KBR National Park – Unique wildlife-cum-heritage place of Hyderabad
Hyderabad City has a lot many wildlife options to offer for enthusiasts to explore. A unique wildlife-cum-heritage place to visit is the KBR National Park- the Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park. Hyderabad city, has undergone transformation in the last decade to become a Techcity, and now is counted as one of the ‘concrete jungle’ cities of India. Within this concrete jungle (Jubilee Hills), lies the jungle of the KBR National Park- a jungle harbouring life that has not yet evolved like the human life; basic, wild, jungle life of the flora and fauna.
The park was actually a royal gift from Prince Azam Jah to his son Prince Mukarram Jah and on the latter’s coronation ceremony. Then, an entire complex, spread out over 400 acres, it contained the Chiran Palace, other blocks like the Mor Bungalow (Peacock Bungalow), Gol Bungalow, the motor-khana or garage that was famous for the fleet of various vintage cars it housed, a Petrol Pump, stables for horses and elephant, wells and water tanks and many outhouses. The gift from a father to his son, was soon taken over almost entirely by the Government, like all property under princely rulers in the country,
In 1998, the whole residential complex was then declared a national park and was developed to protect the biodiversity of the region, by the Andhra Pradesh government. Leaving aside the 11 acres left to the Nizams of Hyderabad, the rest of it came under the park development project. The Nizam of Hyderabad then made an arrangement to exchange his property scattered on the complex with a small block in one corner. It was agreed upon, and that is how, Chiran Palace is part of the section open to the public. It is not the current residential block of the Nizam family.
As you enter this National park of Hyderabad, immediately you feel the temperature drop down. The cool from the greens, that we do not experience usually, accustomed to our air conditioning cool only, is a sense-lifter. The flora and fauna at this National Park is indigenous to Hyderabad and making the park on the list of places to visit in Hyderabad.
The forests are southern tropical deciduous ones with thorny scrubby grasslands. There are almost 600 tree, shrubs, herbs species in the park. There are around 113 bird species, 20 reptile species, 15 butterfly species and 20 species of mammals. Wild boars, Pythons, Cobras, Monitor Lizards, Hares, Mongoose, Civet and Jungle cats are some of them. The mammals at the park are the small and local ones. Yet the common small mammals like mongoose are not as easily spotted in the city today and a walk to the park is refreshing and rejuvenating. The Chiran Palace is also a different architectural piece of Hyderabad. After the visits to palaces like ChowMahallat and Falaknuma etc., here’s a modern-day royal residence.
This Park serves as one of the multiple lungs of the Pearl City of Hyderabad. The greens are a pollution-controller and the park replenishes ground water. Also, visits to such wildlife parks, inspire a desire to protect the wildlife, especially among young children, which is good for the planet! Nature camps for school children are held regularly and a whole education-center plan is in its development phase.
KBR National Park has become a tourist destination in Hyderabad and also contributing to Hyderabad Tourism.
Distance to KBR National Park:
– approx 11 Kms from Secunderabad Railway Station (40-45 min drive)
– 11.5 Kms from MGBS Bus Stop, Hyderabad ( 45-50 min drive)
Public Transport to KBR National Park:
– Buses from Secunderabad – 10H, 47L, 47V, etc (availability every 10 minutes)
– Buses from MGBS Bus Stop, Hyderabad – 222, 127K, 225D-47L (every 10 minutes)
Location of KBR National Park : Road No.2, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, 500034
Food Facilities: Plenty of hotels in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad with various cuisines from north Indian to south Indian and International cuisines. One should definitely try Hyderabadi Biryani and Irani Chai.
KBR National Park Timings: 6.00 am to 8.00 am, 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm – Open on all days
Best Time to Visit: All the year around but has more greenery during monsoons.
KBR National Park Entry Fee:
– Rs 5 per person
– Monthly Pass is Rs. 50 per person
– Yearly Pass is Rs. 250 per person
Neary by Tourist Attractions:
– Peddamma Gudi Temple
– Shilparamam Crafts Village, Madhapur
– Durgam Cheruvu
KBR National Park Contact Number: Forest Range Officer – 040 2355 5463
– Divisional Forest Officer, (Wildlife Management), Hyderabad – 040-23607663
