Kilad Nature Education Campsite

Kilad Nature Education Campsite

Photos Kilad Nature Education Campsite

Kilad Nature Education Campsite This education center is in the south east part of the park along the Ambika river. It is located at the Dang Forest Division on the way to the Waghai Botanical Garden. It offers visitors a unique and exciting opportunity to stay in the forest and make friends with it. After an evening campfire under the stars you can spend the night at the center. In the morning you can hire a guide (Rs. 50) to take you through the forest and tell you the names of trees and their uses, show you leopard tracks, how to recognize birds by their song, and other such secrets. There is a fantastic 3-story tree house made of bamboo which is perfect for early morning birdwatching. Entry to the center is free. Visitors must get permission a few days in advance from the Range Forest Officer, Tel: +91 230 230057. There are basic bath and toilet facilities. Facilities: Orientation Centre 4 Cottages 10 Tented Accomodations with separate bathing & toilet facilites 3 Huts Separate Kitchen & Dining places Nature Education Camp Separate area for Campfire Machaans for landscape & wildlife viewing The Camsite has a Solar Electricity Supply, hence the tourists are requested to use the electricity only when and where it is required Food is availabe with the help of ETC (Eco Tourism Committee) Tips: Being a responsible nature lover is our way of showing reverence to Mother Earth, a few tips for you to remember - Make sure to visit the orientation centre first before you start exploring the campsite as that would give a good picture of what you are about to experience during your stay. Most of these Eco Campsites use electricity which is generated by using solar energy, hence please use it responsibly. No smoking whatsoever (cigarette butts cause many forest fires.) No flash or intrusive photography (for example, don’t pluck leaves to clear a better view; reposition the camera instead.) Do not carry any music system or sound making device along with you and remember to keep them switched off if you are driving around. Picking plants or insects is prohibited in any area; do not remove anything from the parks or sanctuaries. Do Not indulge in any quick or sudden movements to scare off wildlife. Do not try going too close to the animals. No pets should accompany you. No littering. Trash is only to be disposed of in proper receptacles. No hunting devices or other weapons should be carried, as well as used.

Gira waterfalls

Gira waterfalls

Photos Gira Waterfalls

Gira waterfalls Breathtakingly beautiful around monsoon, these seasonal (only after rains) falls are among the most picturesque sights in the district. Located about 3 km from Waghai town, the Gira waterfall is a 30 m natural drop into the Ambica River. It is open to public and accessible by jeeps on hire.

Shabari Dham

Shabari Dham

Photos Shabari Dham

Shabari Dham Filled with fascinating mythology, this serene temple is supposed to have been where Lord Rama met Shabari while searching for his wife Sita and ate the berries she offered him, after tasting each one to make sure it was good. Three stones on which Lord Rama, his brother Lakshman and Shabari are said to have sat are still worshipped. Pampa lake, about 6 km from Shabari Dham, is a water source associated with a story of Lord Rama’s bathing.

Pandava Gufa

Pandava Gufa

Photos Back Saputara-Pandava Gufa

Pandava Gufa Experience the mythic feelings of the Pandava caves also known as the Aravalem Caves well known by the mystical stories of Pandavas from the Mahabharata. It is believed that in these caves Pandavas spend some of their time during their hideout days in forest and offered prayers to God Shiva. The road to the caves provide a variety of glimpses of tribal villages and fort ruins.

Laxmi Vilas Palace

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Palaces

Photos Back Laxmi Vilas Palace

Palaces The Lakshmi Vilas Palace: Maharaja Sayajirao III commissioned Major Charles Mant (also known as 'Mad' Mant for his eccentric work) to build the Lakshmi Vilas Palace, which was later finished by R.F. Chisolm. It was built in the Indo-Saracenic tradition, with an eclectic mix of Indian, Islamic, and European elements, as if, as Philip Ward writes, “an architectural Paul Klee had taken solid lines for a walk”. The imposingly impressive interior is full of multi-colored marble, mosaic tile and various works of art and the courtyards of palms and fountains have arched entrance-ways big enough for “the tallest elephant with the largest howdah on his back” to pass through, as reported by Edward Weeden, one of the earliest Europeans to stay in the palace. The palace grounds include a golf course and Sayajirao's personal museum, containing, among other displays, original paintings by Raja Ravi Varma. While less impressive than the Vadodara Museum, this one is still worth a brief visit. The museum is open from 10:30am - 5:30pm and the entrance fee is Rs. 25/- for Indians and Rs. 100/- for Foreigners. The palace is open from 11am - 5pm and entrance fee is Rs.100/-. To view the palace you must ask for a permit from the Maharaja’s secretary in the palace office or call +91 265 242 6372. Both palace and museum are closed on Mondays.

