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Saputara is a scenic hill resort, situated on the second
highest plateau of the Sahyadris, at an altitude of about
875 metres. It is situated in Dang district of the Maharashtra-
Gujrat border, which is the most thickly forested area in
Gujarat, and reflects the vibrant tribal culture of the area.
Legend has it that Lord Rama spent 11 years of his exile in
these very forests.
Saputara is surrounded with breathtaking natural beauty
and is becoming a favourite getaway for the urban man. The
climate here is cool and bracing throughout the year. The
monsoon is the most pleasant season with small waterfalls
all around and the hill resort looking beautifully green.
Saputara literally means ‘the abode of serpents’.
The town has an image of a serpent on the banks of the river
Sarpganga which is worshipped by adivasis or tribals, who
come here on festival days like Holi and Vash Darash.
Saputara has been developed as a planned hill resort with
hotels, parks, swimming pools theatres and a museum. It has
several gardens and other picturesque locations. The resort
is also equipped with adventure sports facilities like paragliding,
and is small enough to be explored entirely on foot.
Vansada National Park:
This park was originally a private forest of Maharaja of
Vansada. It now covers an area of 24 sq kms. Despite its small
size, the park is rich in wildlife and is home to tigers,
leopards, pangolins, rusty-spotted cats, pythons, giant squirrels,
four-horned antelopes and many other animals. However, prior
permission is required from the Chief Wildlife Warden of Gandhinagar
or DFO, Ahwa, before visiting the park.
Purna Sanctuary:
Situated at Mahal, 60 kms. north of Dangs, the Purna Sanctuary
is crossed by Purna and Gira rivers. It covers an area of
160 sq kms, and forms a part of a dense, moist, deciduous
forest in the Western Ghats of Gujarat. The longish drive
to the sanctuary passes through the most beautiful parts of
Dangs with high wooded slopes of bamboo. The sanctuary also
has bamboo lined pathways for trekkers. It requires prior
permission for visiting.
Sunrise Point:
Saputara is famous for its breathtaking sunrise and sunsets.
The Sunrise Point offers just that, along with a captivating
view of Saputara and adjoining Malegoan. The naming restricts
the tourist traffic to this place, since tourists believe
that the point should only be visited at sun rise. However,
one may visit it at any time of the day to catch a panoramic
view. It has been suggested to rename this point as Valley
View Point to enhance tourist traffic.
Boating:
The Saputara Lake is a placid lake, surrounded by greenery.
It is a fine spot to take a boat ride in row boat or paddle
boat, while enjoying the view.
Pushpak Ropeway:
This ropeway is nearly one km long and is usually busy in
the evenings. Children and young couples eagerly await their
turn on the country’s longest ropeway. It is reached
by a ten minute ride across the valley to the sunset point.
Shopping:
One may pick up some bamboo handicrafts as souvenirs and
gift items from Gandharvapur Artist Village.
Seasons to visit:
Saputara does not have any extreme temperature variations
and is cool throughout the year. However, it is best experienced
during the monsoons from mid-March to mid-November.
Getting there:
By Air: The nearest airport is Mumbai.
By Rail: The nearest major railway station is Nasik, 76
kms on Central Railway. Another alternative is Waghai, on
the Billimora- Waghi narrow gauge section of the Western Railway.
Billimora is another convenient rail head as direct bus service
is available from there to Mumbai.
By Road: Saputara is connected by road to Mumbai (185 kms),
Ahmedabad (420 kms), Bhavnagar (589 kms), Rajkot (603 kms),
Surat (172 kms) and Nasik (80 kms).
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