An Indian Bureaucrat's Diary

the Best Hill Station of Gujarat

Saputara literally means Abode of the Snakes. But don’t panic. Saputara is not a place full of snakes.
There is a sacred snake image on the banks of the river Sarpagana worshipped by the Adivasis (tribal people) during festivals.Saputara is a beautiful, planned, hill station in Gujarat.
Not too well known, it is clean and not too crowded.
The cool climate; its motorable distance from Mumbai, Nasik, and Surat; and the beautiful roads make it a place worth visiting.

Location

Saputara is located at an altitude of 1000 metres atop the second highest plateau in the Dang forest area of the Sahyadri range in Gujarat.
The hill station is surrounded by dense forests with Adivasi villages.    

Places to See

There are plenty of places to see in and around Saputara.

Saputara Lake
 

Botanical Garden
The large 24-hectare botanical garden has more than 1,400 varieties of plants from all over India.

Gardens
There are several other gardens at Saputara – like the Lake Garden, the Step Garden and the Rose Garden.

Sunrise Point

Besides offering a good view of the sunrise, Sunrise Point offers the finest view of Saputara and adjoining Malegoan.You have to walk about 1.5 km.


Sunset Point

This point offers a breathtaking view of the Dang Forest.
You can also spot Adivasi (tribal) villages in the thick forests.
The Ropeway

You can travel to the Sunset Point by ropeway.
The ten-minute ride over the valleys is breathtaking.
A rope ride on a moonlit night is an unforgettable experience.
  


Purna Wildlife Sanctuary
You can visit the Purna Wildlife Sanctuary in the Mahal Bardipura forest, 60 kms from Saputara.
The sanctuary is full of  bamboo glades and sparkling rivers .

Vansda National Park
This former private forest of the Maharaja of Vansda is a small forest covering an area of 24 sq km.
But it has leopards, python, four-horned antelope, pangolin, rusty-spotted cats and giant squirrels. You have to obtain prior permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden of Gandhinagar, or DFO, Ahwa, to visit the park.

Gira Falls

Just 52 km away from Saputara , the Gira Falls is a must see attraction – especially during the monsoons.

 Ambapada
This is a typical Dangi Village near the Gira Falls.
Here you can see the Adivasi tribals in their own environment.

Unnai Mata temple and Hot Springs
This is a historical temple.
You can take a bath in the hot water spring here.

Museum
The Danga Cultural and Ecological Museum is a small museum containing a number of objects relating to the local tribes.

Accommodation

There are a few private hotels where you can stay.
However, the Gujarat Tourism’s hill resort offers good, clean and economical accommodation with cottages and log huts too.

Climate

The climate here is cool and refreshingly crisp, with the highest temperature, even in summer, being 28 degree C.
If you want to get away from the heat of the metros, summer is the best time to visit this hill station.
However, the rains do add more charm to the place.

Fact File

Road (distances from Saputara)
Bilimora                             112 kms.
Mumbai                             250 kms. (via  Nasik, Dindori, vani)
Nasik                                  76 kms.                                                                    
Pune                                 275 kms.                                                                    Shirdi                                166 kms.                                                                     
Surat                                 164 kms.
Valsad                              128 kms.
All kinds of public conveyance are available. Railway Stations
The nearest stations are:                                                                                                
Bilimora on Western Railway and                                                                      
Nasik Road on Central Railway.

Recommendation

Saputara is a wonderful week end getaway from Mumbai and other cities of Maharashtra and Gujarat.
The road is very good and picturesque.
You can even visit the dense forests and the Adivasi tribals.