Ahobilam sits within the Nallamala hills, a rugged stretch of the Eastern Ghats whose ravines, streams, and dense tree cover have sheltered the nine shrines of Lord Narasimha for centuries. To visit Ahobilam is, in many ways, to walk through this forest.
The name "Nallamala" comes from the Telugu words for "black hills," a reference to the dark, dense forest canopy that covers the range.
Stretching across parts of southern Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the Nallamala range forms a long, forested backbone of the Eastern Ghats. Ahobilam lies tucked within its folds, reached by winding hill roads that pass through thick tree cover for much of the way.
The Nallamalas run roughly parallel to the Krishna river, which cuts a dramatic gorge through the hills before reaching the Srisailam dam. This rugged terrain of sandstone and limestone ridges, interspersed with seasonal streams and hidden valleys, has historically made the forest a place of retreat — for sages, ascetics, and, according to tradition, the Lord himself in his Narasimha forms.
The forest is at its greenest just after the monsoon, when the streams that feed the nine shrines are full and the hill paths are lined with fresh growth. In the drier months, the hills take on the muted, earthy tones that likely gave the range its name.
Much of the Nallamala forest falls within a protected tiger reserve, which means the paths around Ahobilam pass through a landscape that is still largely wild — a rare combination of active pilgrimage and untouched forest.
The forest around Ahobilam is more than scenery for the pilgrimage — it is a living ecosystem that pilgrims pass through on their way to each of the nine shrines.
The surrounding hills lie within a designated tiger reserve, home to leopards, sloth bears, wild boar, and a wide variety of birds. Sightings are rare along the pilgrim paths, but the forest's wild character is part of what makes the yatra distinctive.
Dry and moist deciduous trees cover much of the range, giving way to denser, shaded pockets near the streams and gorges — including the forest stretch leading to the remote Pavana Narasimha shrine.
Several small streams rise in these hills, feeding the sacred waters near the shrines, including the stream associated with Jwala Narasimha and the river bank at Pavana Narasimha.
Tradition holds that the Lord chose these forested hills as the setting for his nine forms, each tied to a specific tree, stream, or rock formation. The forest is woven directly into the stories told at each shrine, from the Karanja tree to the Chatravata peepal.
Because the shrines are spread through the forest rather than gathered in one complex, the Nava Narasimha yatra doubles as a walk through the Nallamalas themselves — part of what pilgrims often describe as the distinct character of an Ahobilam visit.
Forest trails around the shrines are well defined — stick to them, especially near dusk.
The reserve forest has no waste collection along the trails — carry out what you carry in.
This is a protected wildlife area as much as a pilgrimage site — quieter groups see and hear more.
Forest stretches, especially toward Pavana Narasimha, are best covered well before evening.
The Nallamala forest is both a sacred landscape and a protected wildlife habitat. Pilgrims are asked to travel lightly, respect forest department guidelines, and help keep the trails to each shrine as unspoiled as the tradition intends them to be.
See how the nine shrines are spread across the forest, and plan your route before you set out.