Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park, National park in Vanasthalipuram, Hyderabad district, India.
Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park is a protected area in Hyderabad district covering roughly 15 square kilometers of grassland, dry deciduous forest, and scrubland. The vegetation ranges from sandalwood and rosewood trees to teak stands, providing habitat for numerous animal species.
The park was named after Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, to mark his 2500th nirvan anniversary in 1975. Its land had been a private hunting ground for the Nizams, the rulers of Hyderabad. A deer park was then set up to preserve this heritage and rehabilitate the site.
The park's name honours Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, chosen when it was created in 1975 to mark the 2500th anniversary of his nirvan. The site was earlier a private hunting ground of the Nizams of Hyderabad, and the deer park was set up to preserve that heritage and rehabilitate the land.
The park lies on the Hyderabad–Vijayawada road on the city's outskirts and is maintained by the Telangana State Forest Department. Guided tours run inside the park, and visitors who want to view the animals by safari vehicle pay an entry fee listed on the park's web portal. The terrain ranges from hilly to gently rolling.
The area is home to around 400 blackbuck deer, the state animal of Andhra Pradesh, which visitors often see grazing in large herds across open plains. The deer have grown so comfortable with human presence that they sometimes remain just a few meters from the path during safari drives.
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