Sri Venkateswara National Park, National park in Tirupati, India.
Sri Venkateswara is a protected area of the Eastern Ghats near Tirupati, combining dry forests, evergreen zones and deep valleys across more than 350 square kilometers. The landscape shifts between rocky hills and dense vegetation, with narrow trails and watercourses running through it.
The Indian government established the reserve as a wildlife sanctuary in 1985 and granted it national park status four years later. This decision followed a longer period of observation and planning to protect the mountain forests and their wildlife.
The protected area takes its name from the deity Venkateswara and sits directly beside the pilgrimage site of Tirumala, where millions of worshippers visit the temple complex each year. This proximity shapes daily life around the natural reserve and makes it a retreat in a deeply religious region.
Anyone wishing to enter the grounds needs a permit from the forest administration, issued for specific areas. Guided tours take place mainly between October and March, when the weather is more comfortable and the trails are more accessible.
Asian elephants returned to this mountain region in 1984 after not being seen here for three centuries. Their return marked an important moment for wildlife conservation in Andhra Pradesh and sparked interest in restoring old migration routes for the animals.
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