nish_vin
★★★★★5.0Wrote on 18 Nov 2020
Vansda Ntl Park- Truly Off beat Hidden Gem
I visited this place with a few friends. We reached evening around 4:30 - 5 pm, as we planned to reach in day light. We took tent accomodation at Kilad Campsite, which is like 1 km from National park entry gate. While we realized, campsite had rooms accomodation as well, and it is very beautiful as room windows open upon Ambika river which flows next to campsite. Evening we enjoyed the campsite location, it's a clean, green, riverside site. It also has a small park for children's play area and even adults can sit and laze around. We missed carrying bat/ball or football along. Next morning we got up by 7am types and visited riverside. It was winter and experience was chilling and teeth chattering. Stream had water flowing, though scanty, and there was dense fog cover over the surface of stream. Stream had lot of rocks which allowed us to sit and hang around the place and spend some pleasant time. There is also a small 'baandh' over the stream at same location, where too you can spend some time around. Selfie/photography kings and queens would enjoy this spot to core. Breakfast is available at some stalls put up by villagers, just before entering the National park. Breakfast and tea is good here, particularly winter makes the hot tea and b'fast very desirable. After breakfast, we visited National park on foot. We walked pretty deep into forest, almost 4-5kms. It was one awesome experience. Nature is undisturbed. Trees are thick and tall. There are few villages inside park which you pass by while strolling the park and you keep wondering, how blessed these villagers are to live in the Nature's lap. There is a watch tower after 4-5kms, which we penned down as our spot of return as walking started to get tiresome. (Personal vehicle is allowed inside, however, we wanted to feel nature upclose and walked). One can spend some leisurely time at watch tower chit-chatting with friends n all. While one's not in group, either with soulmates or family, too can spend good time here. We actually also took a power nap here. There are some toffee sized bees, spiders and other insects here, so stay little attentive. Watch tower halt served as a good rest stop, post which, we started returning back to campsite. We reached back to campsite by 3 pm types where we had lunch provided by village ladies. Lunch too was very tasty and you have to order it to co-ordinator in morning itself before leaving for park. Whenever I search a National park for my next outing, this spot never pops up. Our visit to this place was pretty memorable one. It's a peaceful, neat and clean, green and serene place. Truely 'An Off beat Hidden Gem'. Mamuli toh tumhari bachpan kee gali mai kaa wah nukkad, wah katta bhi thaa, Fir bhi param jeevan tumhe yaadgaar hai, Kyunki usme thee kuch dost, kuch masti, ek local ambience aur pyaar.
30poojas
★★★★4.0Wrote on 23 Oct 2018
Dense forest - hard to believe that it actually exists in Gujarat.
Until the forest area is declared as national park in 1979 (Some records name this year as 1985 too), rulers of Vansda State controlled this area. Now the forest is administered by Forest Department of Gujarat. Forests in this wildlife park are dense, tall and green. They are untouched since 1952, as per the official records, not a single tree has been cut since 1952! Thus, due to all these favorable conditions, one can see many trees in the park exceeding 30m height. Tall teak trees, mango groves, gigantic creepers and bamboo thickets are a part of the Flora of Vansda National Park in Gujarat. Please check before visiting as the park remains closed in some duration of the year.
