Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, in Mulugu district, Telangana, is one of the state’s oldest protected forests, spread along the Godavari River in the Deccan’s dry deciduous belt. If you want teak woodland, a slow forest drive and the tribal shrine of Medaram within reach, the Eturnagaram Sanctuary rewards an unhurried weekend from Hyderabad or Warangal. This guide gathers what is verified from official and primary sources, and flags what you must reconfirm before you go.
Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary is a dry-deciduous teak forest in Mulugu district, Telangana, declared a sanctuary on 30 January 1952 by the former Hyderabad government. It stretches along the Godavari, shelters tigers, gaur and giant squirrels, and sits beside Medaram, home to the biennial Sammakka Saralamma Jatara.
Key takeaways
- Declared a sanctuary on 30 January 1952 by the erstwhile Hyderabad government, Eturnagaram is among Telangana’s oldest protected forests.
- Best visited October to March, when the dry deciduous forest cools and animals move to waterholes; summers are harsh.
- About 250 km (a 5–6 hour drive) by road from Hyderabad; the nearest railhead is Warangal, around 100 km away.
- As of September 2026 there was no fixed public safari; Mulugu forest officials were preparing to launch formal safari services, and visitors otherwise hire a jeep with permission from the Eturnagaram Forest Officer.
- The Godavari and the perennial Dayyam Vagu stream run through the forest, which shelters tiger, leopard, gaur, blackbuck, sloth bear and the Indian giant squirrel.
- The biennial Sammakka Saralamma (Medaram) Jatara, one of Asia’s largest tribal gatherings, is held nearby at Medaram; the 2026 event runs 28–31 January.
About Eturnagaram Sanctuary
Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary is a southern tropical dry deciduous forest of roughly 806–812 sq km in Eturnagaram mandal, Mulugu district, Telangana, set along the Godavari River. Sources differ on the exact area: the Wikipedia infobox and park-information fields give 812 sq km, while the Government of India’s Incredible India listing cites about 806 sq km. Treat it as “about 806–812 sq km” until the Telangana Forest Department confirms a single figure.
The forest was declared a sanctuary on 30 January 1952 by the erstwhile Hyderabad government, which makes it one of the earliest sanctuaries in the region; it was later notified afresh on 7 July 1999 under wildlife-protection rules. (Incredible India dates it to 1953, so the founding year is reported inconsistently.) Do not confuse the sanctuary with Eturnagaram the village and mandal, which shares its name.
The terrain is undulating, roughly three-quarters gentle plain and the rest low hills with springs and streams. A perennial water source called Dayyam Vagu divides the forest into roughly two halves. The teak here is often described as some of the better-quality teak in the area. If you are planning a wider trip, see our Telangana travel guide for how Mulugu fits with the rest of the state.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Eturnagaram Sanctuary is October to March, the cool, dry window when the deciduous canopy thins and animals gather near water. Local travel coverage and the Incredible India listing both point to the winter months for wildlife spotting; summers can climb into the low 40s °C and the monsoon makes forest tracks difficult.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | October–March | Best overall. Cool mornings, thinner canopy, easier wildlife and bird sightings. Pair with the Medaram Jatara in a Jatara year. |
| Summer | April–June | Hot and dry, often into the low 40s °C. Harsh for daytime drives; carry water and avoid midday. |
| Monsoon | July–September | Green and dramatic, but interior tracks turn muddy and some areas may be closed in bad weather. Reconfirm access. |
How to reach
Eturnagaram is reached mainly by road, about 250 km and a 5–6 hour drive from Hyderabad, and roughly 100 km from Warangal. The nearest railhead is Warangal and the nearest major airport is Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad; sources give the Hyderabad road distance variously as 200–250 km, so plan for the longer figure.
| Mode | From | Distance / time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air | Rajiv Gandhi Intl, Hyderabad | ~250 km | Nearest full-service airport; hire a cab or drive onward via Warangal. |
| Rail | Warangal railway station | ~100 km | Nearest convenient railhead; continue by road to Eturnagaram. |
| Road | Hyderabad | ~250 km, 5–6 hrs | Via Warangal and Mulugu; self-drive or taxi. |
| Road | Warangal | ~100 km | Buses and taxis run via Mulugu town toward Tadvai and Eturnagaram. |
There is no airport or railway station inside Mulugu district close to the forest, so budget time for the final road leg. During the Medaram Jatara, special buses and heavy crowds change travel times completely; see the Jatara section below.
