Activities in Polo Forest Gujarat

Polo Forest Idar is a haven for adventure seekers, wildlife enthusiasts and those who want to enjoy pristine nature. 

Adventure activities in Polo Forest

Polo Forest has many adventure activities and trails to keep the visitors busy. Nature trails, cycling in forest, trekking, riverside walking, wildlife photography, etc. some of the activities one can get busy in Polo Forest. There are many hiking trails available ranging from 3kms to 14 km known as the Mango, Kalal, and Bhim treks, respectively. 

All of these activities are possible if you go with a local guide or with a tour operator as the safety gears required for the activities are exclusive with them. There is also a chance of getting lost in the forest as there are no visible trails marked.

I was there only for a day trip so skipped adventure activities but I would love to try them the next time.

Trekking in Harnav Dam

Also known as Vanaj Dam, it is one of the most popular attractions in Polo. Walk amongst the drenched tree cover to reach the Harnav Dam. A nature trail along the Harnav river takes one to the reservoir of the river. Visitors can explore the dam site which is nicely developed and maintained in Polo forest area.

Birdwatching in Polo Forest

Forest residents which are quite easily spotted are flying squirrels, Indian grey hornbill, sloth bears and many birds. Polo is known to house 275 species of birds, 30 species of mammals, and 32 species of reptiles. 

Blame it on my bad luck or bad timing, I could not spot any birds that day. Maybe if I had gone deeper in the forest, I might have caught a glimpse of some wildlife! 

Temples in Polo Forest

The Jain temple of Polo Forest is believed to have given refuge to the then Maharaja, Maharana Pratap during his battle against the Mughals. This place was earlier a pilgrimage for the Jains and Shivadharmi people of the area.

However the temples were destroyed by the Mughals and what remains are some spectacular ruins of a fort, now a heritage site. The temples are said to be over 1500 years old. On a closer look at the designs, they are lavishly crafted with incredible details of deities, sculptures and motifs from everyday life. 

The architecture of the ruins definitely reminded me of Angkor Wat temples.

Another stunning temple worth visiting is the Sarneshwar temple. The 15th-century Sarneshwar temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is a three-storied temple with fortified walls. The carvings on exterior walls include deities, social life scenes; bands of humans, elephants, swans and plants.

Where to stay in Polo Forest

If you are wondering about Polo Forest resorts, there are many options.

If visitors just want to enjoy the raw nature instead of going around to places, they can simply relax at the luxurious and air-conditioned tented accommodation and enjoy the views of Aravali range in the middle of a forest. The tents of Polo Tent city are luxurious, eco-friendly yet comfortable. They are operated by the Gujarat State Forest Department and need prior booking through the district forest department office Himmatnagar. Polo campsite offers both AC / Non AC accommodations which are available on a twin sharing basis.

There are few resorts, camps as well as hotels in Polo Forest where one can book a stay. There are luxury as well as budget options available in Polo Forest. Fern Sattva Resort and MWS Polo Hideaway are one of the best.

Food at Vijaynagar

There are tea and Maggi stalls on the main road but no restaurants. Lunch and dinner are generally served by the tour operators/camp owners. In case you are on a one day trip, it is best to carry snacks with you.

How to reach Polo Forest

By road

Polo forest is located at a distance of 150 km from Ahmedabad, 70 km from Himmatnagar Gujarat and 120 km from Udaipur, Rajasthan. GSRTC buses are frequently available to reach Idar via bus. From Idar to Vijaynagar, jeeps are frequent. However, it is ideal to travel by hired car as the distance between places to see in Polo is a lot.

By train

The closest railway station is Himmatnagar if travelling within Gujarat. If travelling from outside of Gujarat, hire a car from Ahmedabad.

By flight

Ahmedabad and Udaipur are the nearest airports. Hire a car from there to reach Polo forest.

Best time to visit Polo Forest

As it is surrounded by mountains and forest, this place starts getting pleasant from monsoon season and is lush green between the months of September and December especially if you want to trek here. But the rich wildlife here can be experienced at any time of the year. I would prefer planning after monsoon season to winter and will recommend avoiding in summer.

