A wild range above the coast
Rising between Porbandar and the sea, the Barda Hills form a compact but genuinely wild range — a wildlife sanctuary of dry deciduous forest, rocky ridges and seasonal streams. Once a hunting reserve of the local rulers, Barda shelters leopards, hyenas, jackals, wild boar, nilgai (blue bull) and a rich birdlife, and was even studied as a possible second home for the Asiatic lion.
Kileshwar, the small Shiva temple deep in the hills with its spring-fed pools and giant trees, makes the sanctuary’s best inner destination — a forest picnic ground the region’s families have used for generations. Reach Barda from Porbandar or Ranavav on the south, or via Bhanvad for the Ghumli side, and carry everything: the hills have no facilities beyond the temple’s.
Barda’s history gives it an odd distinction: the range was long studied as the second home for the Asiatic lion — the translocation site that would break Gir’s dangerous monopoly — and although the politics have never let the move happen, the habitat assessments keep the hills in conservation’s eye. Recent years have even recorded lions reaching Barda on their own, the population’s westward spread doing quietly what committees debated for decades.
For the visitor the hills pair wilderness with ruins: Ghumli, the medieval Jethwa capital inside the sanctuary’s edge, keeps its great Navlakha temple and the Vikia and Jetha stepwells — Solanki-era carving in deep countryside — and the sanctuary roads link them through genuine forest. Permits and timings are checked at the gates; November to February is the season.
Threaded with old dams, temples and the romantic ruins of Ghumli — a once-great medieval capital with carved stepwells and the Navlakha temple, on the range’s far side — the hills reward naturalists and history-lovers alike. Quiet, green and little-visited, Barda is a refreshing wild counterpoint to Porbandar’s coast and shrines. (Ghumli itself lies on the Devbhumi Dwarka side of the range.)
The wooded Barda Hills.
A royal shikar reserve awaiting lions again
Wooded hills of wildlife and ruins.
The Barda Hills served as a rulers' hunting ground.
The range is protected as a wildlife sanctuary.
It was considered as a second home for the Asiatic lion.
Old dams, temples and the Ghumli ruins dot the hills.
Reasons to make the time
Leopards
Big cats roam the wooded hills.
Rich birdlife
Forest and water birds abound.
Ancient ruins
Ghumli's stepwells and temples.
Old dams
Scenic reservoirs in the hills.
Wild & quiet
Little-visited green wilderness.
Near Porbandar
An easy wild day-trip.
What to look for inside
THE HILLSWooded range
Forested ridges and valleys.
WILDLIFEForest fauna
Leopards, nilgai and birds.
RUINSGhumli
Medieval stepwells and the Navlakha temple.
WATEROld dams
Earthen dams that sustain the wildlife.
FORESTDry deciduous woods
Streams and rocky ridges across the massif.
NATUREQuiet wilderness
A green, little-visited range above the coast.
How to spend an hour or two
Get a permit
Drive the sanctuary tracks through the wooded ridges.
Drive the hills
Watch for leopard sign, nilgai and the forest birds.
Watch wildlife
Give Ghumli's Navlakha temple and stepwells proper time.
See the dams
Stop at the old reservoirs where the wildlife waters.
Explore ruins
Enjoy a green wilderness that sees almost nobody.
Go in winter
Make it the easy wild day-trip from Porbandar or Jamnagar.
A compact wild range.
Forest, ridge and ruin
Barda is a small massif of dry deciduous forest and rocky hills, cut by seasonal streams and dotted with old earthen dams that hold water through the dry months — lifelines for its wildlife. Forest tracks wind through the range, linking watering points, viewpoints and scattered heritage sites.
Among the trees and ridges lie temples and, on the far side, the evocative ruins of Ghumli — carved stepwells and the great Navlakha temple — so a visit blends wildlife with a touch of lost-kingdom history.
See what else is nearby in our guide to Porbandar.
This belongs to a wider story: wildlife across Gujarat.
Dry deciduous forest
Rocky hills & streams
Old earthen dams
Heritage temples & ruins
When to go
Cool and clear — the best season for wildlife and birds.
The hills green up; wetlands fill — lush and alive.
Hot and dry — visit early; wildlife seeks water.
⏰ Visit in winter with a forest permit and a local guide; early morning is best for wildlife and birds.
Timings & entry
- Best explored in the cool winter months
- A forest permit and guide are advised
- Early morning is best for wildlife
- Allow a half day
- Entry is via a forest permit
- Go with a local guide
- Carry water and sun protection
- Do not disturb the wildlife
Getting there
By Air
Porbandar Airport is the nearest gateway.
By Rail
Porbandar, then road to the hills.
By Road
About 15 km from Porbandar; arrange a guide.
In the hills
FOREST & RUIN
Wooded ridges and lost-kingdom stone
What to shoot
The wooded hills and ridges.
Wildlife
Nilgai, birds and (if lucky) leopard.
Heritage
Old temples and Ghumli ruins.
Best light
Early morning in the forest.
Know before you go
More to see close by
ANCIENTGhumli Ruins
A grand stepwell & temples of a lost capital
BIRDSPorbandar Bird Sanctuary
A central wetland alive with migratory birds
BEACHPorbandar Beach
The city’s breezy seafront & Chowpaty
HERITAGESandipani Ashram
Where Krishna & Sudama are said to have studied
COASTMiyani
A windswept Harshad Mata shrine by the sea
PALACEHuzoor Palace
A seafront royal palace of the Jethwa rulers
Where to eat near Barda Wildlife Sanctuary
THALIKathiawadi Thali
Rotla, kadhi, shaak and ghee-rich fare.
SNACKSGanthiya & fafda
Saurashtra's beloved farsan.
SWEETSKhaja & sweets
Treats from the Sudamapuri bazaars.
Pure-veg town
Porbandar's food is largely vegetarian.
Barda Wildlife Sanctuary FAQ
What is Barda Wildlife Sanctuary?
A range of wooded hills near Porbandar, protected for leopards, birds and other wildlife.
What wildlife lives there?
Leopards, hyenas, jackals, wild boar, nilgai and many birds.
What is Ghumli?
An evocative medieval ruin — stepwells and the Navlakha temple — on the range.
Do I need a permit?
Yes — a forest permit, ideally with a local guide.
When is the best time?
Winter, early in the morning.
How far is it from Porbandar?
About 15 km.
Is it crowded?
No — it's quiet and little-visited.
Can I see leopards?
They're present but elusive; sightings are a matter of luck.
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Published 24 June 2026 · Updated 24 August 2026