Velavadar Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar: History, highlights and visitor guide

History and context

The story behind Velavadar Blackbuck National Park

Wikipedia describes the land as grassland that was used for hunting blackbuck before it became a protected area. It was declared a national park in July 1976 with about 18 sq km, and Gujarat Tourism says a further 16 sq km was added in 1980.

The Forest Department of Gujarat manages the park, which is classed as an IUCN category II national park. Ongoing conservation work focuses on blackbuck, wolf and lesser florican.

Useful facts

Velavadar Blackbuck National Park facts at a glance

Location

Bhal region, Bhavnagar district, Gujarat; about 50 km north of Bhavnagar

Experience type

Guided vehicle safari on grassland tracks

Known for

Blackbuck herds, winter harrier roost, Indian wolf

Established

July 1976; extended in 1980 (Gujarat Tourism)

Area

About 34 sq km (Wikipedia, Gujarat Forest Department)

Season

Open mid-October to mid-June; closed through the monsoon

Why it matters

Why Velavadar Blackbuck National Park is worth your time

Velavadar protects a piece of tropical grassland, a habitat that has shrunk across India. The national park was set up in 1976 on about 18 sq km and later extended, and the Forest Department puts its area at roughly 34 sq km. It sits in the Bhal region, between seasonal rivers, with salt flats and tidal mudflats at its southern edge, which is why it holds a different mix of animals from the forest parks elsewhere in Gujarat.

Its best-known resident is the blackbuck, India's spiral-horned antelope, and Gujarat Tourism puts the herd at about 1,800 animals. The park also shelters Indian wolf, striped hyena, jackal and jungle cat, and each winter it hosts a large roost of migrating harriers. It is also a rare place where an older traveller can see wild animals without a single flight of stairs.

Highlights

What not to miss

1. 01

   Blackbuck herds in open grass

   The antelope are easy to see and unusually relaxed around vehicles. Males show dark backs and spiral horns, females and fawns are fawn-coloured.

2. 02

   Dusk and the harrier roost

   In winter, harriers gather in the grass at dusk. The last session of the day is the one to take if you care about birds.

3. 03

   A guide who knows the ground

   The mandatory guide knows where wolf and hyena have been seen and will explain the sexes and behaviour of the herds.

Plan your visit

How to experience it

Plan Velavadar as a half-day outing from Bhavnagar, not a drive-through. The park runs two sessions a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, and the first and last hours are the best: animals are active, the grass turns gold and the harriers come in to roost at dusk. The forest department lists slightly different session times for winter and summer, so confirm them for your date.

You enter in a vehicle with a guide, normally a jeep from the park. Entry is by ticket, and the guide steers you along the grass tracks to the herds. Blackbuck are usually in two kinds of group, females with fawns in large herds and males in smaller bachelor groups, so ask the guide to explain what you are looking at. Nilgai are common, and the guide will tell you where wolves or hyena were last seen. Do not expect to see them on every drive.

Bring water, a hat, sunscreen and binoculars, since there is almost no shade. Dress in muted colours, keep voices low and stay in the vehicle unless told otherwise. If you want both sessions, stay overnight nearby and rest in the middle of the day rather than driving back to Bhavnagar.

Know before you go

Timing, access and comfort

Area

Bhal region, Bhavnagar district, about an hour north of Bhavnagar city

Time needed

One morning or afternoon session (about 3 hours); both sessions if staying nearby

Best time

November to February, in the first or last session of the day; closed from mid-June to mid-October

Walking level

Easy

Senior comfort

You stay in a vehicle for the whole visit, so there is no walking beyond getting in and out. Tracks are dusty and can be bumpy, shade is scarce and the vehicles are open or semi-open, so a hat, sunscreen and a cushion help older travellers.

Tickets and access

Entry is ticketed per person and per vehicle, with separate rates for Indian and foreign visitors and a weekend surcharge. A forest guide is mandatory. Check current fees, timings and any advance booking on the Gujarat Forest Department site before you travel.

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