A camp in the wild
Mahal is the celebrated eco-campsite at the heart of the Purna Wildlife Sanctuary — a forest and riverside camp run by the forest department that lets visitors stay deep in the green Dangs. With simple cottages, tents and dormitories beside the Purna river, surrounded by tall teak and the sounds of the forest, Mahal offers nature trails, machan (watchtower) stays, river walks, birdwatching and the chance to fall asleep and wake to the calls of the jungle.
From the camp, the sanctuary’s best excursions fan out easily: the Girmal falls road, the Mahal bridge over the Purna, and the guided forest walks the department arranges each morning — leopard and hyena tracks in the dust, giant squirrels overhead, and the birdlist running long before breakfast.
Mahal’s charm is its plainness: forest-department cottages and tents, meals by arrangement, no resort trimmings — just the Purna’s tall teak and bamboo pressing on the clearing and the river talking through the night. Book ahead through the Dangs forest division (the office at Ahwa or the online window when it runs), carry what comforts you need, and treat the camp’s rules as absolute: this is sanctuary land, and the leopards the guides mention are not rhetorical.
The monsoon transforms the sanctuary into Gujarat’s greenest place and the camp into its most atmospheric bed — though access can close in the heaviest weeks. October to March gives reliable roads, cool nights and the best walking.
It is the base from which to explore the Purna sanctuary and the best way to truly experience the wild, forested character of the Dangs. Forest immersion at its finest. An eco-campsite — book ahead, and expect basic forest facilities.
Mahal, by the Purna river.
Cottages and tents at the heart of Purna
Cottages in the forest.
Mahal sits at the heart of the Purna Wildlife Sanctuary, a forest eco-campsite run by the department.
Simple cottages, tents and dormitories stand beside the Purna river, amid tall teak forest.
The forest department runs the eco-camp, keeping it simple and close to the wild.
Mahal is the base from which to explore the Purna sanctuary and the wild Dangs.
Reasons to make the time
Forest eco-camp
Deep in the Dangs.
Riverside stay
Cottages & tents.
Machan stays
Watchtower nights.
Jungle sounds
Sleep in the wild.
Nature trails
From the camp.
Birdwatching
At dawn.
What to look for inside
THE CAMPMahal
Forest cottages.
THE RIVERThe Purna
Beside the camp.
How to spend an hour or two
Stay overnight
Stay deep in the forest at the department's eco-camp.
Walk the trails
Walk the sanctuary trails straight from the camp gate.
Do a machan stay
Climb the watchtower for the canopy and the night sounds.
Walk by the river
Sit by the Purna river running beside the cottages.
Watch the birds
Wake at dawn, when the forest gives its best hour.
Wake to the jungle
Learn the forest's calls and light from the local guides.
Mahal eco-campsite.
A riverside forest camp
Mahal is the forest-department eco-campsite at the heart of the Purna Wildlife Sanctuary — cottages, tents and dormitories beside the Purna river, amid tall teak, with nature trails, machan stays and birdwatching. The best base for immersing in the wild Dangs. Book ahead; basic facilities.
It sits within the Dangs district — browse more places to visit in the Dangs.
More of the same kind is gathered in museums and palaces in Gujarat.
A forest eco-campsite
Beside the Purna river
Cottages, tents & machans
The base for the sanctuary
When to go
Misty, green and full of waterfalls.
Cool, clear and pleasant.
Cooler than the plains.
⏰ The Dangs are loveliest in and just after the monsoon, when the hills are green and the waterfalls full.
Timings & entry
- An overnight forest stay
- Book through the forest dept
- Best Nov–Feb
- Basic facilities only
- Book ahead (forest dept)
- Basic forest facilities
- Carry essentials
- Respect the forest
Getting there
By Air
Surat airport is the nearest gateway, about 120 km away, with onward road to the Dangs.
By Rail
The Bilimora–Waghai narrow-gauge line reaches the edge of the Dangs forests.
By Road
Drive in via Saputara or Ahwa; the camp sits within the Purna sanctuary.
At Mahal Campsite
CAMP & FOREST
Sleeping in the forest
What to shoot
The camp.
Setting
The Purna river.
Detail
Teak forest.
Mood
Night in the wild.
Know before you go
More to see close by
GARDENStep Garden
Terraced flower beds above the lake
WATERFALLGira Falls
A wide curtain of water near Waghai
HILLDon Hill
A higher, quieter Saputara alternative
SACRED LAKEPampa Sarovar
A holy pond of Ramayana legend
PILGRIMShabari Dham
Where Shabari awaited Lord Rama
4Anjan & Padmadungari
Hidden waterfalls and forest eco-trails
Where to eat near Mahal Campsite
THALIGujarati Thali
Meals on the plains route.
FARSANDhokla & farsan
Steamed snacks.
STREETSaputara stalls
Corn, snacks & chai.
Tribal Dangi fare
Nagli rotla, bamboo shoots & forest produce.
Mahal Campsite FAQ
What is Mahal Campsite?
Mahal is the celebrated eco-campsite at the heart of the Purna Wildlife Sanctuary — a forest and riverside camp run by the forest department that lets visitors stay deep in the green Dangs. With simple cottages, tents and dormitories beside the Purna river, surrounded by tall teak and the sounds of the forest, Mahal offers nature trails, machan (watchtower) stays, river walks, birdwatching and the chance to fall asleep and wake to the calls of the jungle.
Where is it?
Purna sanctuary, The Dangs.
Is there an entry fee?
Booking is required through the forest department; expect basic forest facilities.
When should I visit?
Monsoon for greenery; winter for cool, clear days.
What's nearby?
Saputara, the waterfalls and the Dangs' forests.
How long does it take?
Overnight.
Related places across Gujarat
COASTDahej Coast
Where the Narmada meets the Gulf
ARCHITECTUREUparkot Buddhist Caves
A pillared mosque within the old fort
LANDMARKGolden Bridge
The grand colonial-era Narmada crossing
TOWNBarvala
An old market town of the region
RIVERMahi River
The broad, sacred river of the district
Old City Gates
◐ Bazaars & bustle
WHERE TO STAY
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Published 24 June 2026 · Updated 24 August 2026