Dungarda Trek, Vansda National Park

The Dungarda Trek is an easy forest walk of about 5.6 km inside Vansda National Park in Navsari district, southern Gujarat, India. The park lies about 90-106 km from Surat, and access is by private four-wheeler only; a vehicle permit costs Rs 500 per vehicle (about US$5.21), and no public transport runs to the trailhead. Visitors should plan to arrive with a car or hired taxi and to remain with it for the return. The route takes roughly 2 to 3 hours at a relaxed pace. No official elevation figure is published, and the walk is described as easy, with gentle gradients through moist deciduous forest on the edge of the Dang forest belt. The surface is mostly forest dirt track and packed earth, with roots and fallen leaves that can be slippery after rain. Tree canopy provides substantial shade for most of the way, which keeps the walk comfortable even in warmer months, though humidity and insects are noticeable. The park is known for dense teak and bamboo forest, and walkers may spot birds, butterflies and, with luck, small mammals; larger wildlife is present in the park but is rarely met on the main track. Because the route is a managed trek inside a national park, visitors usually follow the forest department's rules and may be accompanied by a park guide, so it is wise to check at the entrance gate for current requirements. No water source or refuge hut is documented, so water must be carried in, and insect repellent is recommended. The trek is listed alongside the Kala Amba trek, which covers a similar distance, so visitors with a full day sometimes combine both. A simple turn-around is possible at any point, since the track is largely out-and-back or loops within the same forest zone. The cool, dry window from November to February is the most comfortable and offers the clearest conditions for bird and wildlife observation.