The Nazarbaugh Palace

Palaces

Photos The Nazarbaugh Palace

Palaces The Lakshmi Vilas Palace: Maharaja Sayajirao III commissioned Major Charles Mant (also known as 'Mad' Mant for his eccentric work) to build the Lakshmi Vilas Palace, which was later finished by R.F. Chisolm. It was built in the Indo-Saracenic tradition, with an eclectic mix of Indian, Islamic, and European elements, as if, as Philip Ward writes, “an architectural Paul Klee had taken solid lines for a walk”. The imposingly impressive interior is full of multi-colored marble, mosaic tile and various works of art and the courtyards of palms and fountains have arched entrance-ways big enough for “the tallest elephant with the largest howdah on his back” to pass through, as reported by Edward Weeden, one of the earliest Europeans to stay in the palace. The palace grounds include a golf course and Sayajirao's personal museum, containing, among other displays, original paintings by Raja Ravi Varma. While less impressive than the Vadodara Museum, this one is still worth a brief visit. The museum is open from 10:30am - 5:30pm and the entrance fee is Rs. 25/- for Indians and Rs. 100/- for Foreigners. The palace is open from 11am - 5pm and entrance fee is Rs.100/-. To

Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary

Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary

Photos Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary

Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary An easy destination to combine with a visit to Champaner is the Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary, a mere 20 km away (70 km from Vadodara). Full of forests of teak and mahuda trees, bamboo, and other lush vegetation, Jambughoda is home to large populations of many kinds of wildlife. The leopard at the top of the food chain is the primary predator, and its numbers have been increasing recently. Other large wildlife include the wild boar, nilgai (blue bull, the largest antelope in Asia), jackal, hyena, barking deer, sloth bear, and chausingha(four-horned antelope). Before independence, the region belonged to the princely state of Jambughoda. The valleys nestled in the well-forested hills have always been home to many tribal settlements. There are many places to hike through the forests in the sanctuary and it is a marvelous camping site. For those without the experience to camp, a forest rest house is available beside the Kada reservoir, one of two reservoirs in the sanctuary. The nearest bus and rail access is Shivrajpur, just 1 km from the sanctuary.

Vadhvana Wetland & Eco Campsite

Vadhvana Wetland & Eco Campsite

Photos View inside the Campsite

Vadhvana Wetland & Eco Campsite This irrigation reservoir and wetland located 10 kms from Dabhoi & 20 kms from the Jambughoda village, is the water source for 25 nearby villages, and a popular birdwatching site for species including stork, tern, ibis, and spoonbill. To get here you will have to rent a vehicle from Dabhoi, taking the Nanderi Gate road. Apart from being a wetland, it also has an eco tourism campsite. The best time to visit the wetland is from October to March cause that is the main migratory seasons for birds which migrate here from all over the world. Facilities at the Campsite: Orientation Centre Cottage accomodations with bath & toilet facilities Tented Accomodations only with separate bathing & toilet facilites Separate Kitchen & Dining places Observation Towers for bird watching Also has boats available for boating on the wetland to enhance the experience of bird watching Separate area for Campfire Tips: Being a responsible nature lover is our way of showing reverence to Mother Earth, a few tips for you to remember - Make sure to visit the orientation centre first before you start exploring the campsite as that would give a good picture of what you are about to experience during your stay. Most of these Eco Campsites use electricity which is generated by using solar energy, hence please use it responsibly. No smoking whatsoever (cigarette butts cause many forest fires.) No flash or intrusive photography (for example, don’t pluck leaves to clear a better view; reposition the camera instead.) Do not carry any music system or sound making device along with you and remember to keep them switched off if you are driving around. Picking plants or insects is prohibited in any area; do not remove anything from the parks or sanctuaries. Do Not indulge in any quick or sudden movements to scare off wildlife. Do not try going too close to the animals. No pets should accompany you. No littering. Trash is only to be disposed of in proper receptacles. No hunting devices or other weapons should be carried, as well as used

Dabhoi

Dabhoi

Photos The Hindu Gate - Madapol Gate

Dabhoi This ancient fortified town, originally known as Darbhavati, and given significant mention in the Jain scriptures of Girnar, was first walled by Solanki rulers and then developed by the Vaghelas and is impressive both in its sweeping grandeur and its fine detail. Legend has it that the mason who built Hira Gate, today the least weathered of the four gates, was buried alive within it for misappropriating city labor and materials to build a talav for his lover, so ponder love and justice as you look up at the magnificent structure. In more recent history, the town is significant for its narrow-gauge railway station, the largest in Asia, and one of the oldest in the world which was still functioning till a few years ago.

