VANAMCOVE 
Narmada forest of sloth bears
Why this weekend?
The day-by-day plan
Day 1 · The forest
- Forest drive
- Temple stop
- River banks
Day 2 · The tribes
- Village visit
- Watchtower
- Return
Geography & terrain
Shoolpaneshwar WLS lies in the Narmada district of Gujarat at about 200–600 m, 90 km from Vadodara and 30 km from Rajpipla — the forest sanctuary of the region, its 600-sq-km forests, the river lines and the tribal villages set on the Satpura ranges' south edge.
History & culture
The sanctuary's story runs with the 1982 notification era — the forest sanctuary of the 600-sq-km forest line and the 1982-era notification of the Gujarat forest service, with the sanctuary's modern role as the wildlife stop of the Narmada circuit and the home of the 1980s-era wildlife and the leopards and the 2000s-era eco trails; the sanctuary's history of the 2015-era eco tourism and the Shoolpaneshwar temple stop, gives Shoolpaneshwar its forest character.
Where to stay
Budget
₹1,500–3,500/night
Mid-range
₹3,500–7,000/night
Comfort
₹7,000+/night
Things to do
- Forest sanctuaries
- River banks
- Old temples
- Tribal villages
- Watchtower decks
Eat & drink
- Dhokla
- Khandvi
- Fafda jalebi
- Undhiyu (in winter)
- Kathiyawadi dal
Getting there
- Fly
- Ahmedabad (AMD)
- Train
- Ahmedabad & Rajkot junctions
- Road from Ahmedabad
- varies by district — 40–450 km
- Getting around
- Autos, city buses, app taxis
Budget snapshot
- Total
- ₹10,000–18,000 (2 days)
- Per day · Stay
- ₹1,500–7,000/night
- Per day · Food
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Transport
- ₹1,200–1,600
- Per day · Activities
- ₹2,500–2,900
Month by month
- Jan · Best
- 14–29°C · None rain
- Feb · Best
- 17–32°C · None rain
- Mar · Hot
- 21–36°C · None rain
- Apr · Hot
- 25–39°C · None rain
- May · Hot
- 28–40°C · None rain
- Jun · Monsoon
- 27–35°C · Heavy rain
- Jul · Monsoon
- 25–31°C · Heavy rain
- Aug · Monsoon
- 25–31°C · Heavy rain
- Sep · Monsoon tail
- 24–33°C · Moderate rain
- Oct · Good
- 21–34°C · Light rain
- Nov · Good
- 17–31°C · None rain
- Dec · Best
- 14–29°C · None rain
Practical info
- Language: Gujarati (English understood in tourist spots)
- Best window: Oct–Apr
- Connectivity: good 4G in towns
- UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops
Practical tips
- The season (Oct–Apr) holds the wildlife
- The drives ask the permits
- Pairs with the Sardar Sarovar for the circuit
Frequently asked questions
What is Shoolpaneshwar WLS?
The forest sanctuary of the Narmada.
What is there to do?
The drives, the temple and the tribes.
How long is the visit?
Two days.
Narmada forest of sloth bears
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