Jambughoda is located in the Panchmahal district of Gujarat & is at the foothills of the Vindhyas. In 1990 Jambhughoda was declared as a wildlife sanctuary. The wildlife sanctuary is spread over an area of 130 sq km & has teak, bamboo & mahua tree covering the hilly area. There are forests & villages surrounding the sanctuary. The terrain is hilly & there are a number of tribal settlements in & around Jambughoda.The sanctuary has been a bird watcher’s delight & many noted Ornithologists like Dr. Salim Ali have spent valuable time studying the various species of birds here. Jambughoda is an ideal base for an excursion to the Jambughoda wildlife sanctuary, Ratanmahals Sloth Bear Sanctuary & Champaner-a world heritage site.
Best For:
Holi: Jambughoda is best visited during the Hindu festival of Holi in March/April.
The Bhangoria mela is held during Holi & tribals from the nearby villages gather at Kanwat near Jambughoda. There are various performances, dance, music & celebration.
Haat: The Haat in Jambughoda is worth a visit. Haat is a weekly market where tribals from the nearby villages come together to sell, buy or exchange commodities of daily use like pottery, vegetables, food grains, cattle, jewelry, clothes etc. Apart from this one can also witness authentic food, tribal song & dance. The Haat bears a festive look with people showing up in large numbers.
The best season to visit Jambughoda is between the months of October & March. The climate during these months is pleasant. Daytime is cool & the average temperature is around 22°C. On some nights the temperature may drop to about 6-7°C. The nights are chilly so it would be wise to carry a few woolen clothes. Most of the Hindu festivals like Diwali, Dusshera & Holi are also celebrated during these months and therefore it is a good time to visit Jambughoda. Summer is hot with temperatures touching 45°C. The monsoon arrives in July & the place turns lush green during this season.
It is advisable to exchange money at Vadodara or Ahmedabad before arriving at Jambughoda. Visitors must carry cash as it is difficult to find ATMs & merchant locations that accept cards.
No permit is required to travel to Jambughoda other than a visa for India. The consumption of alcohol is prohibited in Gujarat. Non-Indians can get a permit form the Government to buy & consume alcohol legally.
Jambughoda is about 50 kms from Vadodara which is well connected to the rest of the country through roads, rail and air.
By Air: The nearest airport to Jambughoda is Vadodara. There are regular flights to Vadodara from Mumbai, Delhi & other major cities in India. Vadodara is about 2 hours by road from Jambughoda. The nearest International airport is Ahmedabad.
By rail: Bodeli Railway Station (about 10 kms from Jambughoda) is the closest railhead but Vadodara is the closest well-connected railhead. There are regular trains connecting the major cities in India to Vadodara. .Superfast trains like Shatabdi (to Mumbai in 5 hrs) & Rajdhani (to Delhi in 12 hrs) as well as passenger trains like Memu/ Kathana passenger connecting the smaller towns & villages stop at Vadodara
By Road: It is convenient to travel to Jambughoda from Vadodara by road. Taxis can be hired from Vadodara and it takes about 2 hrs to get there. Buses are also available from Vadodara.
Nature Lovers Retreat is a resort which occupies a part of the palace at Jambughoda.
The remaining area is occupied by the owners. The rooms have a view of the Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary. Rooms are also available at the forest rest house in Kada near the dam.
Visitors have a choice of vegetarian & non-vegetarian food in Indian & Continental cuisines.
• The wildlife sanctuary is the main attraction of Jambughoda. There are several varieties of birds & animals. The sanctuary is home to Panthers and the four-horned Antelopes, Blue Bulls, Barking Deer, Hyenas, Jackals etc. Reptiles such as Cobra, Rat Snake, Russell’s viper and Python are also found here. One can spot a wide variety of birds in the sanctuary like the Paradise Fly Catcher, Golden Oriole, Tailorbird, etc. & migratory birds like Pin-tails, Teals, Brahminy ducks & the Comb Ducks. It is a good idea to carry a pair of binoculars, sturdy shoes & a good camera. The area also has two water reservoirs- one at Kada and the other at Targol. • The Jambughoda Palace is worth a visit. A part of the palace has been converted to a heritage hotel. • Bhilala and Nayaka tribal villages & Shri Bodeli Teerth, an ancient temple located at Bodeli are some spots worth visiting • Kada, Targol and Jhand Hanuman temple are also interesting places to see. Kada is also a popular camping site due to its proximity to Vadodara. It is a popular weekend getaway for nature lovers from the city. • Most of the tribes living in & around Jambughoda are Rathwas & Nayaks. Their houses are beautifully decorated. The wooden door at the entrance is exquisitely carved with tribal motifs. The front area is painted with Pithora paintings.
Jambughoda is recommended as a weekend getaway from Vadodara or Ahmedabad for campers & nature lovers. It can also be clubbed with other destinations like Champaner/Pawagadh (20 kms), Rajpipla (80 kms), Chhota Udepur (50 kms), Dhaboi, Balasinor etc.
Vadodara is an excellent starting point for an excursion covering these places.
