One famous travel quote to start with is “When one door closes, pack your bags and go where there are no doors”. Very rightly said for travelers who wish to forget themselves in the lap of nature. Jambughoda is one such place in Gujarat, close to Vadodara city where one can find prolific greenery till your eyes can see.
Champaner or Jmbughoda are generally popular routes for visitors. Any budget traveler can think about this backpack travel destination. But the ends which you gonna discover today through this blog are quite offbeat as you can expect this from travel rahee.
One of the great attractions for many people is backpacking in Western India. You will find plenty of activities and comfortable rooms at the end.
Jambughoda is a village located in the Eastern part of Panchmahal, in a region covered by hills and forests. It is a tribal land and the Adivasi (indigenous tribe) population is very high. In this region, 40% are the Rathwas. The Nayakas, Tadvis, Barias, Bhils, Bhilalas, and other such tribes and communities form the rest of the population.
Jambughoda is reachable from Vadodara by road within 2 hours. One must take the road from Halol even though it is a little longer by a few minutes because this road takes you through Champaner and is a very beautiful drive. Jambughoda is one hour drive from Champaner. One must make a stop at Champaner before going to Jambughoda. Champaner is a historical city, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the same Panchmahal district, Gujarat. Champaner is famous for its fort, Jami Masjid, Kabutar Khana / Khajuri masjid, Kevada masjid, Nagina masjid, Shehar ki masjid and Saat Kaman. Opposite Champaner is Pavagadh where one will find Kalika Mata temple on the Pavagadh hill. To reach the temple you can either take the ropeway (INR 110) or climb around 2000 steps which is not difficult as the stairs are round about the hill. It is a serene temple at a height from where you can enjoy the cool breeze hitting your face and a beautiful view of the widespread forest. Jambughoda has a range of exciting possibilities for tourists that are curated to suit varying interests. A nature lover’s dream, one can revel in its numerous forest trails, waterfalls, trekking paths, picnic spots, lakes, bird sanctuaries, and other locations.
Now let me walk you through a few things to do in Jambughoda
The first and foremost I would like to mention is the Palace (A home for nature lovers). Jambughoda was a princely state that was established around 600 years ago in the late 14th century. Enveloped in a dense cover of green, the Jambughoda Palace – A home for nature lovers, lies nestled within the forests of a wildlife sanctuary. Some part of the palace is still a resident of the royal family; a part of the palace was opened as a homestay in 1999 and began with one room. Today 20 years later, the place is flourishing with 21 rooms and resort-like amenities. They also curate tourist excursions to the surroundings, depending on the interests of their guests. For those living in the surrounding parts of Gujarat, this place serves as a quick weekend getaway.
For travelers who are looking to experience wildlife, and connect with themselves lost in nature, the Wildlife sanctuary is the place to be. Jambughoda has Dhanpuri (Eco campsite) accommodation inside the forest office. Dhanpari is a well-stocked forest ecotourism site situated inside the Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary. The campsite is surrounded by this magnificent forest which is home to a variety of flora and fauna. The plant species include teak, bamboo, etc. The leopard is the top predator here and other animal species include the sloth bears, blue bulls, jackals, wild boars, four-horned antelopes, and a variety of reptiles.
The area has two water reservoirs, one at Kada and the other at Targol. The campsite is near the Kada Dam and it’s a beautiful site to visit with a picturesque location and it also has a forest rest house. The accommodation consists of A/c and Non A/c tents with meals included. The campsite has a beautiful walking nature trail and a separate area for a campfire.
Next up we have the Vananchal Jungle resort which is surrounded by dense forest. An ideal getaway from the maddening crowd of the city. A perfect location, a perfect adventure, a perfect stay, and an endless forest to explore. This resort offers comfortable rooms to have a good night’s sleep after a long tiring day. They have a swimming pool, and other activities like trekking, rock climbing, rappelling, natural games, zorbing, and spa massage on request. They also offer sightseeing and excursion tours to the beautiful locations close by.
Those who wish to experience moderate trekking and listen to the music of the jungle should visit the Zand Hanuman temple which is 6 km from Jambughoda. The trail to this temple is beautiful and lush green as it takes you through the forest. Even though your final destination will be the temple you won’t realize how far you have walked with nature alongside you.
Hathni Mata waterfall is 18 km from Jambughoda. It is one of the pristine gems and a must-visit place on a trip to Jambughoda. It is one of the picturesque waterfalls, flanked by lush green hills and it is an oasis of divine beauty. Hathni means elephant lady in the local language and the place is so named because a cave from which a waterfall opens, houses a rock-shaped appearance like a baby elephant. This is a 100-meter body of water that falls beautifully along a cliff. The cool waterfall flows better, especially during monsoons. In the cave next to the falls, there is a small temple dedicated to Hathni Mata. The name Hathni is derived from the local tribal community of the rock that looks like a baby elephant at the foot of the waterfall.
Visits to village markets (haats, weekend markets) museums, handicraft centers, and tribal homes, and many such activities are also possible. High tea by the lakeside or a rustic meal cooked by tribals in their home is also offered. Most of the time the hosts personally escort the guests on the trips and it is fascinating to listen to the wealth of information that they fluently share. One must visit this beautiful location for a perfect weekend getaway. You will feel rejuvenated once you leave this serene place. Who doesn’t like to be with nature after all with so much running around and cutthroat competition in city life?