The soil matrix is heterogeneous, so it is often very difficult to estimate solute transport through preferential flow. A better understanding of preferential water flow would benefit the understanding of soil's ecological and hydrological functions. Brilliant Blue FCF was used to characterize preferential flow in the Hayathnagar watershed in Hyderabad, India, to generate detailed information on soil preferential flow. The area was divided into three units: upper reach, middle reach, and lower reach. The upper reach area is 54 ha, the middle reach is 60 ha, and the lower reach is about 40 ha. A total of 21 profiles were dug to study preferential flow across different land uses and elevations. Nine representative soil profiles under different land uses (planted forest, fallow land, and cropped land at three elevations) were randomly selected for image analysis and further processing. At each site, two 1×1 m flat plots were selected, and an iron frame with a volume of 0.20 m³ and 0.5 cm thickness was embedded into the soil. The vertical profile of each layer was recorded with a digital camera. ArcGIS 10.3 was utilized to map and analyse spatial variations in preferential flow patterns across the watershed. By integrating soil profile data, land-use types, and elevation-based flow characteristics, geostatistical analysis helped visualize preferential flow distribution. This study observed that dye coverage was nearly 100% in the upper soil layer (5-10 cm) and decreased with depth, with varied flow behaviours across elevations. The middle reach exhibited the highest degree of preferential flow (0.32), followed by the upper reach (0.27) and lower reach (0.005), indicating that subsurface flow is largely influenced by landscape position. This study's findings provide crucial insights into how preferential flow influences water distribution, nutrient transport, and soil stability, enabling more effective water management, optimized agricultural practices, and improved soil conservation strategies.