Ratanmahal itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Ratanmahal

1. 01

   Day 1: Sanctuary day trip from Dahod or Baria

   Leave Dahod or Devgadh Baria early so you reach the Kanjeta orientation centre in the morning and see the exhibition first. Take the nature trail and, if the road allows, a vehicle up the hill for the view over the Madhya Pradesh side. Eat at the camp if you have arranged food in advance, rest through the hot middle of the day, then use the late afternoon for a short walk or a viewing platform. Start back before dark; forest roads are not pleasant at night and sightings are never guaranteed.

Plan 02

2 days in Ratanmahal

1. 01

   Day 1: Kanjeta and the forest

   Arrive at Kanjeta by late morning, check in to your cottage or tent and visit the orientation centre. Walk the nature trail in the afternoon, then sit at a machaan near dusk for birds and any movement in the forest. After dinner at the camp, spend time at the campfire area where permitted.

2. 02

   Day 2: Naldha waterfall or Bavka

   After an early breakfast, either drive to Naldha for the forest walk to the seasonal waterfall (best in and after the monsoon), or head for Bavka to see the ruined Shiva temple on the way back to Dahod. Leave time to reach your railhead or hotel in daylight.

Plan 03

3 days in Ratanmahal

1. 01

   Day 1: Arrive via Dahod and Bavka

   Reach Dahod in the morning, visit the Shiva temple at Bavka while the light is soft, then continue towards the sanctuary. Settle at Kanjeta before dusk.

2. 02

   Day 2: Kanjeta and the hill

   Spend the day around Kanjeta: orientation centre, nature trail, a vehicle trip to the hill viewpoint if open, and early-evening bird and wildlife watching from a platform.

3. 03

   Day 3: Naldha and Devgadh Baria

   Visit Naldha for the waterfall walk, allowing about three hours with the drive. Return through Devgadh Baria to see the Rajmahal from outside and the town on the Panam river before heading on to Godhra, Dahod or Vadodara.

Pacing

Pacing a Ratanmahal trip for parents and children

• Treat this as an outdoor trip with long road stretches: expect around two to three hours from Dahod, and more from Vadodara.
• Ask Gujarat Tourism or the forest office about the road to the hill before you go; the upper section may need a four-wheel-drive or local vehicle.
• The camps are simple. Confirm cottage rather than tent, bathroom type, drinking water and food before booking.
• Carry regular medicines, a basic first-aid kit, sun protection and plenty of water; medical help is not close to the camps.
• Use a vehicle with a driver who knows the forest roads and avoid driving at night, when wildlife moves near the road.
• Wear shoes with good grip and a rain jacket in the monsoon; paths to waterfalls are slippery.

Ratanmahal with elderly parents: the full guide →