Top things to see and do
The main draw is a quiet forest drive through teak and bamboo, with a chance of large mammals and good birdlife rather than guaranteed big-cat sightings. The sanctuary’s recorded fauna includes tiger, leopard, wolf, dhole (wild dog), golden jackal, sloth bear, chousingha (four-horned antelope), wild boar, gaur (Indian bison), blackbuck, nilgai, sambar, spotted deer (chital), chinkara and the Indian giant squirrel. Reptiles recorded include the mugger crocodile, Indian python, cobra and krait, and grey junglefowl are among the birds.
| Spot / experience | Why go | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Forest drive | Teak and bamboo forest, deer, gaur, birdlife; the core wildlife experience | Arrange a jeep and guide through the forest office; formal safari was being set up as of September 2026. |
| Dayyam Vagu | Perennial stream that splits the forest; a calm rest stop on a drive | Water levels and access vary by season. |
| Birdwatching | Dry-deciduous and riverine species along the Godavari belt | Early morning is best; carry binoculars. |
| Laknavaram Lake | Reservoir with suspension footbridges and island cottages, a popular add-on | Separate ticketing and boating; confirm timings locally. |
Keep expectations realistic. Eturnagaram is a dry-deciduous sanctuary without the dense safari infrastructure of a tiger reserve, so treat sightings as a bonus and the forest itself as the reason to come.
A suggested weekend itinerary
A two-day weekend from Hyderabad or Warangal is enough to see the forest and one or two neighbours without rushing.
- Day 1: Drive from Hyderabad or Warangal, reaching Eturnagaram or nearby Tadvai by early afternoon. Settle in, then take a late-afternoon forest drive when animals are more active. Overnight near Tadvai or Laknavaram.
- Day 2: Early morning birding or a second forest drive. Mid-morning, visit Laknavaram Lake for the suspension bridges, or drive to Bogatha Waterfall (strongest in and just after the monsoon). Start back by afternoon.
- Add a day if you want Ramappa (Kakatiya Rudreshwara) Temple, the UNESCO-listed Kakatiya shrine near Palampet, on the way to or from Warangal.
Where to stay
Accommodation near Eturnagaram is limited and basic, so book ahead and keep plans flexible. The main options are government and eco-tourism cottages around Tadvai and Laknavaram, plus simple lodges in Mulugu town; for anything comfortable, many travellers base themselves in Warangal and make a day trip. The price bands below are planning estimates — reconfirm; rates were not verified live with each property for this guide (as of September 2026).
- Budget (indicative ₹600–₹1,200 a night — reconfirm): simple lodges and rooms in Mulugu town and small hotels on the Warangal–Tadvai road.
- Mid-range (indicative ₹1,500–₹3,500 — reconfirm): Telangana Tourism / forest eco-cottages around Tadvai and Laknavaram when available; book early, especially on weekends.
- Comfort (indicative ₹3,500+ — reconfirm): better hotels in Warangal, used as a base for a day trip to the forest.
During the biennial Medaram Jatara, rooms across Mulugu fill months ahead and rates rise sharply; plan very early or stay in Warangal.
Food to try
Food near the sanctuary is simple Telangana fare, so eat where you stay and carry snacks and water for forest hours. Expect everyday local dishes rather than a restaurant scene:
- Sarva pindi (a thick rice-flour savoury pancake studded with chana dal, chilli and groundnut) — a Telangana breakfast staple.
- Jonna roti (sorghum/millet flatbread) with a spicy vegetable or dal curry.
- Pachi pulusu (a tangy, uncooked tamarind-and-onion rasam) in the hot months.
