park located in Vanasthalipuram which is 15 km away from the central part of the city. This national park was established in the year 1975 and has been named after the Jain Saint, Mahavir in the honour of his 2500th birth anniversary. The park is spread across an area of 15km2 and once was a private hunting ground or ‘Shikargarh’ for the Nizam rulers of Hyderabad. Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park has become famous after it has become a home to the endangered species of Blackbuck Deer. There are 120 species of birds and 30 species of reptiles found in this national park
In the year 1994, the park was officially declared as the national park and the vegetation ranges from dry deciduous to grasslands. The topography of this national park supports forests, dry deciduous, scrublands, grasslands, and rocky landscapes. A national park is an area set aside by the national government to preserve the natural environment for the betterment of wildlife and biodiversity. Activities such as forestry, hunting, poaching, and grazing are not permitted and these national parks have well-marked boundaries and are circumscribed. This national park is the largest green lung space in the city of Hyderabad situated on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada road.
As this park is home for the endangered blackbuck, there are about nearly 400 of them. Locally, blackbuck is otherwise called ‘Krishna Jinka’ and is one of the most hunted animals in all of India in the 18th, 19th and till mid 20th centuries. The declaration of this place as a national park saved black buck from complete extinction. Other inmates in the park include wild boars, cheetahs, mongooses, snakes and porcupines. One who likes to spend time in bird watching, it is the place to visit as the park also boasts a rich avian fauna as well which include pond herons, partridges, cormorants, egrets, kingfishers, peacocks, doves, kites and many others. The rare short-toed eagle also made this place as it home.
Besides the animal species, the park also is home to a number of trees such as neem, acacia, bauhinias and buteas. In the monsoon, the park looks picturesque with golden and white flowers of the trees on the lush green carpet of grass. For the visitors, to view or observe the animals many sheds and viewing towers are built. The Department of Forest offers an audiovisual education on nature and wildlife which is supported by a good nature library in the exhibition hall. The visitors also can get the information or knowledge about the nature trails, camping trips, safari drives at the environmental education center.
There is also a facility of safari in the park, where the vans take the visitors on safari rides that presents the view of various animals and dense vegetation. Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park is under the maintenance of the Telangana forest department and the timings of the park are from 9: 00 AM to 5:30 PM. Except for Monday, the park is open on all days of the week. The entry for the adult is Rs. 20 and for the child is Rs. 15. This national park is located on the outskirts of Hyderabad and is well connected with the city through the buses and taxis.
People who are interested to get a dose of nature, please make a visit to the Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park that makes an ideal weekend trip with your family.