Chhota Udepur

Chhota Udepur

Photos Chhota Udepur-Prem Bhavan

Chhota Udepur Towards the border with Rajasthan, Chhota Udepur shares a history with Devgadh Baria and Rajpipla as one of the three princely states of eastern Gujarat. The small town sits on the edge of a big lake, with a series of temples along the skyline. The Jain temple is an interesting example of the influence of Victorian art on local building styles. Structures from the 1920s such as the Kusum Vilas Palace(also a heritage hotel) and Prem Bhavan are also worth visiting, though they need permission from the local royal family. For information on Kali Niketan, a heritage hotel on the Orsang river, contact Tel: +91 79 26302019. The essence of the town, however, is that it lies in the heart of a tribal area with rich indigenous history and culture. Every Saturday there is a haat or tribal market. The town is a good base from which to explore the surrounding tribal villages, particularly in the Rathwa communities. The Tribal Museum is also worth a visit, though of course not nearly as important as day-to-day interaction with people alive today. ST buses from Vadodara are frequent, though also frequently crowded. Another interesting possibility for travel is the narrow-gauge rail which goes every day except Mondays and Fridays, but ask around to make sure it's still functioning when you go.

Vadodara Museum

Vadodara Museum

Photos Vadodara Museum

Vadodara Museum One of the two museums in the Sayaji Baug is the famous Vadodara Museum and Picture Gallery, built in 1894, one of the various buildings peppering the city that was commissioned by Sayajirao and designed by Mant and Chisholm (see following section on palaces). Sayajirao traveled widely and commissioned various dealers and scholars to find objects to build a wide-ranging collection with everything from Mughal miniatures, to sculptures, textiles and objects from Japan, Tibet, Nepal, and Egypt and coins from all over the world to exhibits of the Indian musical instruments. There are also exhibits on Earth Sciences, Natural History and Zoology. One of the highlights is the 22m long blue-whale skeleton found in 1972 at the mouth of the River Mahi, most likely washed up in a storm. The Ethnography section has exhibits about tribes from Gujarat: the Rabaris, Gamits, Bhils, Chaudhuris and Wagharis. The museum library has nearly 23,000 books and periodicals on a range of subjects, some of them extremely rare. The Picture Gallery displays paintings by European masters, mostly from Sayajirao's private collection. There are also two wings on modern paintings. This is a great place to learn from before traveling to other destinations, with displays such as sculptures removed from sites at Roda and Shamlaji in Eastern Gujarat, architectural fragments and pottery from Champaner, pieces from the carved ceiling in Sheikh Farid's tomb in Patan, glazed ceramics from Ahmedabad, and the unique patola saris from Patan, and a collection of bronze images of Jain tirthankars found at nearby Akota The museum is open from 10:30am-5pm. Entry for Indians: Rs. 10/-, for Foreigners: Rs. 200/-.

Sayaji Baug

Sayaji Baug

Photos Vadodara-Sayaji Baug

Sayaji Baug This large park on the banks of the river in the center of the city, across from the busy railway station and bus stand, was built by Maharaja Sayajirao III in 1879 and named after him, but also commonly known as Kamati Baug. Take at least half a day to fully explore the 45 hectares of garden grounds, with 2 museums, a zoo, a planetarium, a flower clock, and an operational toy train, among other attractions, and then come back to the park whenever you need a respite from activities in the rest of the city. The planetarium shows you the universe in half an hour, at 4pm in Gujarati, 5pm in English, and 6pm in Hindi. Entry for Adults, Rs. 7, Children Rs. 5. After the show take a look at the astronomy park next door to see the astronomical instruments of ancient India.

Department Of Archeology - M.S.University

Department Of Archeology - M.S.University Photos Department of Archeology MS University Department Of Archeology (M.S.University,Vadodara) In the M.S. University of Vadodara department of archeology has well maintain museum on the relics of buddha which was found from the buddhist site of Dev Ni Mori in the northern site of Gujarat. You can see the museum whenever you are in Vadodra.

Photos Map data ©2010 Google - Terms of Use Map Satellite Hybrid Back Map data ©2010 - Terms of Use Map Satellite Hybrid Department of Archeology MS University

Department Of Archeology (M.S.University,Vadodara) In the M.S. University of Vadodara department of archeology has well maintain museum on the relics of buddha which was found from the buddhist site of Dev Ni Mori in the northern site of Gujarat. You can see the museum whenever you are in Vadodra.