- Gongura pachadi (a tart chutney of sorrel leaves), a regional favourite with rice.
Vegetarian meals are easy to find; for anything specific, ask your lodge in advance, as options near the forest are few.
Budget breakdown
A simple two-day trip for two, driving from Warangal or Hyderabad, is modest by Indian wildlife-trip standards because entry fees are low and the forest is close. The figures below are planning estimates (per person, two-day trip, as of September 2026); treat fuel, jeep hire and rooms as indicative and reconfirm locally.
| Item | Indicative cost | Assumptions |
|---|---|---|
| Sanctuary entry | ₹10 (adult) | Reported at ₹10 per adult, ₹5 per child; guide and vehicle charges extra. Reconfirm at the gate. |
| Jeep + guide (shared) | ₹400–₹900 | Planning estimate for a shared forest drive; depends on the group and the new safari system. |
| Stay (1 night, shared twin) | ₹800–₹1,800 | Budget to mid-range room split two ways. |
| Food (2 days) | ₹500–₹900 | Simple local meals and snacks. |
| Transport share | ₹1,200–₹2,500 | Fuel or taxi from Warangal/Hyderabad, split per head. |
| Approx. total | ₹2,900–₹6,100 | Per person; varies with group size and season. |
Permits, timings and rules
No special inner-line or restricted-area permit applies to Eturnagaram — it is an open Telangana sanctuary, not a border-permit zone — but entry, timings and any safari are controlled by the forest department and change often. There is no ILP (Inner Line Permit) or PAP/RAP requirement for this district.
Timings and fees are reported inconsistently and should be reconfirmed before you travel. The Incredible India listing gives opening hours of about 7 am to 6 pm; a Siasat travel feature gives 8 am to 5 pm with entry at ₹10 per adult and ₹5 per child plus guide and vehicle charges; another listing gives 6 am to 6 pm and notes closures on national holidays and in bad weather. As of September 2026 there was no fixed scheduled public safari: Mulugu forest officials were, per a December 2025 report, preparing to launch formal safari services for the first time, and until that is running visitors typically hire a jeep and explore with permission from the Eturnagaram Forest Officer. Standard forest rules apply: no plastic litter, no loud music, stay in your vehicle in animal areas, do not feed wildlife, and take drone or special photography only with written permission.
Medaram and the Sammakka Saralamma Jatara
Medaram, within the Eturnagaram forest belt in Tadvai mandal, hosts the biennial Sammakka Saralamma Jatara, widely described as one of Asia’s largest tribal gatherings. It is a once-in-two-years congregation of the Koya and other communities, centred on the goddesses Sammakka and Saralamma; devotees traditionally offer bangaram (jaggery, offered in weight) and take a holy dip in the Jampanna Vagu stream.
The next edition is scheduled for 28–31 January 2026, according to the temple priests’ announcement reported in the press (sources describe it as a three- to four-day event over that window). On the main days, Saralamma is brought to the platform at Medaram, Sammakka is brought from the Chilakalagutta hillock, devotees perform darshan, and the goddesses are carried back to the forest in procession. If you visit during the Jatara, expect enormous crowds, special bus services and fully booked accommodation across Mulugu; plan far ahead or stay well outside. Note that older records place Medaram in the former Warangal district; it is now in Mulugu.
Practical tips
Come prepared for a remote forest district with thin services. A few things worth knowing before you set out:
- Cash and connectivity: Mobile network and data are patchy inside the forest. Carry cash; do not rely on UPI or ATMs near the sanctuary.
- Medical: The nearest reliable hospitals are in Warangal, roughly 100 km away. Carry a basic first-aid kit and any personal medication.
- Timing: Reconfirm gate timings, fees and whether the forest drive is running the day before you go, by phoning the Mulugu / Eturnagaram forest office.
- Packing: In winter carry a light layer for cool mornings; in summer carry water, a hat and sun cover. Wear neutral, covered clothing for forest drives and sturdy shoes.
- Solo women travellers: The area is quiet and rural; travel in daylight, keep someone informed of your plan, and prefer organised transport over hitching rides.
