Location: 160 kms from Surat, Gujarat.
Altitude: 1000m Above Sea Level.
Main Attractions: Saputara Lake, Ropeway.
Best Season: April To Early July.
Gujarat's picturesque hill station is perched on a plateau at an altitude of about 1000m in the Dang forest area of the Sahyadari Range. It has a cool bracing climate, the highest temperature even in the summer months not exceeding 28 degrees Centigrade. Saputara is situated 160 kms from Surat. Legend has it that Lord Rama spent 11 years of his exile in these very forests.
'Saputara' means the 'abode of serpents' and a snake image on the banks of the river Sarpagana is worshipped by the 'adivasis' (tribals) on festivals like Holi.
Saputara has been developed as a planned hill resort with hotels, parks, swimming pools theatres and a museum. It has several gardens, picturesque locations and a cool bracing climate even in the hot summer months making it an ideal getaway. The resort is equipped with adventure sports facilities like paragliding.
The thick forest around Saputara is dotted with Adivasi tribal, villages and heir unique dance is great interest to visitors.
TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS
The well-planned Saputara is dotted with places of tourist interest:
There is the Saputara Lake in the core of the valley. At the Saputara Lake and the Boat Club you may enjoy boating by hiring the row and paddleboats.
As the name indicates the Sunrise Point and the Sunset View Point offer wonderful vistas of the sun and the valley.
While at Saputara you will come across gorgeous gardens that are the best bet for lazing around. There are the Lake Garden, the Step Garden and the Rose Garden worth visiting at Saputara.
Tour to Saputara On your holiday at Saputara you may worship the idol of Lord Shiva at the Nageshwar Mahadev Temple, which is another major attraction at Saputara.
While at Saputara you may even pay a visit to the Saputara Museum that provides an insight into the tribes of Dang. The exhibits at the Saputara Museum include tribal ornaments and musical instruments. You may even check out the real life tribal folk and their dance performances In order to enjoy the pristine and natural beauty of Saputara you must take the ten minutes ropeway ride that with surely offer you several panoramic views.
• MUST SEE IN SAPUTARA
» Tribal Museum
The Dangs district has more than 300 villages, most of them with a population of less than 100, and 90% of the population is tribal. The Museum, established to introduce visitors to the culture and ecology of the district, showcases the attire and lifestyle of different communities like the Bhils, Kunbis, Gamits, and Warlis, as well as the Kothewali potters. Other exhibits introduce visitors to the weapons, utensils and customs of the local communities.
» Vansda National Park
Originally, a private forest of maharaja of Vansada, the park now covers on area of 24 sq kms. Despite its small size the park harbours tiger, leopard, pangolin, rusty-spotted cat, python, giant squirrel, fourhorned antelope etc. Prior permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden, of Gandhinagar or DFO, Ahwa is required before visiting the park
» Purna Sanctuary
urat's vast and active textile market testifies its importance in the textile trade even today.
» Boating
The Saputara Lake surrounded by greenery makes it pleasurable to sail in the lake in a row or paddle boat.
» Sunrise Point
It is a point which offers the best view of Saputara and adjoining Malegoan could be reached after a walk of 1.5 km in the direction of Waghai. The naming restricts the tourist traffic to this best place as 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. The Tata Consultancy Services has suggested renaming this point as Valley View Point to enhance tourist traffic.
» The Ropeway
A ten minutes ride across the valley to the sunset point organised by Hotel Vaity.
» Gopipura
It is named after Gopi, the patron saint of Surat. It has many large mansions richly ornamented with woodcarvings. Its chief features are Agama Mandir and many other Jain temples and Jain monasteries.
» Winchester Museum
This museum was named after Mr.Winchester the Assistant Collector of that era, who took a keen interest in increasing the prosperity of Surat.
» Hajira and Tithal
The industrial capital of South Gujarat, Hajira is situated 28 kms. from Surat. The pleasant Hajira beach is fringed by feathery casurina trees and has a comfortable holiday home for the visitors. This place is home to the biggest industrial powerhouses in the nation. Tithal is situated 108 kms. from Surat and 5 kms. from Valsad. It is a beautiful sandy beach with palm-sheltered cottages. Ubharat is another fine sandy beach situated 42 kms from Surat.
How to get there ?
Air
Nearest Airport is Mumbai (Bombay).
Rail
Nearest Railway Station is Waghai, on the Bilimoria-Waghai narrow guage section of the Western Railway. For those coming from Gujarat via Surat or Ahmedabad or even from Mumbai (Bombay) Bilimoria is the most convenient rail head as direct bus service is available from there.
Road
State transport buses and private luxury coaches connect various centres of Gujarat and Maharashtra. It is situated 409 Kms from Ahmedabad and 51 Kms.from Waghai.
Diversion from National Highway 8 (to Ahmedabad) at Chikli-Waghai-Saputara-Nasik-Vani-Saputara.
If you are driving down in your own car be sure to stop for fuel near Waghai (51 kms. from Saputara) or at a petrol pump 40 ms towards Nasik before you enter Saputara as there are no petrol pumps in Saputara.
Local Transport
Hired jeeps from Ahwa; organised tours within and outside Saputara in mini buses by Chitrakoot/ Vaity during peak seasons (two buses). Organised tours by TCGL.