For decades, Pakhal , a hidden ecological gem , remained largely unrecognized despite its rich history, including one of the state’s oldest man-made lakes, dating back to 1213, and its surrounding wildlife sanctuary teeming with diverse flora and fauna. Despite its natural beauty, Pakhal attracted only a modest number of visitors, with approximately 300 people visiting the place daily. This is partly due to the ongoing challenges posed by illegal land occupation within the sanctuary.
Spanning an area of 900 sq km and located nearly 50 km from the district headquarters, Pakh al lake and wildlife sanctuary have long been threatened by these encroachments, which have endangered the sanctuary’s biodiversity. Forest officials, however, claim to have successfully reclaimed the encroached land. In 2018, a group of villagers allegedly attacked forest officials and staff when they attempted to evict the villagers from illegally occupied land within the reserve forest.
The forest department had taken action to stop the illegal cultivation of land that was part of the full tank level of the lake and within the reserve forest area. Despite these challenges, forest authorities are revitalizing this site, once a hunting ground for the Nizams, by introducing various activities and facilities to attract more visitors and families. Plans include creating trekking routes, night camping sites, pic turesque spots for pre-wedding photoshoots, and boating opportunities.
They also aim to build .