- Weather note: A severe wind-and-cloudburst event in the Mulugu forests on the night of 31 August 2024 uprooted an estimated 50,000 trees (press reports; no wildlife deaths reported). Storm-damaged or recovering patches may affect access, so check locally.
Nearby places
Eturnagaram pairs well with Mulugu’s lakes, waterfalls and Kakatiya heritage, most within a short drive. Distances below are approximate and from the sanctuary area.
| Place | Distance (approx.) | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Bogatha Waterfall | ~30 km | Mulugu’s best-known waterfall, strongest in and just after the monsoon. |
| Laknavaram Lake | Short drive | Reservoir with suspension footbridges, island cottages and boating. |
| Medaram | Within the forest belt (Tadvai) | Site of the biennial Sammakka Saralamma Jatara; quiet in off years. |
| Ramappa (Kakatiya Rudreshwara) Temple | En route to Warangal | 13th-century Kakatiya temple at Palampet, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 25 July 2021. |
For planning the wider region, our Telangana travel guide sets out how Warangal, Mulugu and the state’s heritage sites link together.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary?
Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary is in Eturnagaram mandal, Mulugu district, Telangana, set along the Godavari River in the Deccan’s dry deciduous forest belt. It lies about 100 km from Warangal and around 250 km from Hyderabad, near the Telangana–Maharashtra–Chhattisgarh tri-border region, and borders the tribal shrine town of Medaram.
What is the best time to visit Eturnagaram Sanctuary?
October to March is the best time to visit Eturnagaram Sanctuary. These cool, dry months thin the deciduous canopy and draw animals to waterholes, which improves wildlife and bird sightings. Summers (April–June) can reach the low 40s °C, and the monsoon (July–September) leaves forest tracks muddy and prone to weather closures.
How do I reach Eturnagaram from Hyderabad?
Drive or take a bus: Eturnagaram is about 250 km from Hyderabad, a 5–6 hour road trip via Warangal and Mulugu. The nearest airport is Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International, and the nearest convenient railhead is Warangal, about 100 km from the forest, from where you continue by road.
Is there a safari at Eturnagaram Sanctuary?
Not a fixed public safari as of September 2026. Mulugu forest officials were reported in December 2025 to be preparing to launch formal safari services for the first time. Until then, visitors generally hire a jeep and explore with permission from the Eturnagaram Forest Officer, so confirm the current arrangement with the forest office.
Do I need a permit to visit Eturnagaram?
No special permit such as an Inner Line Permit is required for Eturnagaram, which is an open Telangana sanctuary rather than a border zone. You pay a modest gate entry (reported at ₹10 per adult, ₹5 per child, plus guide and vehicle charges) and follow forest rules. Reconfirm fees, timings and any safari booking with the forest department before travelling.
What is the Medaram Jatara near Eturnagaram?
The Medaram or Sammakka Saralamma Jatara is a biennial tribal festival held at Medaram within the Eturnagaram forest belt, described as one of Asia’s largest tribal gatherings. Devotees offer jaggery and bathe in the Jampanna Vagu stream. The 2026 edition is scheduled for 28–31 January; expect huge crowds and booked-out accommodation.
Last updated and sources
Eturnagaram suits travellers who want a quiet forest drive and nearby Kakatiya heritage rather than a polished tiger-reserve safari; go in the cool months of October to March, and in a Jatara year time it with Medaram’s festival.
Last updated: 24 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.
Sources: Incredible India, Government of India (incredibleindia.gov.in) — Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary listing; Wikipedia, Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary (used to locate primary details on area, fauna, terrain and the Dayyam Vagu); Insights on India (insightsonindia.com), December 2025 — safari launch and location; Siasat (siasat.com) — reported timings, entry fee and distance; press reporting (PTI via The Week; Deccan Chronicle) on the 31 August 2024 storm; press reporting (Siasat; Hindupad) on the 2026 Sammakka Saralamma Jatara dates; UNESCO/press reporting on the 25 July 2021 inscription of the Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple. Accessed September 2026.