Places to visit near Polo Forest

Rani-ki-Vav Patan

The intricately carved stepwell in Patan is called Rani-ki-Vav. Located 3 hours away from Polo, this is a good trip worth planning. Read about it here: Rani-ki-Vav, Patan

Vadnagar, Gujarat

The heritage town of Vadnagar is one of the treasure trove in Gujarat. Read about it here: Vadnagar, Gujarat

Modhera Sun Temple

Modhera Sun Temple is one of the most exquisitely-sculpted temples in India, that is a prominent shrine dedicated to Hindu Sun God. Modhera is 3 hours away from Polo Forest. Read about it here: Modhera Sun Temple

Idar

Idar is a lovely town which boasts of a fort on a hilltop, breathtaking views of the Aravallis from the top of Idaariyo Gadh and a lake in the town.

Sustainable tips for Polo Forest Gujarat

• Be sensitive towards forest wildlife. Keep your eyes and ears open to sounds and movement while walking/cycling. Keep safe distance while photographing them.
• Wear camouflage colours which will easily blend with the forest – shades of green, brown and grey.
• Do not talk loudly or make unnecessary noises in the forest. 
• Avoid wearing perfumes or body spray in the forest.
• Carry water and food but do not dispose of plastic or leftover food in the forest. Keep it in your bag or vehicle and dispose of safely once you return to the hotel.
• Do not feed anything to wild animals.

Read More Gujarat Blogs here:

• Places to visit in Jamnagar
• Things to do in Vadodara
• Is Bhuj worth visiting?
• Girnar Ropeway – Asia’s longest ropeway
• Mandvi, Gujarat

I hope this blog on Polo Forest Gujarat helps you to plan a trip. Have you been there before? Did you like it? Tell me in the comments below.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. It means it adds no extra cost to you if you book through the link but I get a referral bonus which helps me earn a little to keep this website up and running. Read my Privacy Policy for more.

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Places to visit in Mandvi

Mandvi Beach

Mandvi beach is a clean and pristine beach in Gujarat.

There are 2 nearby beaches – the popular and touristy windmill beach called Windmill Beach or Windfarm Beach and another Kashivishwanath Beach.

Windmill Beach has more crowds with beachside stalls, camel rides and a few adventure activities. For the adventure enthusiasts, there are various water sports options on the Windmill beach like a banana boat ride and jet-skiing. The overall scene looks beautiful having the windmills right on the beach. These windmills generate enough energy to provide electricity to nearby areas.

Kashivishwanath beach is the quieter and tranquil one. During my visit, I spent an entire evening at this beach and I only had the company of 2 dogs and a flock of sanderlings! I had the most solitude in a long time and the stroll on the beach during the evening low tide revealed some magical creations of the beach – shells, naturally formed sand art, crab art and so much more. It was also the perfect sunset I had witnessed in a long time. 

Time spent at Kashivishwanath beach has made it my favourite beach in Gujarat.

Ship Building Yard

The prosperous maritime trade of Kutch, made Mandvi an important port town so much so that it developed itself into a shipbuilding centre. Mandvi is known for its 400-year-old traditional craft of building wooden ships. These wooden ships are built by hand by local craftsmen using an ancestral methodology and some modern tools. 

Visitors can see the making of these ships from just about anywhere in Mandvi.

They are installed in the riverbed of Rukmavati river and one can see them taking shape from across the road. Visitors can go near the ships and see the carpenters at work and if you feel like going in, take permission to see the insides just like the work of artists.

Vijay Vilas Palace

Apart from the Mandvi beach, Vijay Vilas Palace is one of the most visited tourist places in Mandvi. It shot to fame after 2 superhit Bollywood movies – Hum Dil de Chuke Sanam and Lagaan were filmed here. It has a stunning piece of architecture providing a gorgeous view from the top.

Vijay Vilas Palace, sometimes also referred to as Mandvi palace Gujarat is a Royal abode placed in the middle of manicured gardens.

The royal family of Princely State of Kutch currently reside in the palace, because of which some portion of the palace is cut off for visitors.

The royal family used to reside in Prag Mahal, Bhuj which was destroyed in the 2001 Gujarat Earthquake which is why they moved into Vijay Vilas Palace.

Traditionally the Vijay Vilas Palace was a summer retreat of Kutch Maharajas, thanks to it being by the beachside. The palace has a high dome on the pillars, coloured glass windows, carved stone jalis, exquisitely designed halls, well-maintained artefacts and overall amazing architecture which makes the palace worth visiting.

