The short answer
Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary: what visitors should know first
Go only if you want quiet dry deciduous forest and accept that tigers are very unlikely to be seen. There is no published visitor programme, so ask the forest department about access, permission and a guide before you set out from Srisailam.
History and context
The story behind Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary
The sanctuary was declared in 1990 and is managed by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department. It takes its name from the Gundla Brahmeswaram plateau and the Gundlakamma river that drains the area.
Its northern section is part of the Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, so conservation of the wider Nallamala forest is considered as one landscape.
Useful facts
Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary facts at a glance
- Location
- Nallamala hills, Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh
- Experience type
- Forest outing; access by arrangement
- Known for
- Dry deciduous forest, tiger habitat, birds and deer
- Declared
- 18 September 1990
- Area
- About 1,194 sq km
- Visitor note
- No published fees, timings or safari circuit; confirm with forest office
Why it matters
Why Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary is worth your time
The sanctuary protects a large stretch of Nallamala forest in the Eastern Ghats. It was declared on 18 September 1990, covers about 1,194 square kilometres, and its northern part forms an extended area of the Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve. Wikipedia records 353 plant species here, and fauna that includes tiger, panther, sambar, nilgai, mouse deer, pangolin and rusty-spotted cat.
For a visitor to Srisailam it explains what the tiger reserve is for: a connected block of forest that lets large animals move between protected areas. A 2019 survey counted 23 tigers in the sanctuary, which says something about the forest's value, though it says nothing about your chance of seeing one. Come for the habitat and the quiet, not for a checklist.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
A quieter part of the Nallamalas
Far fewer visitors than Srisailam town, with long stretches of dry deciduous forest and hill-pass terrain.
- 02
Wildlife signs and birds
Langurs, bonnet macaques, sambar and many birds are more realistic sightings than big cats.
- 03
Tiger habitat context
The sanctuary forms the northern extension of the tiger reserve, so a day here shows the wider forest around Srisailam.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Start by deciding whether you need this at all. Srisailam already sits inside the Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, and the drive in gives most visitors their forest. Gundla Brahmeswaram is the quieter, lesser-visited part of the same Nallamala landscape, lying along the Gundlakamma river and between the hill passes known locally as Mantralamma Kanuma and Nandi Kanuma.
If you want to go, ask the forest office or your lodge a few weeks ahead which parts are open, whether a forest guard or local guide must accompany you, and whether a vehicle can be arranged. Do not assume that a safari circuit exists; none is published. Leave early, carry water, food and a charged phone with offline maps, because signal is patchy, and plan to be back on a main road before dark.
Go for what the forest offers on foot or from a slow vehicle: birdsong, langurs and macaques, deer such as sambar, and signs of larger animals. Keep to the track, keep voices low and follow whatever the forest staff tell you.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Contact the forest office well ahead to confirm access
- Start early and be on a main road before dark
- Carry water, food and offline maps
- Do not litter, feed animals or leave the track
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Nallamala hills, Nandyal district; a separate outing of roughly 75 km by road from Srisailam
- Time needed
- A full day including travel, if access is arranged
- Best time
- October to February, in daylight; the forest is dry and hot from March
- Walking level
- Moderate
- Senior comfort
- There are no visitor facilities worth relying on: expect rough forest tracks, long drives, little shade at midday and few places for rest or toilets. Older travellers should treat this as an optional extra, not part of the pilgrimage.
- Tickets and access
- Entry rules, fees, safari or vehicle arrangements and permits are not published, so confirm with the forest office before you go. Confirm with the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department (Nandyal or Srisailam forest offices) before travelling, and carry photo ID.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
There are no visitor facilities worth relying on: expect rough forest tracks, long drives, little shade at midday and few places for rest or toilets. Older travellers should treat this as an optional extra, not part of the pilgrimage.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Can I visit Gundla Brahmeswaram on a normal tourist ticket?
No public ticketing or safari programme is published for it. Ask the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department about permission and a guide.
Will I see a tiger?
Very unlikely. Tigers live in the sanctuary, but sightings are rare; plan for birds, monkeys and deer.
Is it suitable for older parents?
Probably not. Tracks are rough, facilities are minimal and the outing is long. It is better left to fitter travellers.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
