Being a person who loves living close to nature, is the reason why Saputara has my heart. Apart from this, I can give plenty of other reasons for you to fall in love with this beautiful hill station. Nested in the Western Ghats, Saputara is a part of the Dang district of Gujarat.
Not everyone is known of the fact that Saputara has the most adventurous and thrilling journey to offer you. It’s not the Governor Hill or Sunrise point but the journey towards these places which made it an adventurous ride for me. The struggle that one goes through to reach the cliff makes it an unforgettable and a learning experience for life.
The trail for Governor hill gave me the feel of a total roller coaster ride with ups and downs and nothing by my side. If you miss out on your steps then straight down, there’s no way back up for you. I could literally hear out my heartbeats in that situation. But it is this adventure and risk that makes you feel alive. And this is what I loved about Saputara's journey.
On top of this, I visited these places during monsoon season, and so ‘Heaven’ is the word I would use for the feeling and vibes I got during this period. Simply paradise and a blissful experience with mist and clouds by my side. It emerged as if clouds and mist were playing hide and seek on the top. They would come, set a white opaque wall in front of the trekkers, and then within seconds it would vanish. I could have watched them play like that for hours.
The cliff gives a view of lusty green mountains, crowned with snow-white clouds. Such visuals are very rare and never forgotten.
Saputara has many undiscovered places and one of them is 'Don waterfall’. It has two waterfalls front facing each other and such a view is rare. Moreover, the roads which take you to the waterfall will make you question that 'Is it even India?' Surprisingly yes! A wide lusty green plain and amidst it goes a road giving a spectacular view. It is exactly the same scene we see in movies shot in a foreign country. Witnessing the same view in India will make you proud of the Incredible places that India has.
The beauty that this place possesses is beyond one’s imagination. By beauty, I don’t just mean material beauty but I also take account of the humans or say the locals of this town that I came across. They are truly pure souls who are always ready to help tourists without even asking for it. If they find you in trouble, won’t even think for a moment and will reach out to you.
Also, the enthusiasm that the kids of the village have is just unmatchable. I had the privilege to stay in Saputara for one week and our campsite was very near to the houses of locals. During this whole period each time our vehicle would pass by the local houses the kids would jump with joy to say ‘Hello’ and ‘Bye’ to the travelers.
What amazed me was that not even a single time did I see the kids normalizing the fact that these travelers are a part of their daily encounters and it is okay if they don’t wave them one time. I always saw them waving at the vehicles with a broad smile on their face and giving a welcoming feel with the same dedication for n number of times. Whether it was leaving for an early sunrise or returning in the evening from a tedious trek, these kids never missed a chance to cheer up the travelers.
Apart from this, I feel one of the lesser talked bits of Saputara is ‘Star Gaze’ which I am extremely fond of. I haven’t come across anyone appreciating the mesmerizing view that the night has to offer you. If you are lucky, then you may witness a shooting star too.
No wonder why Saputara is addressed as ‘Gujarat ka tara yani Saputara!’
It is truly a sparkling gem that we have in Gujarat and thus no number of reasons would be ever enough to describe why I love this place so much.