Waghai Botanical Gardens

2 km past Waghai, the nearest town, the garden and Bio-Diversity Conservation center have a wide range of native and exotic plant samples from which you can learn to identify plants, learn how they are used for food and medicine, and how much we depend on them. There is a nature education trail which leads you to and from Vansda Park. You might not find people to welcome and orient you, but there is plenty of written information about the plants posted around the center. The garden is open from 8am-6pm and entry is free.

Transport

By road: The park lies close to National Highway 8 and is bisected by the Waghai-Vansda State Highway. The nearest town is Waghai, 4km away. It is 28 km from Ahwa, 40 km from Billimora, and 60 km from Saputara. The area is easiest explored with a private vehicle, but public transport is available, though less convenient. There are buses from Surat, Billimora, and Valsad to Vansda village, and from there you can hire a jeep to the park for about Rs 50/- per person. There are no taxi operations close to Vansda, but you can also get a cab from Surat, Bilimora or Valsad.

By ST bus, Ahwa, the district headquarters and on a plateau from which begins the ascenscion from Waghai to Saputara, is often the most convenient place to arrive in the Dangs.

By rail: The nearest railway station is Waghai. The narrow gauge rail link connecting Ahwa to Billimora runs through the park, but ask around to check if its still functioning when you come here.

By air: The nearest airport is in Surat, 120 km away.

Kilad Nature Education Campsite

This education center is in the south east part of the park along the Ambika river. It is located at the Dang Forest Division on the way to the Waghai Botanical Garden. It offers visitors a unique and exciting opportunity to stay in the forest and make friends with it. After an evening campfire under the stars you can spend the night at the center. In the morning you can hire a guide (Rs. 50) to take you through the forest and tell you the names of trees and their uses, show you leopard tracks, how to recognize birds by their song, and other such secrets. There is a fantastic 3-story tree house made of bamboo which is perfect for early morning birdwatching. Entry to the center is free. Visitors must get permission a few days in advance from the Range Forest Officer, Tel: +91 230 230057. There are basic bath and toilet facilities.

Facilities:

Orientation Centre
4 Cottages
10 Tented Accomodations with separate bathing & toilet facilites
3 Huts
Separate Kitchen & Dining places
Nature Education Camp
Separate area for Campfire
Machaans for landscape & wildlife viewing
The Camsite has a Solar Electricity Supply, hence the tourists are requested to use the electricity only when and where it is required
Food is availabe with the help of ETC (Eco Tourism Committee)

Transport

By road: The park lies close to National Highway 8 and is bisected by the Waghai-Vansda State Highway. The nearest town is Waghai, 4km away. It is 28 km from Ahwa, 40 km from Billimora, and 60 km from Saputara. The area is easiest explored with a private vehicle, but public transport is available, though less convenient. There are buses from Surat, Billimora, and Valsad to Vansda village, and from there you can hire a jeep to the park for about Rs 50/- per person. There are no taxi operations close to Vansda, but you can also get a cab from Surat, Bilimora or Valsad.

By ST bus, Ahwa, the district headquarters and on a plateau from which begins the ascenscion from Waghai to Saputara, is often the most convenient place to arrive in the Dangs.

By rail: The nearest railway station is Waghai. The narrow gauge rail link connecting Ahwa to Billimora runs through the park, but ask around to check if its still functioning when you come here.

By air: The nearest airport is in Surat, 120 km away.

Padamdungari Eco Camping

Padamdungari is a campsite located at about 30 km from Vyara town, and 8 km from Unai village. It is situated amongst the Sahyadri ranges, by the river Ambica. Treks, trails, winding up and down the hillocks, sunset activity, observation towers, relaxing woodlands, and medicinal groves are proposed attractions when you visit Padamdungari. The scenic site has deep, dense, multi-storied forests, genetic diversity, rocky, undulating, & enriched landscapes. The fauna consists of big cats, lesser canines, herbivores, birds, reptiles, aquatic animals.