The palace was built during the reign of Maharaja Khengarji-III as a summer resort for his son & successor, the Yuvraj Shri Vijayraj Ji and is therefore named after him as Vijay Vilas Palace. The palace is built with red Red Sandstone and it took about 9 years to complete construction. 

The Vijay Vilas Palace has its own private beach which offers luxurious tented accommodation.

Naliya – the coldest place in Gujarat

All of my trips need to have a wildlife angle to them. So I am always on the lookout for the nearest Wildlife sanctuary or a national park and the special species to spot there. I wanted to start from Mandvi and end the day in Bhuj so Naliya was the choice of visit.

Naliya is famous as the coldest place in Gujarat during winters. It is also famous for the grasslands which host the beautiful and elusive bird – the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) in Gujarat. There is only about 6 GIB in Naliya as of 2020! Known as The Kutch Bustard Sanctuary, it is an ideal spot for a nature enthusiast.

I did not want to miss the chance of spotting this rare bird in Gujarat so I drove down a distance of 82 km from Mandvi to Naliya. Naliya doesn’t have a typical safari like other national parks in India. At the entry gate, I was asked for my ID as entry is free. Professional guides during tours are available at extra cost and I will highly recommend you to get one as you will be clueless on where to go to spot the birds. The guide will come in your car and with a good pair of binoculars and help in spotting the birds. and safaris.

I spent over 2 hours, craning my neck over the grassland and could spot a pair of Great Indian Bustard couples for quite a distance. Seeing them was only possible from a binocular so my camera lens could not even manage a record shot!

Other places to visit near Mandvi, Gujarat

• Bhuj – Visitors will probably travel from Bhuj, so that is definitely a must-visit place
• Great Rann of Kutch – For its white sands
• Little Rann of Kutch – For the wild ass sanctuary and flamingoes
• Kala Dungar- the highest point in Kutch
• Dholavira- an archaeological site

Shopping in Mandvi, Gujarat

The crafts of Kutch are popular for shopping.

The entire Kutch district is famous for its mirror and thread work as well as Bandhani (tie & dye) techniques. Block print and Ajrakh prints on cotton textiles along with silver jewellery is what the women entrepreneurs make here. One can visit the making of these handicrafts and buy them from Khamir or Bhujodi near Bhuj.

How to reach Mandvi

Flight:

Many airlines operate flights between major cities to Bhuj airport and Kandla airport located in the Kutch district of Gujarat. From any of these airports hire a vehicle to reach Mandvi, Gujarat. The distance will be roughly 95 km from Kandla airport and 62 km from Bhuj airport. 

Car/Bus:

One can drive down in a car from Ahmedabad airport and it takes about 6 hours to reach.

Train:

There are main trains on the Western line which will take you till Bhuj. Hire a car or hop on to a public bus to reach Mandvi.

Hotels in Mandvi | Resorts in Mandvi

Mandvi offers a variety of accommodation options ranging from humble Dharamshala stays to luxurious resort options.

Homestay – I stayed at Rukmavati Guesthouse which is right in the middle of the city and the town was at walking distance. The family served a warm breakfast and tea in the morning. 

Luxury: Serena Beach Resort – this is upscale right on the beach resort which is certain to you Goa feels.

Mid range – Hotel Keev, Hotel Rosseta

Note: Mandvi is a port and due to its proximity to the India-Pakistan border and security concerns, you will be required to present Identification proof with the address (in original – photocopy will not be accepted) and also submit fingerprints digitally.

Best time to visit Mandvi

Mandvi enjoys pleasant weather all year round and the best time to travel is between October till March when the days are pleasant. Summers are quite harsh with day temperatures crossing 40-degree celsius. 

Sustainable tips for visiting Mandvi Beach

• Do not litter the beach with plastic or any other places in Mandvi.
• You are most likely to see wild animals like Indian Nilgai crossing the road/highway, give them time and space to do so.
• Do not write on the palace walls or rocks at the beach.
• Avoid wearing perfumes or hand sanitizers while going in the seawater or in protected areas like Naliya.

Read about other Beach towns in India:

Diveagar, Konkan

Alibaug

Have you been to Mandvi Beach before? What was your experience like? Tell me in the comments below.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. It means it adds no extra cost to you if you book through the link but I get a referral bonus which helps me earn a little to keep this website up and running. Read my Privacy Policy for more.

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