Eastern Hills

The eastern hills form the forested, undulating frontier where Gujarat rises toward its neighbouring states, a landscape quite different from the plains and coast most associate with the region. Here you find wooded ridges, valleys, tribal villages and a cooler, greener feel, especially after the rains. For travellers who like scenic drives and unhurried nature, this belt is an appealing change of pace.

This is a broad, rural upland rather than a single site, so the experience is about the journey, the views and the rhythm of village life along the way. The eastern hills connect several of the region's forest areas and tribal towns, making them a natural corridor for a slow, exploratory trip through a lesser-visited part of Gujarat.

What to see and do in the eastern hills

Scenic drives along the ridges and through the valleys are the main pleasure, with viewpoints, forests and small settlements to pause at. The area's tribal villages and markets offer cultural interest, while the woodland supports birds and quiet nature. After the monsoon the greenery and any seasonal streams are especially lovely.

Because this is a rural upland, plan your route and stops in advance and lean into the exploratory spirit. Combine the drive with nearby forest sanctuaries and tribal towns to make a fuller journey through the region.

Eastern Hills

How to get there

The hills run along the eastern edge of Gujarat, reachable by road from cities such as Vadodara, the nearest large hub with an airport, depending on which stretch you aim for. A private vehicle is essential, as public transport into the interior uplands is limited and the appeal lies in the drive itself.

Best time to visit

The cooler months from about October to March are comfortable for driving and exploring, while the period just after the monsoon shows the hills at their greenest. The rains themselves can make interior roads difficult, and summer is hotter and drier.

Good to know

• Plan your route and fuel stops; the interior is remote.
• Drive after the monsoon for the greenest scenery.
• Combine with forest sanctuaries and tribal towns.
• Use a private vehicle; transport is limited.

Frequently asked questions

Where the eastern hills actually are

Gujarat is mostly flat, and the exception runs down its eastern edge. A more or less continuous belt of hill country follows the border with Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh from the Aravalli foothills in the north, through Mahisagar, Dahod and Chhota Udaipur in the middle, into the Satpura and Vindhya spurs above the Narmada, and finally into the Sahyadri country of the Dangs in the far south.

It is a narrow belt but a long one, and it is the greenest part of the state. Rainfall here is far higher than in Saurashtra or Kutch, the rivers run through wooded valleys rather than across plains, and the whole landscape looks like a different state entirely.

Adivasi country

This belt is also Gujarat's Adivasi heartland. Bhil, Rathwa, Vasava, Tadvi, Naika, Dhodia, Kunbi and Warli communities live along its length, and their presence shapes what a visitor actually encounters: village markets rather than town bazaars, weekly haats, and a calendar of fairs that peaks around Holi.

The craft traditions here are among the strongest in the state. Rathwa Pithora wall paintings around Chhota Udaipur, terracotta votive horses, bead work, bamboo and the woven textiles of the southern hills are all living practices rather than heritage revivals, and buying directly from the makers is both the best way to see them and the most useful.

What there is to see

The hills hold a surprising density of things worth the drive. Champaner-Pavagadh, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sits at the western edge of the belt. Polo Forest and its ruined temples lie in the Aravalli section, Ratanmahal has a sloth bear sanctuary, and Shoolpaneshwar covers a large stretch of the Satpura forest above the Narmada. The Statue of Unity and the Narmada dam sit where the river leaves the hills. Saputara, in the Dangs, is the state's only hill station. Jambughoda and Kevadia round out the middle section.

When to go

The monsoon and the two months after it are when this belt is at its best. Waterfalls run, the forest is dense, and the hills hold mist in the mornings — this is the one part of Gujarat where the rains are the high season rather than something to work around. Ninai, Zarwani, Gira and the Dangs cascades are all monsoon features.

November to February is the comfortable alternative: cool, clear and much easier for driving the hill roads, and the right season for the fairs and the forest lodges. March to June is hot even here, though the elevation takes the edge off it.

Getting around

A car is close to essential. The belt is long, the sights are scattered, and public transport between hill towns is slow. Roads are generally decent but narrow, and monsoon travel can be genuinely slow on the forest sections. Accommodation is limited outside Saputara, Kevadia and the larger district towns, so book ahead rather than arriving and hoping.