Dang also known as The Dangs, is a district in the Indian state of Gujarat. In ancient Indian Scriptures Dang is known as Dand Aranyaka, meaning Bamboo Forest. Dangs is the most backward district in India and is a Gold mine for nature lovers – sight seeing of breath taking local and not so popular destinations like the Gigantic Girmal Waterfall, Pampa sarovar, Gira Waterfall and many more – the destinations less heard of.
ENROUTE TO DANG
15th August:
Started off at around 11.30 PM from Mumbai by reserved bus towards Dang. Dang is approx 300 Kms from Mumbai. It took approx 6 hours from Mumbai to reach Dang.
Day 1: 16th August:
Reached Dang by early morning. The climate was very pleasant and chilling . Temperature was around 25 - 26 Degree. It's like Gujarat's Switzerland we could say. Our stay was arranged in a farm house. The farmhouse was in Subir and the traditional Village was around 5 minutes from the farmhouse. Upon reaching, we were allotted rooms.
GIGANTIC GIRMAL WATER FALL
After refreshment and breakfast we proceeded to the Girmal Water fall (the highest waterfall of Gujarat with 300 feet height). It is situated in Girmal village, near Ahwa. The view was truly breath taking - chocolaty water plunging down the rocks and the clouds covering on the mouth of waterfall.
After refreshment and breakfast we proceeded to the Girmal Water fall (the highest waterfall of Gujarat with 300 feet height). It is situated in Girmal village, near Ahwa. The view was truly breath taking - chocolaty water plunging down the rocks and the clouds covering on the mouth of waterfall.
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| Girmal Waterfall |
We had a photographic session at the beginning of the waterfall.
After spending few hours around waterfall, we returned to farm house by afternon. On our way back to farm house, I looked outside through the bus windows. The surrounding area looks beautiful at par with a golf ground.
WITH TRIBALS
Had lunch and took rest for sometime. In the evening we went to meet the tribal's. When we reached there, our guide Mr.Chirag introduced us to the owner of one of the houses. We were greeted wonderfully with a rural pleasure hat, which was provided by the hosts of our camp – ‘The Rural Pleasure’. Fortunately, I had few Cadbury chocolates with me which I distributed to the children's gathered there. Soon we became friends.
Had lunch and took rest for sometime. In the evening we went to meet the tribal's. When we reached there, our guide Mr.Chirag introduced us to the owner of one of the houses. We were greeted wonderfully with a rural pleasure hat, which was provided by the hosts of our camp – ‘The Rural Pleasure’. Fortunately, I had few Cadbury chocolates with me which I distributed to the children's gathered there. Soon we became friends.
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| Traditional Village Welcome by Tribes |
EVENING FOREST TREK
Later, we all had a short snack and left the tribal house for a forest trek.
We walked for approximately two hours. There was a small dam and it was interesting to cross the dam by walking on the edge of it. There were a small water fall and we enjoyed more and more until it was time for return.
LEISURE TIME
Soon we returned back to the tribal's house. After a refreshing cup of tea, we had a leisure time. Villagers showed us how to catch crabs .
Our next activity was an ice breaking session with tribal's – discussion about the culture, custom and traditions of tribal's. Cap-fire was ready in front of the house and we all sat around it to hear the stories explained by Mr.Chirag.
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| playing the local music instrument pavri |
Since we have to wait some more time for dinner, few of us decided to visit Shabri Dham temple which is situated on the top of Chamak Dungar hill. Nestled in Purna Wildlife Sanctuary, the temple is a walkable distance from the village house. Legend says that Shabari Dham temple is the spot where Lord Rama met a Bhil woman, Shabari. It is said that Lord Rama and Lakshman ate the berries offered by Shabari mata at this spot. The stones where they sat while eating the berries are still worshiped.
Soon we returned back to the house for dinner. They served the food in plantain leaves.
After dinner, we decided to walk till the farm house. We walked in the dark listening to the croaking of the frogs and amazing view of fireflies.
Day 2: 17th August:
We woke up early and moved to the days first activity ie Nature Trail. Enroute we decided to halt for a tea. It was quite interesting to see village life in the morning. The narrow dusty lanes was filled with hundreds of cows and goats competing with usual traffic on the roads .
NATURE TRIAL IN THE FOREST
Nature Trail was really exciting which took us through some exciting birds, insects, reptiles and bio diversity of the forest district. It was a guided tour by the tribals where they showed how they use forest resources.
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| Hanuman Mandir in the forest |
After two hour nature trail, we were all very tired and return to the farm house for breakfast.
WARLI PAINTING WORKSHOP
After having the breakfast, we moved onto the next activity that we were going to do. It was Warli painting. Warli art is a beautiful folk art of Maharashtra. Tribal people express themselves in vivid styles through paintings which they execute on the walls of their house.
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| Warli Painting |
Our guide, Mr Chirag explained the basic art structures such as a man and a woman. Then we were given hand-outs. We could draw anything from it on the cow dung walls as we were given white paint and also brushes. We could make our own changes and add our own techniques too. But the final long painting was awesome.
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| Workshop on Warli Painting |
Then, we finally went to the tribal's place to have another yummy lunch. After lunch we decided to depart and proceed for Mumbai. Enroute we had to visit few more places.
PAMPA SAROVAR
Our next destination was Pampa Sarovar (An exciting waterfall followed by a lake) on the banks of river Poorna. Matang Rishi, the Guru of Shabari Mata had constructed his Ashram near Pampa Sarovar.
PAMPA SAROVAR
Our next destination was Pampa Sarovar (An exciting waterfall followed by a lake) on the banks of river Poorna. Matang Rishi, the Guru of Shabari Mata had constructed his Ashram near Pampa Sarovar.
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| Pampa sarovar,Gujarat |
GIRA WATERFALLS
Then we proceeded to visit Gira Waterfalls . The Gira falls, a beautiful seasonal waterfall lies in the vicinity. Exceptionally beautiful during the monsoons, this falls is one of the favourite tourist destination in the region. The waterfall is 30 m in height and falls directly into the Ambika river.
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| Gira Waterfall,Saputara, Gujarat |
A BEAUTIFUL BOTANICAL GARDEN
Our final destination was Botanical Garden– Waghai.
Our final destination was Botanical Garden– Waghai.
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| Waghai Botanical Garden,Waghai,Gujarat |
Waghai botanical garden is one of the largest gardens in Gujarat. It is spread over 24 hectares and has over about 1400 plant species. Several varieties of bamboos can be seen here, among them the most popular are Chinese bamboo and beer bottle bamboo. Every avenue in the garden is named after plants. Some of them are Medicine plot, Green house, Arctic House, Bamboo Plot, Museum, Cactus etc.
We reached Mumbai by late evening with countless unforgettable memories.
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