Polo Forest (Vijaynagar)
Jain and Shiva ruins lost in Aravalli forest by the Harnav
Best time to visit Polo Forest (Vijaynagar)
- Jan, shoulder season
- Feb, shoulder season
- Mar, shoulder season
- Apr, best avoided
- May, best avoided
- Jun, best avoided
- Jul, shoulder season
- Aug, shoulder season
- Sep, peak season
- Oct, peak season
- Nov, peak season
- Dec, peak season
peak shoulder off-season avoid
- Go: September to December
- Shoulder: January to March and July to August, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
- Skip: April to June
Polo Forest (Vijaynagar) season by season
Winter December to February Prime time
Dec-Feb mornings drop near 8 °C in the valley, good for camping and birding, though the forest browns off by February.
Summer March to May Shoulder
Apr-Jun bakes at 42 °C, the forest goes to grey scrub and the ruins offer no shade. There is nothing to come for.
Monsoon June to September Prime time
Jul-Aug is dramatic, but the river crossings towards the Sharneshwar temple flood and forest tracks turn to mud.
Autumn October to November Prime time
Sep-Nov is why you come: 15th-century ruins in wet green forest, water still running, 20 °C nights under canvas.
What Polo Forest (Vijaynagar) is actually like
Weekend campers from Ahmedabad and nobody midweek; tented camps and a forest rest house, no cafes
Getting to Polo Forest (Vijaynagar)
Himatnagar railhead 70 km, ST bus to Vijaynagar then a jeep to Abhapur; the last bus back leaves early
Practical ways in: trainroad
Trip facts
- How long to stay
- 2 days
- Budget
- Shoestring
- How busy
- Quiet at its peak
- Solo travel
- Doable solo with some planning
- Altitude
- 326 m
- State
- Gujarat
- Coordinates
- 23.9850, 73.2992
Common questions
When is the best time to visit Polo Forest (Vijaynagar)?
September to December is peak season in Polo Forest (Vijaynagar). January to March and July to August is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid April to June. Jul-Aug is dramatic, but the river crossings towards the Sharneshwar temple flood and forest tracks turn to mud.
How many days do you need in Polo Forest (Vijaynagar)?
2 days is the usual stay. Weekend campers from Ahmedabad and nobody midweek; tented camps and a forest rest house, no cafes.
How do you get to Polo Forest (Vijaynagar)?
Himatnagar railhead 70 km, ST bus to Vijaynagar then a jeep to Abhapur; the last bus back leaves early. Practical ways in: train and road.
Is Polo Forest (Vijaynagar) expensive, and does it get crowded?
Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.
Nearby, and where to go next
-
Idar (Idariyo Gadh)
Gujarat
Palaces and Jain shrines stacked on giant granite boulders
50 km from Polo Forest (Vijaynagar), roughly under an hour by road
-
Dungarpur
Rajasthan
Juna Mahal's seven floors of frescoes above a Vagad town
60 km from Polo Forest (Vijaynagar), roughly about 1 h by road
-
Vadnagar
Gujarat
2500 year old town of torans, lake ghats and Buddhist ruins
90 km from Polo Forest (Vijaynagar), roughly about 2 h by road
-
Udaipur
Rajasthan
City of Lakes: palaces and postcard sunsets
100 km from Polo Forest (Vijaynagar), roughly about 2 h by road
-
Mount Abu
Rajasthan
Rajasthan's only hill station, oasis from the heat
130 km from Polo Forest (Vijaynagar), roughly about 3 h by road
-
Patan (Rani ki Vav)
Gujarat
The stepwell off the 100-rupee note, plus patola looms
160 km from Polo Forest (Vijaynagar), roughly about 3 h by road
-
Jawai Bandh (Bera)
Rajasthan
Leopards on granite hills above an Aravalli reservoir
160 km from Polo Forest (Vijaynagar), roughly about 3 h by road
-
Modhera (Sun Temple)
Gujarat
Solanki sun temple over a stepped kund of 108 shrines
170 km from Polo Forest (Vijaynagar), roughly about 3 h by road
More places to visit in Gujarat
- Ahmedabad Gujarat
- Bhuj Gujarat
- Champaner-Pavagadh Gujarat
- Dholavira Gujarat
- Dwarka Gujarat
- Gir (Sasan Gir) Gujarat
- Gondal Gujarat
- Idar (Idariyo Gadh) Gujarat
- Junagadh (Girnar) Gujarat
- Little Rann of Kutch (Dasada) Gujarat
- Mandvi (Kutch) Gujarat
- Modhera (Sun Temple) Gujarat
- Nal Sarovar Gujarat
- Narara (Marine National Park) Gujarat
- Ninai Falls (Dediapada) Gujarat
- Palitana (Shatrunjaya) Gujarat
- Patan (Rani ki Vav) Gujarat
- Rann of Kutch (Dhordo) Gujarat
- Saputara Gujarat
- Somnath Gujarat
- Statue of Unity Gujarat
- Tarnetar Gujarat
- Vadnagar Gujarat
- Velavadar (Blackbuck National Park) Gujarat
- Wankaner Gujarat
- Wilson Hills (Dharampur) Gujarat