The campsite consists of Tourist huts, a Reception cum interpretation centre, other Facilities / utilities, nature trails, good approach roads and capacity buildings for local people. A visit to nearby religious places like Chand-surya, Unai Hot Springs & Ghusmaai temples, Waghai botanical gardens, timber workshop, Vansda National Park & Shabri Dham is also possible. Activities like tubing, rafting, floating etc. on river Ambika can also be planned.

Facilities:

Orientation Centre
2 AC & 8 Non AC Cottages
Tented Accomodations with separate bathing & toilet facilites
Separate Kitchen & Dining places
Beautifully, Well-Designed Amphitheatre
Separate area for Campfire
Machaans for landscape & wildlife viewing
A small rescue centre for injured wildlife animals

Transport

By road: The park lies close to National Highway 8 and is bisected by the Waghai-Vansda State Highway. The nearest town is Waghai, 4km away. It is 28 km from Ahwa, 40 km from Billimora, and 60 km from Saputara. The area is easiest explored with a private vehicle, but public transport is available, though less convenient. There are buses from Surat, Billimora, and Valsad to Vansda village, and from there you can hire a jeep to the park for about Rs 50/- per person. There are no taxi operations close to Vansda, but you can also get a cab from Surat, Bilimora or Valsad.

By ST bus, Ahwa, the district headquarters and on a plateau from which begins the ascenscion from Waghai to Saputara, is often the most convenient place to arrive in the Dangs.

By rail: The nearest railway station is Waghai. The narrow gauge rail link connecting Ahwa to Billimora runs through the park, but ask around to check if its still functioning when you come here.

By air: The nearest airport is in Surat, 120 km away.

Unai Hot Springs

Unai hot water spring in Gujarat is one of the tourist places situated in the beautiful village of Unai. This village is located in the district of Surat, which a major part of Gujarat. This village houses the hot water spring named after the village. The hot spring has the unusual power of curing several skin diseases that can’t be cured by the allopathic medicines. Sulphur and phosphorous naturally dissolved in these waters are effective for the human body.

Transport

By road: The park lies close to National Highway 8 and is bisected by the Waghai-Vansda State Highway. The nearest town is Waghai, 4km away. It is 28 km from Ahwa, 40 km from Billimora, and 60 km from Saputara. The area is easiest explored with a private vehicle, but public transport is available, though less convenient. There are buses from Surat, Billimora, and Valsad to Vansda village, and from there you can hire a jeep to the park for about Rs 50/- per person. There are no taxi operations close to Vansda, but you can also get a cab from Surat, Bilimora or Valsad.

By ST bus, Ahwa, the district headquarters and on a plateau from which begins the ascenscion from Waghai to Saputara, is often the most convenient place to arrive in the Dangs.

By rail: The nearest railway station is Waghai. The narrow gauge rail link connecting Ahwa to Billimora runs through the park, but ask around to check if its still functioning when you come here.

By air: The nearest airport is in Surat, 120 km away.

Vansda National Park

With trees reaching a height of 120 ft. the forests of Vansda are dense and varied. With the rain gods being generous (over 2,000 mm rainfall), parts of the Park have moist deciduous forest with kaatas bamboo. Dry deciduous forest occurring in other areas has 'manvel' bamboo and adds to the diversity of habitats.

The variety of plants (over 450 species) keeps our eyes searching for more and leaves us content at the end of the day. Beautiful Orchids are a sight to behold thanks to their dainty and pretty flowers. Even a rotting log is decorated with ferns and mushrooms. The 'bracket fungus' on logs and tree trunks will definitely catch your attention. You may also come across a wild relative of the banana plant.

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, but in Vansda it's everywhere in different forms. Small creatures with their amazing diversity are the real treasures. Among these are over 60 species of butterflies and 121 species of spiders. The largest of the spiders of Gujarat - the Giant wood spider is common here. In fact, recently 8 new species of spiders were reported from Vansda. A trip here means getting lost in observing myriads of insects, centipedes, millipedes and snails. And to stop you in your tracks are the elusive snakes of which there are over 30 species. About 11 types of frogs and toads ensure that the snakes continue to thrive here.

