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Vansada
Wildlife
The Vansda national Park was established in 1979. It got its name Vansda as the area was privately owned by the Maharaja of Vansda. The Park covering an area of 24 sq. kms is nestled in the mountains of Western Ghats or Sahyadris and is under the control of the government. Even though the park is small, it is extremely dense and has a wide variety of flora and fauna. Some parts of the park are dark even during daytime. The park lies close to the National Highway - 8 and is bisected by the Waghai-Vansda State Highway. The types of forest found in the park are mainly Moist deciduous and dry deciduous covered with bamboos, tall teak trees, mango groves and gigantic creepers. In all there are over 250 species of plants, including much variety of Orchids. During rainy reason, the park gets a heavy rainfall of over 2000 mm, which encourages the dense plant growth. The lanscape is beautiful with trees, small streams and beautiful hills and valleys. Ambika River flows through the north eastern boundary of the park. Tourists have to get permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden, of Gandhinagar or DFO, Ahwa to visit the park. The forest is a habitat to Leopards, python, four-horned antelope, pangolin, rusty-spotted cats, Jungle Cat, Civets, Mongooses, Macaques, Barking Deer, giant squirrels, Hyenas and a wide species of birds like Great Black Woodpecker, Malabar Trogon, Shama and Emerald Dove, Grey Hornbill, Racket-Tailed Drongo, Paradise Flycatcher, Leaf birds, Thrushes, Sunbirds, peafowls etc.
The park has dwellings of local tribals belonging to Bhil, Gamit, Warli, Kokni, Kunbi and Dangi tribes. All the tribals have their unique culture and systems which are interesting. Other interesting places near Vansda National Park are Gira Water Falls adjoining the Park, Botanical Gardens and wood workshop at Waghai, Mahal forest (Purna Game Sanctuary), Hot-water spring at Unai etc. Saputara, the only hill-station of Gujarat state, is only 52km away from the park. How to Get There
PWD and Panchayat guest houses are available at Vansda and Waghai. There is a Forest Rest House at Waghai. Luxury hotels are available at Saputara 50 kms from the park. Some of the privately owned hotels at Saputara are
Contacts
Purna Wild Life Sanctuary
Purna Sanctuary is a part of dense moist deciduous forests in Western Ghat of Gujarat and supports gamut of flora and fauna of very high evolutionary value. The Sanctuary, along with Vansda National Park, is the only Protected Area in South Gujarat for conserving diverse biological resources. Wild bulls, elephants, Sloth bear and rhinoceros also roamed in this forest-tract during historic past (Mughal Period). Forests of this region satisfy material and cultural needs of local tribals and maintain ecological stability of the area. Different types of forests that constitute varied habitats are
moist mixed deciduous forest, moist teak forest and bamboo brakes.
Bamboo forms thick middle storey in large area with tree cover having
moderately dense canopy. 'Mahal' forest in the Protected Area is
one of the best forests in the State.
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Vansda
National Park
Small
creatures with their amazing diversity are the real treasure of
the park. Among these are over 60 species of butterflies and 121
species of spiders. The largest of the spiders of Gujarat, the Giant
wood spider is common here and around 30 species of snakes are found
here. Besides, there are numerous varieties of insects, centipedes,
millipedes and snails as well as about 11 types of frogs and toads.
Purna
is a Sanctuary, where luxuriant dense forests with thick bamboo
brakes enchant visitors. People get surprised to see such pristine
forests in the area, which happens to be an extension of the Western
Ghats. The Sanctuary is a part of forests in northern part of the
Dangs district in South Gujarat. The area covering 160.8 sq. km
is a reserved forest. It has been notified as Sanctuary in July
1990.