Mrugavani National Park is a national park located in the slightly silent and remote region Chilkur in Moinabad Mandal which is at a distance of approximately 25 km from Hyderabad. This national park is the favourite destination for the tourists and popular weekend getaway for the locals. The park is sprawled over a vast area of 1211 acres that houses a whopping 600 species of animals and plants. The lush surroundings of the park are bestowed with the best of both flora and fauna. With the motive of preserving nature and wildlife in an undisturbed way, in the year 1994, Mrugavani National Park was announced as a wildlife sanctuary by the Indian Government. The topography of Park supports grasslands, woodlands and rocky areas. The jungle resort in Mrugavani National Park allows you to unwind and relax amidst nature.
Flora
Mrugavani National Park’s prime vegetation cover is represented by many species of plants that include bryophytes, pteridophytes, herbs, shrubs, climbers and trees. Some of the important trees that can be found in the park are Sandalwood, Neem, Teak, Bamboo, Picus and Rela. Its flora is predominantly tropical with grasslands and dry forests.
Fauna
This national park is also home to many species of animals that include Mongoose Monitor Lizards, Black-naped Hares, Jungle Cats, Wild Boars, South-Indian Rock Agama, Oriental Garden Lizards, Russell Vipers, Pythons and many more. An ideal place for bird-watchers with more than 100 varied species of birds. The Park is also home to around 350 spotted deers.
Biodiversity
- The abundance of trees envelopes the Mrugavani Wildlife Park. Around the park, you will also get to see several smaller shrubs and herbal plants.
- More than 600 species of plants including bamboo, sandalwood, rosewood, teak and neem can be spotted. Plants of this park are of the tropical dry deciduous type.
- More than 20 species of animals like the cheetah, monitor lizards, wild boar, foxes, jackals, civet cats, black-naped hares, mongooses, porcupines, etc are found.
- The park is one of the exotic locations of the country that is rich in avian fauna. As you can find more than 100 species of birds.
- Along with the commonly spotted birds here like the peacocks, ducks, quails etc., there are also many other beautiful rare birds such as the warblers, babblers, partridges and flowerpeckers.
- You can even get to see more than 100 species of insects at the Mrugavani National
Safari
Besides nature walks with guides, visitors may also go for safari rides for those willing to get closer to the park’s denizens. There is a safari bus that can accommodate A maximum number of 50 passengers at a time. The driver gives certain guidelines to the tourists related to how to behave in the park. The charges for a safari ride are Rs.50 per person.
Facilities at the National Park
Visitors can avail of many facilities inside the Mrugavani National Park. There is a well-stocked library, a museum, an education centre and an auditorium inside the premises. From the tall watchtower inside the park, the visitors can enjoy a bird’s eye view of the entire forest. With prior bookings, one can avail accommodation facilities such as cottages, tents and dormitories inside the park. Nature camps for NGOs, schoolchildren and other groups are also organized by the Wildlife Management Department of Hyderabad.
Mrugavani National Park is well connected via road to Hyderabad. The national park is on your way to Chilkur and lies close to the famous Chilkur Balaji temple. The entry fee is Rs. 10 per person. The timings of the Mrugavani National Park are from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and is open on all days of the week except Monday.