Dang: Forests, Waterfalls and Holi Traditions

Dang District brings together dense forests, waterfalls, cultural sites and distinctive Holi traditions. When planning your trip, it is worth considering several highlights: Purna Wildlife Sanctuary, the winter hike to Gandhi Shikhar, Saputara as a planned hill resort, and the cultural sites in Subir block. This can help you choose a vacation rental based on the experiences you would like to make the focus of your trip.

Forests, Valleys and Water

Dang District has a history shaped by tribal culture, and dense forests also define its landscape. Purna Wildlife Sanctuary covers 160.84 km² and features hilly terrain, plateaus and small valleys. Its landscape includes tropical moist deciduous forests, lush greenery, rivers, small tribal villages and scattered fields. The sanctuary’s forests are home to a tribal culture expressed through houses, clothing, jewelry, agriculture, fishing, musical instruments and folk dances. Nature and culture are both present here, from the forested landscape to these forms of cultural expression.

Another natural attraction is Giradhod, a natural waterfall approximately 200 to 250 feet high that carries abundant water almost all year round. Visitors can hike to Gandhi Shikhar in winter. The recommended timing differs: Giradhod has abundant water nearly year-round, while the hike to Gandhi Shikhar is specifically mentioned for winter.

Holi, Cultural Sites and Regional Highlights

Dang Darbar is organized by the district administration every year around the Holi festival. In Saputara, Adivasi worship an image of a snake on the banks of the Sarpagana River during Holi. Both customs are associated with Holi but reflect different aspects: an event organized by the administration and worship on a riverbank. Shabridham and Pampa Sarovar are located in Subir block of Dang District, where a temple has been built. When planning your trip, you can therefore distinguish between festival customs and sites associated with a temple.

Mahal and Saputara as Different Starting Points

Mahal, in Purna Wildlife Sanctuary, is a particularly popular site for a nature education camp. Mahal Campsite is run by the Forest Department and has treehouses, campfires and cottages for accommodation. It is located in a forest area designated by the Forest Department as a protected forest to protect wildlife. Mahal is 24 km from Ahwa. Saputara was developed as a planned hill resort with hotels, parks, swimming pools, a boating club, theaters, cable cars and a museum. These different features can help guide your choice of vacation rental: forest and nature education in Mahal, or Saputara’s development as a hill resort.

Getting There

NH 350 runs through Waghai block. State transport buses connect the district with cities such as Surat, Vadodara and Ahmedabad. For general travel planning, this gives you both a road connection within the district and named bus connections. The natural and cultural sites, along with the different features of Mahal and Saputara, can then help you tailor your search for a suitable vacation rental to your travel interests.

Discover more destinations: Kutch, Gandhinagar, Kheda, Ahmedabad, Junagadh, Surendranagar.

Go to the main travel overview: Gujarat.