Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park

Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park
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Highlights

Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park is a deer park located in Vanasthalipuram. It is maintained by the forest department and was inaugurated in 1975 by late Dr Annasaheb P Shinde, the then Union Minister of State for Agriculture. The park is spread over 3,605 acres and is the largest green lung space in the city.

Parks of the Hyderabad 07


Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park is a deer park located in Vanasthalipuram. It is maintained by the forest department and was inaugurated in 1975 by late Dr Annasaheb P Shinde, the then Union Minister of State for Agriculture. The park is spread over 3,605 acres and is the largest green lung space in the city.


Animals living in this national park include blackbucks (AP state animal), spotted deer (Telangana state animal), chow singas, Indian pond herons, civet cats, wild boar and porcupine. There are also over 120 bird species like hot toed eagles, kingfishers, cormorants, Indian Peafowl, Indian Roller, Egyptian vulture, Indian Ibis etc.


30 species of reptiles and amphibians such as bull frog, common toads and reptiles like monitor lizard, rock python, common cobra, Russels Viper, Krait and other snakes are also found. The park is also abode for rich floral diversity with over 600 species of plant life like Bursea delpchiana, Carissa caranada, Cassia auriculata etc.


The butterfly park is popular which attracts many school children.


History

The park was named after Mahavir, a Jain saint, in commemoration of his 2,500th nirvana anniversary in 1975. The place where the park is located was once a private hunting ground for the Nizams. The deer park was set up in order to preserve rehabilitation the endangered black bucks and spotted deer.


M Ashok Kumar, curator of MHVNP, said, “This national park has scientifically managed to provide adequate shelter, food and water to maintain a healthy and viable faunal population. As per the census, there are 1,164 spotted deers, 872 blackbucks and 7 chow singas, totaling to 2,043 deer families. In addition, there are 479 peafowls. The total number of visitors in 2014-15 was 1.26 lakh and this year till August there has been a footfall of 81,102.


Every month on an average 10,000 visitors will come to the park. The entry fee into the park is Rs 10 for adults, Rs 5 for children and Rs 20 for safari ride. It opens daily from 9 am to 5pm, except Mondays. The park conducts over 80 educational and environmental programmes yearly to raise awareness on global warming, bio-diversity and protecting and preserving the wildlife.


Problems

Few visitors at the park say that there is no drinking water in the park and that the toilets have been maintained badly from the inside.


By:Ch Saibaba

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