Saputara
Gujarat's only hill station, on the Maharashtra border
Best time to visit Saputara
- Jan, shoulder season
- Feb, shoulder season
- Mar, shoulder season
- Apr, shoulder season
- May, shoulder season
- Jun, shoulder season
- Jul, peak season
- Aug, peak season
- Sep, shoulder season
- Oct, shoulder season
- Nov, shoulder season
- Dec, shoulder season
peak shoulder off-season avoid
- Go: July to August
- Shoulder: September to June, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
- Skip: no month is a write-off here
Saputara season by season
Winter December to February Shoulder
Cool and clear, good for the lake, ropeway and viewpoints, though valleys run dry.
Summer March to May Shoulder
Warm at 34C and the valleys go brown, but it is still the coolest air in Gujarat and far cheaper than a monsoon weekend.
Monsoon June to September Prime time
Valleys turn green and Gira Falls runs full - this is when it actually looks alpine.
Autumn October to November Shoulder
Waterfalls fade through October but greenery and cool air carry into a pleasant November.
What Saputara is actually like
Small, quiet lake town - Gujarati family holidaymakers, boating rather than any nightlife
Things to do in Saputara
The local places worth your time in and around Saputara, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.
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Saputara Lake
Lake · in town
Pedal boats and a walkable shore right in town; hire at the Boat Club jetty, the water is calmest just after sunrise.
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Gandhi Shikhar (Sunset Point)
Viewpoint · 2 km out
Ropeway up to the ridge above the lake for the Sahyadri sunset; last car around 6 pm and the queue builds after 5.
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Hatgad Fort
Fort · 5 km out
Small Maratha hill fort just over the Maharashtra border, about 30 minutes up rough steps; carry water, no stalls up top.
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Saputara Tribal Museum
Museum · 1 km out
One room of Dangi masks, drums and Warli painting run by the state; tiny fee, half an hour is plenty.
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Gira Falls
Waterfall · 50 km out
Wide curtain fall near Waghai on the road down to Ahwa; worth the drive only from July to October, no climb involved.
Getting to Saputara
3h drive from Surat, or 2h from Nashik across the Maharashtra border
Practical ways in: road
Trip facts
- How long to stay
- 2 days
- Budget
- Shoestring
- How busy
- Steady at its peak
- Solo travel
- Doable solo with some planning
- Altitude
- 900 m
- State
- Gujarat
- Coordinates
- 20.5797, 73.7467
Common questions
When is the best time to visit Saputara?
July to August is peak season in Saputara. September to June is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. No month is a write-off here. Valleys turn green and Gira Falls runs full - this is when it actually looks alpine.
How many days do you need in Saputara?
2 days is the usual stay. Small, quiet lake town - Gujarati family holidaymakers, boating rather than any nightlife.
How do you get to Saputara?
3h drive from Surat, or 2h from Nashik across the Maharashtra border. Practical ways in: road.
Is Saputara expensive, and does it get crowded?
Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs steady at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.
What are the best things to do in Saputara?
Saputara Lake, Gandhi Shikhar (Sunset Point), Hatgad Fort, Saputara Tribal Museum and Gira Falls. Pedal boats and a walkable shore right in town; hire at the Boat Club jetty, the water is calmest just after sunrise.
Nearby, and where to go next
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Salher Fort
Maharashtra
Highest fort in the Sahyadris, rock-cut stairs to 1567 m
40 km from Saputara, roughly about 1 h by road
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Mahal (Purna Sanctuary)
Gujarat
Forest camp on the Purna river in Gujarat's densest jungle
50 km from Saputara, roughly under an hour by road
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Wilson Hills (Dharampur)
Gujarat
Mist-soaked Western Ghats tableland above the Valsad plains
50 km from Saputara, roughly under an hour by road
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Nashik
Maharashtra
Vineyard tastings above the Godavari ghats at Panchavati
90 km from Saputara, roughly about 2 h by road
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Trimbakeshwar
Maharashtra
Jyotirlinga at the Godavari's source under Brahmagiri hill
100 km from Saputara, roughly about 2 h by road
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Dudhni Lake
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
Shikara rides on the Madhuban backwaters under Warli hills
100 km from Saputara, roughly about 2 h by road
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Silvassa
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
Warli country and boat rides on the Dudhni backwaters
110 km from Saputara, roughly about 2 h by road
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Jawhar
Maharashtra
Warli painters' hill town of palaces and monsoon waterfalls
120 km from Saputara, roughly about 2 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
- Gopnath (Talaja) Gujarat
- Idar (Idariyo Gadh) Gujarat
- Junagadh (Girnar) Gujarat
- Lakhpat (Kutch) Gujarat
- Little Rann of Kutch (Dasada) Gujarat
- Madhavpur Ghed Gujarat
- Mahal (Purna Sanctuary) 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
- Polo Forest (Vijaynagar) Gujarat
- Rann of Kutch (Dhordo) Gujarat
- Sidhpur (Bohra Havelis) Gujarat
- Somnath Gujarat
- Statue of Unity Gujarat
- Tarnetar Gujarat
- Vadnagar Gujarat
- Velavadar (Blackbuck National Park) Gujarat
- Wankaner Gujarat
- Wilson Hills (Dharampur) Gujarat