1 Day ride!: from Chennai to Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary, Chittoor, AP
Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary and an elephant reserve situated in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the only sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh with a population of Asian elephants, which migrated after 200 years from neighbouring regions.
The habitat of Kaundinya sanctuary is rugged with high hills and deep valleys. The sanctuary has dry deciduous forests with thorny scrubs interspersed with trees. These forests have small ponds, tanks and the Kaindinya and Kaigal tributaries of Palar River. The sanctuary is situated in region where the Kolar Plateau ends and slopes down into the plains of Tamil Nadu creating many valleys and ghats.
----Tourist Attractions nearby Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary:---
!! Kaigal Falls: -
The fall is nestled amidst the Koundinya Wildlife sanctuary. The Kaigal waterfall derives its name from the village Kaigal, that surrounds it.
Locally known as Dumukurallu waterfalls (it is a Telugu word which meant “a sound resembling the sound of falling stones from above”), Kaigal falls are perennial. The waterfall is subdivided into three cascading falls and water falls from a height of approximately 40 ft. The water forms several small pools at the bottom.
!! Mordhana Dam:-
This dam is 33 meters high and 220 meters long. The dam was completed at a quicker pace, about 10 months ahead of its scheduled completion year of 2000. The enormous Mordhana Dam stands proud and powerful over the river 'Koundanyanadhi'. The dam is built between two hills that are covered with lush greenery. It is considered as an engineering marvel, for civil engineering students and others who have interest in structures and constructions.
In the monsoons, the view of the dam and the river in between the two mountains looks exquisite from the jungle and excites the visitors. Though the dam is open to all without entry fees 24 hrs, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM is the most popular time to visit it.
!! Kalyani Revu Water Falls:-
Kalyani revu (gangamma sirasu) waterfalls is located in backside of Mordhana dam (inside koundinya wildlife sanctuary). The vehicle can only go up to the Mordana Dam, and need to do kind of trekking for 7km. There are multiple waterfalls on the way to this fall. There is a deep canyon where the water plunges out from it and falls into a steep slope. Best time to visit is during August to October.
!! Naniyala Elephant Camp:-
A nice place to enjoy with kids and family. The elephant camp is situated inside Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary. There is a well maintained park for kids. Two elephants are there (Kumki elephants). Better time to visit is after 3pm.
--- Flora and Fauna-----
The sanctuary is covered by southern tropical dry deciduous and thorn forests. Some of the important flora consists of Albizia amara, Acacia, Lagerstroemia, Ficus, bamboo, and a species which is a regeneration of Santalum album.
The sanctuary is primarily an elephant reserve and is home to about 78 Indian elephants. The vulnerable yellow-throated bulbul is present in the sanctuary. Some of the other animals found in the sanctuary are sloth bear, panther, cheetal, chowsingha, sambar, porcupine, wild boar, jungle cat, jackal, jungle fowl, starred tortoise and slender loris.
Road distance:----
Chennai (Adayar) to Kaigal Falls: - 225 Km (via Arcot-Chittoor NH48)
Chennai (Adayar) to Mordhana Dam :- 191 Km (via Arcot-Vellore-Pallikonda)
Kaigal Falls to Kalyani Revu Waterfalls: - 29 Km