For the bird-watcher too there are 115 species of birds including those found only in the Western Ghats like the Great Black Woodpecker, Malabar Trogon, Shama and Emerald Dove. Other noteworthy avian wonders include the Grey Hornbill, Racket-Tailed Drongo, Paradise Flycatcher, Leaf birds, Thrushes and Sunbirds. Although Vansda has lost the Tiger, Wild Dog, Otter, Sambar and Sloth bear; it still boasts a good diversity of mammals such as the Leopard, Hyena, Jungle Cat, Civets, Mongooses, Macaques, Barking Deer, Four-horned antelopes and the only herd of Spotted Deer in this part of the State.

Visitors must get permission a few days in advance, and it is advisable to call before you make the journey to make sure that the park is not closed due to bad weather and road conditions. There is no camping allowed. Entrance fee is Rs. 20/- per person for Indians, 5 USD per person for Foreigners, and Rs 200/- per vehicle (light motor vehicle), though these fees are subject to change.

Transport

By road: The park lies close to National Highway 8 and is bisected by the Waghai-Vansda State Highway. The nearest town is Waghai, 4km away. It is 28 km from Ahwa, 40 km from Billimora, and 60 km from Saputara. The area is easiest explored with a private vehicle, but public transport is available, though less convenient. There are buses from Surat, Billimora, and Valsad to Vansda village, and from there you can hire a jeep to the park for about Rs 50/- per person. There are no taxi operations close to Vansda, but you can also get a cab from Surat, Bilimora or Valsad.

By ST bus, Ahwa, the district headquarters and on a plateau from which begins the ascenscion from Waghai to Saputara, is often the most convenient place to arrive in the Dangs.

By rail: The nearest railway station is Waghai. The narrow gauge rail link connecting Ahwa to Billimora runs through the park, but ask around to check if its still functioning when you come here.

By air: The nearest airport is in Surat, 120 km away.

Shabari Dham

Filled with fascinating mythology, this serene temple is supposed to have been where Lord Rama met Shabari while searching for his wife Sita and ate the berries she offered him, after tasting each one to make sure it was good. Three stones on which Lord Rama, his brother Lakshman and Shabari are said to have sat are still worshipped. Pampa lake, about 6 km from Shabari Dham, is a water source associated with a story of Lord Rama’s bathing.

Transport

By road: The town of Waghai is 51 km away. Ahmedabad: 409 km. Surat: 164 km. Mumbai: 250 km. Vadodara: 309 km. 186 Km - Distance from Saputara Hill-Station to shabri dham via mahal.

There are State Transport buses and private luxury coaches from Waghai and Ahmedabad. If you are coming by a private car, than National Highway might be quicker, but the state highway will offers a stunningly scenic drive.

By rail: The nearest railway station is Waghai, on the Billimora-Waghai narrow gauge section of the Western Railway. For those coming from Gujarat via Surat or Ahmedabad or even from Mumbai, Billimora is the more convenient rail head, and a direct bus service is available from there.

By air: Surat is the nearest airport, 172 km away, Mumbai is the nearest international airport 225 km away.

Nageshwar Mahadev

Nageshwar Mahadev Temple Built in the Dravidian style of temple construction, this temple is not only an architectural masterpiece but also one of the most revered holy places of the region.

Transport

By road: The town of Waghai is 51 km away. Ahmedabad: 409 km. Surat: 164 km. Mumbai: 250 km. Vadodara: 309 km.

There are State Transport buses and private luxury coaches from Waghai and Ahmedabad. If you are coming by a private car, than National Highway might be quicker, but the state highway will offers a stunningly scenic drive.

By rail: The nearest railway station is Waghai, on the Billimora-Waghai narrow gauge section of the Western Railway. For those coming from Gujarat via Surat or Ahmedabad or even from Mumbai, Billimora is the more convenient rail head, and a direct bus service is available from there.

By air: Surat is the nearest airport, 172 km away, Mumbai is the nearest international airport 225 km away.