It shelters blackbuck, panthers, chinkara, spotted deer, nilgai, pangolins, leopards, soft-shelled turtles, porcupines, crocodiles and a variety of other animals, birds and snakes, in addition to the tiger. There is a successful crocodile reintroduction programme in Ethipothala, a cataract close to Srisailam. Nearby, the 512 m long Srisailam Dam on the River Krishna is set amidst beautiful natural scenery - ghats, cliffs, craggy ridges, plateaus and dense forests.

The forests have attracted human visitors for centuries, not only because of the ecological systems that it supports, but also as a pilgrimage centre. Pilgrims bathe in the Pathalaganga - the local name for the River Krishna - before visiting the sacred shrines of Brahmaramba, Mallikarjunaswamy, Uma-Maheshwara and Saraswati.

Shiva's sacred bull Vrishabha is said to have performed penance at the Mahakali temple till Shiva and Parvati appeared before him as Mallikarjuna and Brahmaramba. The temple is one of the 12 hallowed jyotirlingas; Lord Rama himself installed the Sahasralinga, while the Pandavas lodged the Panchapandava lingas in the temple courtyard. Heroic legends from the Mahabharata and Ramayana are sculpted in stone on the temple walls and the Mahabharata epic refers to Srisailam as Sri Parvata - the blessed hill. You can hear the buzzing of a bee through a tiny hole in the Brahmaramba temple, where Parvati, in the form of a bee, slew the demon Mahisasura.

One of the nicest aspects of these temples is that everyone is allowed to pray here and touch the Lord's feet, unlike some other ancient temples. So come to Srisailam for that interesting holiday you've always wanted - it's a different world altogether.

Getting there: Srisailam is 232 km from Hyderabad, which has the nearest airport and large rail junction. Trains come up to Markapur, 85 km from Srisailam, from where you can get a taxi or bus. The best way to get here is by road - either by car, rented vehicle or bus (6 hours). State Transport buses and the local Devasthanam buses ply regularly. You can also join an APTTDC weekend tour from Hyderabad to Srisailam (cost Rs205 approximately). The tour leaves at 11:30 am on Saturday and returns at 9:00 pm on Sunday. Accommodation has to be arranged separately on prior notice.

Best time: It is best to come here in winter, between November and March, when the weather is at its mildest. The temperatures at this time hover at between 30° C and 12° C. The festival of Shivratri is celebrated here in a big way in February-March.

Accommodation: Basic low budget accommodation is the norm at Srisailam, though you can also stay at private guesthouses and motels. The Srisailam Devasthanam offers low cost cottages and choultries. AP Tourism has rest houses and cottages - room tariffs range from Rs25 to Rs 500. Contact Project Tiger Headquarters at Sunnipanta for advance booking.

For more information contact Andhra Pradesh Tourism, Yatri Niwas, Sardar Patel Road, Secunderabad Tel: 843 931 / 32 / 33
Commissioner of Tourism, State Tourist Information Bureau, 5th floor, Gagan Vihar, M.J.Road, Hyderabad Tel: 473 2554 / 55