Hyderabad is a city that has seen a surge of progress and growth in the past ten or so years. Thanks in part to the decision of the Andhra Pradesh government to make Hyderabad the next cybercity of the new millennium, Hyderabad has become a progressive jungle of concrete and steel, steadily climbing the ladder of global recognition. What’s even more surprising is the fact within this jungle of noise and buildings and modernization, there lies another jungle that is the complete antithesis of the megacity: one that is teeming with life that is more primal and uncivilized and yet, exotically beautiful. This place is called the Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park or simply KBR National Park.
Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park known earlier as Chiran Palace, located at Jubilee Hill, Hyderabad covers an area of 156.30 hectares. The park established in 1994 to safeguard the biodiversity and richness of the area, is named after late Kasu Brahmananda Reddy, the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
OVERVIEW:
The park has an approximate area of 1.4 km2. It is located centrally in Jubilee Hills and is described as a jungle amidst the concrete jungle. Spread over some 352 acres, KBR Park is perhaps Hyderabad's most popular park, especially for morning and evening walks. This picturesque park is unique in its own way. It houses the stately Chiran palace of the former Nizam of Hyderabad and also the other historic structures.
HISTORY:
Chiran Palace was built in 1960. The entire palace complex is spread over an area of 400 acre and was gifted to Prince Mukarram Jah on his coronation by his father Prince Azam Jah in 1967. The complex has the palace and besides it the other property include Mor (peacock) bungalow on a hillock, Gol Bungalow; stables for elephant, horses and cattle, motor khana that housed a fleet of exquisite vintage cars, a workshop for heavy machinery, petrol pump, several outhouses, two wells and an equal number of water tanks.
NATIONAL PARK STATUS:
The entire palace complex area was declared as a National park by the Andhra Pradesh state government after getting permission from the central government in the year 1998. This gave control of major part of the land to the forest department and the Nizam was left with the control of only about 11 acres which as the time passed was further reduced to the present less than six acre. Further the park was renamed to Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park with only the palace building being referred to as Chiran palace.
In June 2010 the Prince and his representatives reached an agreement with the state government to exchange Chiran Palace and 16 other pieces of his property scattered over the national park with six acres of land on the north-west corner of the park. This land would not be considered the part of the National park and thus will not provide access to forest officials and visitors to the park. All the properties on the land, including the Chiran palace would be notified as part of the national park and the land to be handed out to the prince was struck out of the park. This agreement received the approval of The Indian Board of Wildlife, Supreme Court and the central government.
 |
| Lotus Pond at KBR Park |
THE CHIRAN PALACE:
A side from being picturesque and teeming with flora and fauna life like most national parks, it also has the magnificent Chitan Palace by the former Nizam of Hyderabad as well as other historic structures.The Chiran Palace, unlike the other palaces of the Nizam like Falaknuma or Chowmohalla, is a modern facility designed to serve the needs of the prince. It is not a palace in the traditional sense of the term. It is more like a big villa constructed on 6,000 sq metres of land. The duplex type palace has two cellars where the prince had his billiard room along with a large conference hall. The ground floor contains an armory hall, two guest rooms in addition to his office, place for visitors, pantry and kitchen etc. The first floor comprises seven bed rooms where the Nizam lived with his wife and children.
KBR NATIONAL PARK:
KBR is a real nice place with the most common wildlife being the peacocks and peahens strolling along the pathways. Somewhere within its great green belly are a castle and some ponds. There is also a library and an education center that imparts little dollops of information about the park and its inhabitants. The library closes at 5pm, so venture there only after five if you haven't felt dismayed in a while.
Taking greenery to the next level, KBR holds you host to one of the most astonishing displays of tree planting - one right next to the other in perfect harmony, with the roots of harmonic discipline somewhere in the ground. It is expected to prevent pollution, replenish fresh oxygen and recharge ground water. It is also envisaged to be the centre stage for spreading environmental awareness among the citizens.
 |
| Peacock's at KBR Park |
The park provides an excellent lung space and environment from the busy city life and rising pollution levels. The park is home to a wide variety of plant and animal life. There are over 600 species of plants and trees one can find within its vicinity, ranging from shrubs, herbs, to climbers and creepers, not to mention several pteridophytes and xerophytes. As for the fauna, the park is home to approximately 113 species of birds, 20 species of reptiles, 20 species of mammals, 15 species of butterflies, and a wide variety of invertebrates. While there are no large mammals present in KBR National Park, palm civets and small jungle cats can be found. there are few water bodies present in the park providing the needed moisture for the plants and quenching the thirst of birds and small animals.
PARK TIMMINGS:
- The park is frequented in the evenings and weekends by young and old alike.
- Open from 6 A.M. to 8 A.M. and 4 P.M. to 6 P.M.
PARK ENTRY FEES:
- Rs. 5/- per a person
- Rs. 75/- per month (for walkers)
- Rs. 500/- per Annum (for walkers)
HOW TO REACH KBR PARK?
- The Kasu Brahmananda Reddy national park is in the midst of Jubilee and Banjara Hills.
- The nearest APSRTC bus terminal is at L V Prasad Eye Hospital, Road Number 3 Banjara Hills which is connected by APSRTC Buses
Comments
Post a Comment