Velavadar itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Velavadar

1. 01

   Day 1: A grassland safari from Bhavnagar

   Leave Bhavnagar before dawn so you reach the gate for the first session. Take the morning safari with the mandatory guide, spending most of the time with blackbuck herds and looking for wolf and hyena. Return to Bhavnagar for lunch and a rest during the hottest hours. If it is winter and you want the harriers, instead book the late-afternoon session and drive back after dark with a driver you trust.

Plan 02

2 days in Velavadar

1. 01

   Day 1: Morning safari and rest

   Do the first session of the day, then head back to Bhavnagar for lunch and a long afternoon rest. In the evening, visit Takhteshwar Temple on its hill for the view over the city.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Takhteshwar Temple	45–60 minutes	Moderate	Early morning or late afternoon; November to February is the most comfortable season

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Takhteshwar Temple: The approach is a climb up marble steps from the base of the hillock, so there is some effort, and the marble can feel hot underfoot at midday. Go early, take it slowly, and ask your driver whether a vehicle can take you part of the way before you commit to the full climb.

2. 02

   Day 2: A second session or a temple day

   If you want a second safari, return for the late-afternoon session in winter to see the harriers come in. Otherwise spend the day on Khodiyar Mandir at Rajpara, about 15 km from Bhavnagar, and keep the evening free.

Plan 03

3 days in Velavadar

1. 01

   Day 1: Morning safari

   Take the first session at the park, concentrating on blackbuck and the chance of a wolf. Rest through the afternoon in Bhavnagar and visit Takhteshwar Temple at dusk.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Takhteshwar Temple	45–60 minutes	Moderate	Early morning or late afternoon; November to February is the most comfortable season

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Takhteshwar Temple: The approach is a climb up marble steps from the base of the hillock, so there is some effort, and the marble can feel hot underfoot at midday. Go early, take it slowly, and ask your driver whether a vehicle can take you part of the way before you commit to the full climb.

2. 02

   Day 2: Harriers at dusk

   Spend the morning at Khodiyar Mandir in Rajpara, rest at midday, and return to the park for the afternoon session in the winter months to see the harrier roost.

3. 03

   Day 3: Palitana or Koliyak

   Choose one long outing. Shatrunjaya at Palitana is a demanding climb and a long day; Nishkalank Mahadev at Koliyak is a gentler coastal pilgrimage but depends on the tide timetable, so check it before you go.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Velavadar trip for parents and children

• The safari is done seated in a vehicle, so there is no walking. Bring a cushion, a hat and sunscreen, as tracks are rough and shade is scarce.
• Choose the morning or the late-afternoon session and rest in between. Midday in the park is hot and the wildlife is less active anyway.
• Carry water, a light jacket for winter mornings and any medicines, and ask the driver to stop for a break on the drive from Bhavnagar.
• Stay in Bhavnagar if you want hospital access and comfortable hotels. The park itself has very limited facilities.
• Avoid weekends and holidays if you can, as entry is busier and the forest department adds a surcharge.
• If you are combining Palitana, do it on a separate day. The temple climb is demanding and not a good second activity after a safari.

Velavadar with elderly parents: the full guide →