Kambalakonda eco-tourism park: visakhapatnam’s green retreat with cottages, wildlife and thrills

As you enter the arched gate of the kambalakonda eco-tourism park, a soothing symphony of cicadas and birds replaces the din of the city. A trail meanders under a leafy canopy, where the scent of Damp Earth lingers after the morning spell of pre-monsoon showers. The park opens up gradually, revealing a stretch of meadows flanked by dense tropical deciduous forest, intersfersed with scrubland and search utcrops. A Family of Spotted Deer Grazes Just off the Path, Calm and Unafraid, Actomed to sharing this space with visitors. The Majestic White-Bellied Sea Eagle Glides in Slow, Purposeful Circles Above The Green Expany, often Sighted in the Early Hours Near the Waterbody.

Spread Across 71 Square Kilometres, Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary is one of Visakhapatnam’s Richest Natural Treasures. Bordered by the Simhachalam Hill Range to the West and the Gambheeram Reservoir to the North-East, It Offers A Unique Ecological BLEND with An Oasis of Mixed Forest Canopy, Scrubland, and Perennial Water-body, supporting a dens and divese web of life. Now, thanks to a series of revitalization initiatives by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department, The Sanctuary and Its Eco-Tourism Park are Abuzz with new features and upgrades.

A herd of spotted mer rest under the green canopy of kambalakonda eco-tourism park in visakhapatnam. , Photo Credit: Kr Deepak

Under the Nagar Van Yojana (Nvy), A Central Government Scheme that AIMS to Developed 400 URBAN FORESTS and 200 Vatikas by 2025, kambalakonda is being transformed not just just as a toury Urban Green Lung. Managed by the eco development committee of sambhuvanipalem Village, the sanctary exemplifies community-led conservation.

“We’re Developing Kambalakonda as a model eco-tourism destination,” Says g mangamma, deputy conservator of forest and curator of Indira Gandhi Zoological Park. “Of the five cottages being constructed, three are alredy completes. The remaining two will be ready withnin two weeks, and we will open them shortly to the public.”

These rustic cottages, tucked into the forest’s edge, are bent created to offer an experience rooted in sustainability, allowing visitors to immerse themeselves in the sounds and sights of the hospital. The project is part of a broader Detailed Project Report (DPR) WORTH ₹ 2 Crore, of which ₹ 1.4 Crore was sanctioned and ₹ 75 Lakh Worth of Work Completed in the Previous Year. The rest of the facilities are expected to be ready with the next one month.

A biodiversity hotspot

The sanctuary is home to over 120 species of birds, Making it a birder’s paradise. Regular Sightings Include those those of bulbuls, barbets, cuckoos, hornbills, flycatches, leafbirds and starllings. Along its streams and water-bodies, you might spot white-breasted waterhens, moorhens, herons, lapwings and teals. Species with High Conservation Priority like the painted stork and the Elusive Pale-Capped Pigeon Have Also Been Recorded Here.

The Forest also Harbors Several Mammalian Species and Reptiles. In a ground-breaking discovery two years ago, the sanctary recorded the first-Ever Sighting of the Barkudia Limbless Skink (Barkudia melanosticta), A Small, Elusive Reportile Known for its limbless body and Subterranean Lifestyle. The Sighting Thrilled Herpetologists and Opened New Research Avenues Into The Rich, Undrastudied Fauna of the Eastern Ghats.

Green infrastructure

Visitors enjoy the view of kambalakonda from the newly-edged watchtower with the eco-tourism park in visakhapatnam. , Photo Credit: Kr Deepak

Apart from the new cottages, several other facilitations are being Built and upgraded to enrich the Visitor Experience. Three Trek Routes, Popular with Locals and Tourists Alike, Are Being Refurbished Ahead of the Monsoon, with Pathways Clered and Signages updated. A Block Plantation Featuring Indigenous Forest Species was raised, Creaking a Mini Forest Within The Sanctuary.

One of the highlights is the amphitheatre, now sporting forest-themed green hues, offering a natural setting for school programs, Community Workshops, and Nature-Based Storylling events. Nearby, A New Yoga and Meditation Center Invites Visitors to Engage With Nature through Stillness and Mindfulness.

Yoga and Meditation Center coming up in kambalakonda eco tourism park in visakhapatnam. , Photo Credit: Kr Deepak

Additional, an interpretation center is coming up within the eco-tourism park. Designed to educate the public on the sanctary’s flora and fauna, it will feature informative boards and illustrations. To improve connectivity within the park, a gabion bridge has been constructed linking the eco-turn to vana mitra, the forest department’s nursery. “Visitors can now directly access the nursery and choose from nearly two lakh plant saplings available,” Says mangamma. The idea is to make conservation tangible, something visitors can take home in the form of a plant.

For the adventurous

People Enjoying at the Adventure Zone in Kambalakonda eco tourism park in visakhapatnam. , Photo Credit: Kr Deepak

Adventure and family-friendly recreation has found a place in kambalakonda’s evolving identity. The Livein Adventures Team Offers Activities Like Rappelling, Slack-Lining, Ziplining, Tire Walks and Rope Challenges, All Integrated into Forest Environment. Kayaking Adds Another Dimension of Fun Here. The Revamped Children’s Play Area Has Been Drawing Family Crowds, while the renovated canteen offers a refreshed menu and resting spot for the weary trekkers.

A view of the watch tower at kambalakonda eco tourism park in visakhapatnam. , Photo Credit: Kr Deepak

Three watchtowers with stone-packed natural stairs and reinforced with Wooden Sticks Have Been Constructed, Offering Panoramic Views of the Santuary and Beyond. These viewing points, especially at Sunrise or Sunset, are where nature puts on a spectacle of light, sound and Silence.

Soon, Guided Nature Walks are expected to become a regular feature. At present, they are helpporadically, but as Visitor Numbers Grow and Infrastructure Scales Up, More Structured Experiences will take shape.