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NATURE · HILLS · SABARMATI VALLEYPolo Forest Edge
Where the forest meets the hills — the Polo Forest Edge, the beautiful outer rim of Gujarat's greatest forest, where the Sabarmati winds through teak-clad ridges and the medieval temples appear between the trees.
The outer rim of the great forest
The Polo Forest Edge — the outer sections of the Polo Forest Reserve around the Vijaynagar hamlet — offers a different perspective from the main temple ruins at Abhapur: here the emphasis is on landscape, the way the Sabarmati winds through the teak-clad ridges, and the gradual discovery of carved stones and temple remnants that appear among the trees as you walk.
The Polo Forest’s outer edge is the place to see the Aravalli hills in their wider context: a layered, ancient range covered in mixed dry deciduous forest, rich in birds, with the occasional ruin appearing as a reminder of the medieval Jain settlement that once occupied this entire valley.
For photography, birding or simply a long quiet walk in a remarkable landscape, the Polo Forest Edge rivals anything in Gujarat’s nature and heritage offering. (Nominal entry fee; carry water.)
Polo Forest edge, Vijaynagar area, Aravalli.
From a riverside experiment to the road to freedom
Polo Forest edge, Vijaynagar, Aravalli.
One of India's oldest mountain ranges, the Aravalli hills cradle this dry deciduous forest in the Sabarmati valley.
A medieval Jain community once occupied the valley, leaving temples and carved stones scattered across the forest.
The remnants of those shrines now appear quietly among the trees, slowly reclaimed by the woodland.
The whole landscape is now safeguarded as a forest reserve, protecting both its wildlife and its ruins.
Reasons to make the time
A great forest
Teak & bamboo.
Aravalli hills
Ancient ridges.
Hidden ruins
Medieval Jain.
Birdwatching
Rich birdlife.
Sabarmati
A beautiful river.
Quiet
Few visitors.
What to look for inside
Polo Forest Edge
Hills & teak.
Medieval Jain
In the forest.
How to spend an hour or two
Walk the forest trails
Teak & bamboo.
Watch birds
Rich birdlife.
Find the ruins
Medieval Jain temples.
See the Sabarmati
River valley.
Photograph the hills
Aravalli landscape.
Picnic in the forest
A full half-day.
Polo Forest edge, Vijaynagar, Aravalli.
The Aravalli forest landscape
The Polo Forest Edge around Vijaynagar offers the Aravalli hills in their wider landscape context — teak-clad ridges, the Sabarmati valley, and scattered medieval Jain ruins appearing among the trees, one of Gujarat’s finest forest and heritage landscapes. (Nominal entry fee; carry water.)
Aravalli hills in teak-bamboo forest
Sabarmati valley landscape
Scattered medieval Jain temple ruins
Rich birdlife: leopards, deer, waterbirds
When to go
Cool & beautiful — the ideal season.
Lush green; some roads can flood.
Hot and dry — early start.
⏰ October to March is the ideal season for Aravalli — cool, clear and beautiful.
Timings & entry
- Open daytime hours
- Cool season preferred
- Morning best
- Check locally
- Nominal entry fee
- Carry water and food
- Best Oct–Mar
- Start early
Getting there
By Air
Ahmedabad airport (~130 km).
By Rail
Himmatnagar / Modasa.
By Road
NH-48 / Modasa.
Capturing Aravalli
ARAVALLI HILLS
Polo Forest Edge
What to shoot
Forest & hills.
Detail
Temple ruins.
Wildlife
Birdlife.
Best time
Morning.
Know before you go
More to see close by
Dev ni Mori Stupa
Walk the foundations of a 2,000-year-old monastery
Bhiloda
A forested town in the Aravallis
Shamlaji Temple
A revered carved Vishnu shrine on the Meshvo
Meshvo at Dawn
Shamlaji Carvings
Marvel at the temple's intricate sculptural panels
Meshvo Lake
A calm dam-lake beside the Shamlaji temple
Where to eat around the ashram
Gujarati Thali
Hearty home cooking.
Khaman & farsan
Gujarat's famous snacks.
Street food
Local dhabas in Aravalli.
Adivasi cuisine
Maize, millets and forest produce from Bhiloda.
Polo Forest Edge FAQ
What is Polo Forest Edge?
The Polo Forest Edge — the outer sections of the Polo Forest Reserve around the Vijaynagar hamlet — offers a different perspective from the main temple ruins at Abhapur: here the emphasis is on landscape, the way the Sabarmati winds through the teak-clad ridges, and the gradual discovery of carved stones and temple remnants that appear among the trees as you walk. The Polo Forest's outer edge is the place to see the Aravalli hills in their wider context: a layered, ancient range covered in mixed dry deciduous forest, rich in birds, with the occasional ruin appearing as a reminder of the medieval Jain settlement that once occupied this entire valley. For photography, birding or simply a long quiet walk in a remarkable landscape, the Polo Forest Edge rivals anything in Gujarat's nature and heritage offering. (Nominal entry fee; carry water.)
Where is it?
Polo (Vijaynagar area), Aravalli
Is there an entry fee?
Nominal.
When should I visit?
October to March, the cool season.
What's nearby?
Shamlaji Temple, Polo Forest, Meshvo Dam.
How long does it take?
Half a day.
Related places across Gujarat
Narayan Sarovar
One of Hinduism's five holy lakes, by Koteshwar
ISKCON & Akshardham
Major Vaishnav & modern temple complexes
Khijadiya
Where fresh & salt water birds meet
Idar Jain Derasar
Hilltop Jain shrines above the town
Hathni Mata Falls
A forest cascade near a hill shrine
Kirti Mandir
The memorial beside Gandhi's birth-house
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