“Gira falls in Saputara”
Distance: 248 Kms
Saputara is situated in the Dang district of Gujarat. Blessed with natural beauty and scenic splendour, makes it a popular weekend getaways near Mumbai. It is a very popular hill station and is situated on a plateau in the Sahayadri range. With an altitude of about 1000 metres, this idyllic place experiences a salubrious weather and the temperatures rarely exceed 28 degrees.
The name of the hill station means ‘Abode of the Serpents’. There is an image of a snake along the banks of the River Sarpagana and it is worshipped by adivasis of the region on Holi. Saputara is situated at a distance of about 250 km from Mumbai and 172 km from Surat. The hill station has been well planned and has all necessary amenities such as a museum, ropeways, boat clubs, swimming pools, parks and hotels to entertain tourists.
There are a number of places for sightseeing in and around Saputara. The Artist Village is a major attraction. Tribal artefacts, Warli paintings and tribal craft objects are put up on display at the artist village. Tourists can also buy curios and knickknacks from the village. The artist village is one of the best places to learn about the culture and traditions of the natives of the region.
For wildlife lovers, trips are arranged to the Vansada National Park. The reserve is much smaller as compared to other national parks in the country. Spread over an area of 24 square kilometres, the Vansada National Park is home to four horned antelopes, giant squirrels, pythons, rusty spotted cats, pangolins, leopards and tigers.
The Purna Sanctuary is another tourist attraction of the region. Spread over an area of 160 square kilometres, the sanctuary is a part of the moist deciduous forests in the Western Ghats. Trekking is possible in the sanctuary but prior permission is required for entry.
The other highlights of this holiday destination include the Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Ropeway, Gira Falls, the Rose and Step Gardens.