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Andhra Pradesh
An open book on Nature
| The park features hare burrows and waterfalls |
Developed by the Forest department at Kapila Theertham on outskirts of Tirupati
Project has been carried out with minimum disturbance to fragile eco-system
Open sesame: A view of the Forest Department’s ’Jungle Book’, which was inaugurated in Tirupati on Saturday.
Tirupati: ‘Jungle Book’, the nature interpretation park developed by the Forest department at Kapila Theertham on the city outskirts, helps to educate the public about different aspects of nature, the contents of forests, life processes and the whole eco-system.
The city’s close proximity to the thick Tirumala forests has come as an advantage for the project.
The Rs.10 lakh park was formally inaugurated by P. Mallikharjuna Rao, Conservator of Forest, Tirupati Wildlife Management Circle.
Eight zonesThe entire stretch is divided into eight zones. “Naturest” has a nature trail path with thatched huts that allows a visitor to sit back and enjoy.
The “Insectarium and Termitarium” zone has termite mounds and insect specimens along with information boards.
“Rock Thrills” is for adventure lovers, where one can climb and walk through the panther dens, hare burrows and rock formations.
“Mineral Kingdom” showcases the geological formation of the Tirumala hills. “Malavadigundam”, the breath-taking waterfall is the fifth zone, which is also a habitat for the endangered lizard “golden gecko”.
“Bird’s eye view” at the highest spot has a telescope, through which one can have an amazing view of the city and of the forest skirting it.
“Gundalacheruvu” tank has boating facility, where one can browse through graffiti on wet lands and on water-based life forms. The last one is “Birds paradise”, which resembles an aviary.
The ideas that have gone into the making of the project, with minimum disturbance to the fragile eco-system, are sure to astonish the visitors.
The department has given the task of maintenance to an eco-development committee.
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