The Waghai Belt
Waghai is the door into Dang from the plains, and the belt around it is the gentlest forest country in the district: the Ambika and Khapri rivers, a botanical garden of some size, and Vansda National Park just over the Navsari line holding one of the last stands of old teak in Gujarat.
It is the easiest part of Dang to reach and the easiest to underestimate. Gira Falls is a few kilometres out and runs wide rather than tall, which makes it the fall most people in Gujarat have actually seen. The heritage narrow-gauge line still runs to Waghai station.
For an early start into the interior, or a first night before the ghat roads, this is the sensible place to stop, the Forest Department campsites at Kilad and Padam Dungari are both here.
- Places
- 13
- Free to enter
- 8 of 13
- Monsoon-fed
- 6 of 13
- All of it takes
- ~26 hr
When it peaks
How many of these 13 places are at their best in each month, counted from every record’s own season window.
Every place in The Waghai Belt
Advait Waterfall
Vangan's neighbour fall on the Dang–Navsari line. Advait drops a kilometre from the Ankada Dhodh, doubling the Vansda-side outing.
Baaj Waterfall
Baaj village's falls and ridge-top view point on the Waghai side. A fall, a vista and, close by, the Koshmal forest country in one stop.
Chirai Waterfalls
Chirai drops in forest toward the Vansda border: the far corner of the Waghai-side falls country, and the loop's last and loneliest stop.
Gira Falls
The waterfall most Gujarat travellers meet first. Barely off the Waghai–Saputara road, and in full monsoon a broad, genuinely loud 23 m curtain.
Janki Van
Ten sacred groves, a tribal hut and tens of thousands of trees at Bhinar near Unai, on ground where Sita is said to have stayed.
Kilad Nature Education Campsite
Forest-department campsite on the Ambika river near Waghai, riverside cottages, nature trails and an easy first taste of Dang's forests.
Koshmal Falls (Bhigu Dhodh)
Waghai's secret, and a serious one: a forceful monsoon fall past Dungarda village, where a local guide is essential and the forest department posts warnings.
Padam Dungari Eco Campsite
Forest-department campsite on the Ambika river in the hills near Vyara, riverside cottages and trails that pair with the Waghai belt.
Pilva Dungar
'The last hill of Gujarat' at Chorvani near Vansda, a monsoon-green dungar with the Pindhara Dev shrine, loved by trekkers and off-roaders alike.
Unai Mata Temple & Hot Springs
Rama's arrow raised the boiling kund, in the telling, and pilgrims have bathed in it ever since. Ushnamba Mata's hot-spring temple at Unai.
Vangan Waterfall (Ankada Dhodh)
Ankada Dhodh, at Vangan village near Vansda. A vlog-discovered border fall, with the Gandavle hill viewpoint above the same village.
Vansda National Park
Giant squirrels, pythons, leopards and butterflies in barely 24 km² of dense old forest on Waghai's doorstep.
Waghai Botanical Garden
Labelled native trees, bamboo groves and shaded walks across a large forest-department campus at the foot of the Dang hills.
Getting around
What the roads are actually like, per place.
Season notes
For photographers
Where to sleep here
Routes through here
Also known as
Local and alternative spellings you may see on signs, in vlogs or on other maps: Advait Dhodh · Baaj Water Fall · Baaj Dhodh · Chirai Dhodh · Gira Dhodh · Gira Waterfall Waghai · Janki Van Forest · Janaki Van Bhinar · Kilad Campsite · Kilad Eco Campsite · Kusmal Waterfall · Bhigu Dhodh · Koshmad Falls · Padamdungri · Padam Dungri Eco Tourism · Pilva Hill · Pindhara Dev Dungar · Unai Mata Mandir · Ushnamba Mata Temple · Unai Hot Springs · Ankada Dhodh · Aakda Dhodh · Vangan Dhodh · Bansda National Park · Botanical Garden Waghai.