Visiting Bansda! Would appreciate tips to make the trip memorable!

mepaparazzi

Hi Friends

Would be visiting Bansda in a fortnight!
My first trip to the place which I am told is closest to Valsad.

Would appreciate tips to make the trip memorable!

Did surf around the net to get this info ...

1. The nearest Railway Station to Bansda is Valsad. Would appreciate the best way to reach Valsad by train from Mumbai!

2. There is a Bansda National Park listed on Google Maps. Worth a visit?

3. Looks like the forests near Bansda are full of teak and has lot of woodpeckers! Good furniture place?

4. Anything special about Valsad that one can explore? Food? Like Surat nu Jamman?

5. Bansda used to be a princely state but now only has ruins. The royal family has left Bansda and today one of its descendants works with Jet Airways!

6. Is it OK to carry some whisky in the train?
Not sure if one can buy it there!

7. Anything culturally significant that one could check out in the region?

Would appreciate inputs.

Thanks in advance!

Me Paparazzi

delhiwala

I have heard this place for first time. Please post a trip report once you return.

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Milind195

All Trains frm Mumbai to Ahmedabad / Baroda would pass through Valsad. You need to check out stoppages... It would take you around 4 - 5 hours by train.

Bansda is a forest but the teak trees( dried up and leaves all around the ground ) may not be as thrilling as one would like to have them.

But yes Saputara , Gujarat's Best Hill Station is close by. And whisky in Train is a no.no.. these days. Small quantities stuffed here=there may go unnoticed. But dont flaunt them in transit !

Managing stuff locally would be a difficult option these days !

More than the National Park I would recommend visiting the beaches at Teethal, close to Valsad (Around 10 - 15 kms) . This is a scenic, peaceful and serene place. The shore may be a bit muddy and rocky but a welcome retreat ....

You may like to check out visiting Silvasa and Daman the Union territories close by.........

Micky

mepaparazzi

Thanks delhiwalabhai!
Will surely revert with report and pics!

Thanks Micky!

Saputhara and Teethal sound exciting!

The Indian Railways web site states that many trains reach Valsad in just about three hours so that should be cool.

Good hotels out there?

I would not drink on the train ... but if I carry some whisky bottles in my bag would it be frisked checked in Valsad?

Thanks again!

Me Paparazzi

Jay_J

Hi Me...,

The correct name is Vansda National park.
2. There is a Bansda National Park listed on Google Maps. Worth a visit?

Definitely yes. Though not sure how it will be right now due to the heat. In monsoons and winters, it is a delight

3. Looks like the forests near Bansda are full of teak and has lot of woodpeckers! Good furniture place?

Nope. Hardly any local stuff too. Being a national reserve, the wood cutting is not allowed.

4. Anything special about Valsad that one can explore? Food? Like Surat nu Jamman?

You can visit Daman / Silvassa. They are UT's near Valsad. Teethal is a good beach.

6. Is it OK to carry some whisky in the train?
Not sure if one can buy it there!

Gujarat being a "dry" state, liquor is not allowed. However, you'll have to check the process of getting a transit permit made which shall allow you to carry your liquor. However, as said in a earlier post... dont flaunt it.

The Dangs area has quite a few Forest rest houses which are just beautiful. The Range Forest officers are based in Ahwa. You can visit them and get accomodation at these forest rest houses. Some of them are beautiful... Saputara the FRH is a log hut made entirely of wood. FRH at Subir is also very nice.

Have a nice trip...!!

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snonymous

Further to Jay's post, I would like to add that Vansda is a small NP created out of a private estate, in fact the extensive mango orchards in the estate still exist.

As Jay points out, a much better forest experience will be in the Dangs - very tall teak and bamboo almost like cathedral spires. We stayed at the Mahal forest rest house a few years ago arranged by the officer at Ahwa, and it was a lovely experience being in an old colonial house built on top of the river [Gira?]. The sky was so clear at night, we could see the Milky Way in all its glory. I also remember seeing a lot of Paradise Flycatchers.

Electricity supply was not continuous at that time, but I believe there is no electricity problem in Gujarat any longer. Also, if you stay there, it is a good idea to get your supply of vegetables etc for the caretaker to cook for you.

We also stayed at the log house at Saputara. I preferred the forests to Saputara.

However, if you want alcohol, Saputara will be better for you as you can nip across to the Maharashtra border where the roads are lined with liquor stores catering to this obviously copious demand from "dry" Gujarat.

Logging is banned.

It will be very hot now but it is also the season to enjoy the best Valsad alphonso mangoes.

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