Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Polo Forest

An untamed forest surrounded by mountains, home to elusive species of plants & animals, ruins of an abandoned city and much more. Here’s all you need to know about visiting Polo Forest.

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves: the things that make us happy are not necessarily expensive.

A cup of tea, a hug, family, quiet morning, wonderful twilight, fallen leaves, a bite of mango, love and...a visit to Polo Forest.

If you live in Gujarat or are visiting the state, Polo Forest is a must-visit destination. It’s an oasis of serenity that’ll take you away from the concrete city jungles.

Quick, let me set up the scene for you:

400 square kilometres of untamed forest surrounded by mountains. You are walking on the leaf-carpeted path, the crisping twigs under the foot, scurrying squirrels and chattering birds. While you gaze up to the gigantic canopy of trees the sun breaks through the cracks and lights the ruins of fantastic temples dating back to the 15th century. Each time you inhale — there’s a flow of pure air pumped into your lungs; unchaining you from the shackles of the everyday mundane; revitalizes every bit of your mind, body and soul.

That’s Polo Forest. That’s happiness. That’s peace. That’s an experience of a lifetime.

So here is the blog that explains everything you need to know about visiting this ecotourism paradise.

What’s the Best Time to Visit Polo Forest?

Polo Forest can be explored all year around. You can experience the majestic ecotourism beauty in all the seasons. But the majority of the tourists prefer travelling in monsoon and winter — between August and February. It is the time when the forest greenery is at its peak and the river is brimmed with water. The average temperature around the year remains moderate; around 38 degrees in summer and 27 degrees during winter, so you can plan your visit in any season.

How to Reach There?

Polo Forest is about 150 kilometres away from Ahmedabad which takes approximately three hours by a private car. If you do not have a private vehicle, the best thing you can do is take public transport till Idar; that’s 115 kilometres from Ahmedabad. And then hire a private auto or taxi to Polo Forest.

If you are travelling from Udaipur, the distance is even less — around 130 kilometres. The best part is the well-maintained highways make reaching there smooth and easy whether you are travelling from Gujarat or Rajasthan.

Things to Do at Polo Forest

“What can I do at Polo Forest?” you ask. Well, there’re plenty of things.

You can explore the vast biodiversity of plants, animals and birds. You can explore the ruins of glorious medieval temples. You can satisfy your adventure bug by trekking on the hills and riverside. Here, let me break it down for you.

Explore Flora, Fauna and Opportunity for Trekking

Polo Forest is 400 square kilometres of untamed wilderness. It’s the home to 450 species of plants and herbs, more than 250 species of birds and over 60 species of animals including mammals and reptiles. You’ll explore the biodiversity that you’ve never seen before.

If you are an adventurous bug, there are a number of places you can visit for trekking including Bhim Parvat (Hill) and the brimming Harana river. Here are some of the things you can do:

Trekking
Cam fire (at the resort)
Team games
Rock climbing
Rappelling
Bird watching

Historic Architecture and Temples

The forest was once an ancient city known by the name Abhapuri that had some marvellous architecture. The city was abandoned and lost in time for several centuries until recently popularised as a tourist attraction.

The ruins still define the glory of the architecture and temples of the abandoned city. The ruins include a number of Jain temples, the temple of Shiva, Vireshwar Temple and Lakha Mandir — all endowed with beautiful carvings and sculptures.

If you are a history buff or someone interested in exploring archaeology — this place is a paradise.

Where to Stay at Polo Forest?

There are a number of resorts and hotels ranging from luxurious to pocket-friendly ones to choose from. Most resorts accommodate both AC and non AC rooms and you can book them online well in advance to avoid the same day rush. Apart from traditional resorts and hotels, if you are looking for some novel sojourning experience, you can go for tent-style hotels.

Packing Essentials

Although some items such as water bottles and snacks are available in the nearby areas, it’s always good to bring them along. Apart from these here are some of the things that you should keep on your packing list:

A pair of tracking or good sport shoes.
Mosquito repellent and sunscreen creams.
It is advisable to wear full clothes during trekking.
A pair of binoculars for bird watching.
If you are travelling during monsoon season, keep an umbrella or raincoat with you. Having a waterproof bag is also advisable.
First aid kit and torch for any emergency.
A power bank to charge your phones in the forest.
And of course, a camera — there’ll be plenty of scenes you’ll want to capture.

Wrapping Up

Hope this blog provides you with some information about visiting Polo Forest. It’s a must-visit place to take a break from everyday mundane and explore biodiversity and heritage. If you still have any queries about Polo Forest, feel free to drop us a line. We’ll be more than happy to help you.

And if you are looking to enjoy a sojourn in the forest without any hassle of organizing itinerary and accommodation — we can also help you with that.

We are Polo Safari, a travel company organizing exceptional private and corporate tours with all the amenities you need. Our tailor-made itineraries, professional guides, management and expertise in the travel industry ensures you are getting the best value for your money.