Forest walking through a dry deciduous Aravalli valley scattered with 15th-century Jain and Hindu ruins, including the Sharneshwar Mahadev temple, along the Harnav river and up to the Vanaj dam.
Polo Forest, also called the Vijaynagar forest, fills a broad Aravalli valley in northern Sabarkantha district about 150 km from Ahmedabad, and it is the closest thing Gujarat has to soft, green woodland walking. The forest covers roughly 400 square kilometres of dry mixed deciduous cover, and threaded through it are the remains of a 15th-century settlement: Jain shrines, step-tanks and the Sharneshwar Mahadev temple, all built in the local grey stone and now standing among teak, mahuda and bamboo. Walking here is informal rather than waymarked. Most visitors follow the forest road from the Abhapur gate, branch off to the temple ruins, wade or hop the Harnav riverbed, and then walk up to the Vanaj dam, which holds a broad reservoir under the ridge. Ambitious walkers push on to higher points on the surrounding hills for views across the canopy. Distances are flexible, typically four to ten kilometres, and the gradients are gentle, which makes this a good option for families and for hikers who want forest rather than stone steps. The woodland supports leopard and sloth bear alongside more than a hundred bird species, so dawn and dusk walks are best done with a local forest guide arranged at the gate. The Gujarat forest department runs tented camping in the cool season, and the valley is busiest on winter weekends and immediately after the monsoon, when the Harnav runs full and the forest is at its greenest. Mobile signal is patchy once inside, and there are no shops beyond the gate, so water and food need to be carried in.
| Distance | Loops and out-and-back walks of 4-10 km between the ruins, river and dam |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2-5 hours depending on the route chosen |
| Difficulty | easy to moderate |
| Trailhead | Best reached by car from Ahmedabad via Himmatnagar and Vijaynagar; state buses reach Vijaynagar, from where a local jeep covers the last stretch |
| Best season | September to February |
| Address | Polo Forest gate, Abhapur village, Vijaynagar taluka, Sabarkantha district 383460, Gujarat, India |
Trail facts
- Trail area
- Abhapur, Vijaynagar taluka, Sabarkantha district
What to bring
- Trail shoes that can get wet at the river crossings
- 2 litres of water
- Insect repellent
- Binoculars for the birdlife
- Packed food, as there are no shops inside
Location
Polo Forest gate, Abhapur village, Vijaynagar taluka, Sabarkantha district 383460, Gujarat, India
24.1650, 73.2350 View on map
Highlights
- Fifteenth-century Sharneshwar Mahadev temple standing in open forest
- Ruined Jain temples and step-tanks half-swallowed by the trees
- Harnav river crossings and pools below the Vanaj dam
- More than 100 recorded bird species in the dry deciduous woodland
- Camping grounds run at the forest gate during the cool season
Tips for visiting
- Walk at first light or in the late afternoon for the best bird activity; the middle of the day is quiet and hot.
- Arrange a local forest guide at the Abhapur gate before walking off the main forest road, as leopard and sloth bear are present.
- Carry all water and food in; there are no shops beyond the forest entrance and mobile signal is patchy.
- Visit in the weeks after the monsoon, from late September to November, when the Harnav river runs and the ruins sit in green forest.
- Book forest department tented camping in advance for winter weekends, when the valley fills with visitors from Ahmedabad.
When to visit
Early morning from late September to February, when the forest is green after the rains and temperatures stay below the mid twenties Celsius.
Accessibility
The main forest road as far as the Sharneshwar temple is broad and level enough for assisted wheelchair use in dry conditions, but the riverbed crossings, ruin sites and dam paths are uneven natural ground.
Visit, book or contact
Frequently asked questions
How far is Polo Forest from Ahmedabad?
About 150 km, a drive of three to four hours via Himmatnagar and Vijaynagar, which makes it a long day trip or a comfortable overnight.
Are the trails marked?
Not formally. Walking follows forest roads and informal paths between the Sharneshwar temple, the Harnav riverbed and the Vanaj dam, so a local guide is useful for anything off the main track.
When does the forest look its best?
Late September to November, just after the monsoon, when the river is flowing and the deciduous canopy is still green. By April the forest is dry and leafless.