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 an event hall, a children’s play area, and an environmental education centre. The revival of the butterfly garden is also on the agenda, further enhancing the sanctu ary’s ecological appeal. “The wildlife sanctuary, which has been overlooked due to encroachments, insufficient maintenance, and a lack of promotion, is set to gain recognition across the state through these initiatives.
The site has unique features, such as trees thriving underwater, and is one of only two locations in Telangana where cane trees grow. These distinctive characteristics make the sanctuary a truly remarkable destination,” said Anuj Agarwal, DFO, Warangal. Pakhal is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including wild gaur, panther, jungle cat, sambar deer, sloth bear, four-horned antelope, python, and squirrel.
The sanctuary also hosts over 200 species of birds, with the dusky eagle owl and thick-billed green pigeon being recorded. Additionally, Pakhal serves as a wintering ground for migratory birds such as red-crested pochards and pelicans. A few years ago, crocodiles were introduced into Pakhal lake, which has since become a significant habitat for these reptiles.
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