Who doesn't love to travel? Everyone likes it. Nowadays man cannot enjoy the natural beauty by cutting forests and building big buildings. That's why the family goes out on vacation and mostly goes on a trip to a hill station of choice.
If you live in Gujarat and even South Gujarat, you need not go far. Gujarat also has many places to visit in saputara of natural beauty.
Talking about tourism, our Gujarat also has a unique identity. There are many wonderful places to visit in gujarat, where we can relax and enjoy the holidays with family or friends. If we talk about hill stations, the first two names that come to mind are Saputara Hill Station and Abu. But very few people know that there is only one hill station in our Gujarat which can rival these two hill stations, that is Don Hill Station, Gujarat.
which is situated on the border of Ahwa in Gujarat and Nashik district in Maharashtra. Don is a hill station and village in Dang district of Gujarat, India. It is touted to be the second hill station in state after nearby Saputara.
About Don Hill Station
This hill station in the state of Gujarat, India is located in the Sahyadri mountain range of Dang. The height of Don Hill Station is about 1070 m, which is 17 m higher and much bigger than Saputara. The Maharashtra state border is only 2.9 km from the hill station, so you can also go to Maharashtra via Don.
This hitherto unknown hill station has become very popular among tourists in the last few years. It is also known as a gujarat's historical place. The place is also influenced by Dang District tribal culture. The hill station is Don village, 35 km from Ahwa in Gujarat.
The Sahyadri range has pleasant heights, springs, green slopes, and rivers. That's why Gujarat's unique Don Hill Station is the best option to enjoy nature.
Don Hill Station Gujarat: Overview
- Name of Origin: Named after Guru Dronacharya’s ashram
- Location: located in the Sahyadri mountain range of Dang, on the border of Gujarat-Maharashtra
- Height: 1070 meters above sea level
- Distance from Ahwa: 38 KM
- Distance From Saputara: 50 KM
- Distance from Surat: 164 KM
- Nearby Hill Station: Saputara
- Best Time to Visit: Monsoon Season
Weather and Climate
Don village enjoys a pleasant low temperature climate throughout the year. The hill station is rich in bio-diversity. The weather is very good during the monsoon season, when Don Hill Station receives the most tourists. After October, the weather warms up and the number of tourists drops significantly till the following June.
Exploring Don Hill Station
Are you passionate about exploring new places to travel? So let's get started, explore about Don Hill Station and make a plan for a great weekend travel.
Trekking Experience at Don Hill Station
Reaching the top of the hill station is an easy trek and easy enough if you have some trekking experience, small walking trekking road that takes you to the top of the don hill station. As you climb to the top you get a beautiful view of the lush green foliage and hilly terrain.
As in every mountainous area, the sky is clear and spectacular, so you get a great view. At the top of the hill station, there is a sculpture of a bird.
When you come down, if the weather is perfect, you will see a small crater and a waterfall. This is the time when the weather is pleasant, the surrounding area is bathed in natural greenery, and you will see various natural waterfalls, rivers on the way.
Compared to other hill stations in Gujarat and Maharashtra region, Don Hill Station is an easy trek. However, keep in mind that there are no restaurants or hotels or resorts nearby, so you should plan to take food and drinks that you may need. Throughout your journey, you will see many houses dotting the sidewalks.
Don Hill Station Gujarat is one of the most beautiful places in Gujarat to enjoy nature up close. Cleanliness, empty roads and natural beauty are things that citizens have never seen.
The road to the hill station passes through several villages, so there is no substitute for the kind of food available in urban areas. Also, there is no shelter on the way to the hill station, so plan to pack sunglasses, hat and everything else you need to protect yourself from the sun.
Don has something for everyone. Trekkers and nature lovers visit here regularly to witness the rich biodiversity. Cyclists and trekkers love to explore the caves and hills. Also, nature photographers love to spend time here, capturing the clear sky, greenery. As the area is rich in grass and trees, it is also home to many birds, insects and other forms of animal life.
You will be able to spend almost all your mornings and a few afternoons at Don Hill Station. There is no shelter, you can just trek to the top of the hill to take some pictures and marvel at the bird statue there. There is no recommendation to take this trek during the hot summers of Gujarat. Importantly, while the track here is smooth and not too steep or straight, make sure you wear good footwear and track pants or trousers that protect your legs.
Adventure Activities at Don Hill Station
Exciting Thrilling Roads
The hill station has its thrilling trails. The fun of going to the top is different with thrilling trails. The roads leading up to Don Hill station are also windy and very attractive. Even in this if you arrive at the beginning of monsoon season, the mesmerizing springs flowing from the hills fill the atmosphere with thrill and romance.
The road to Don Hill Station is scenic, and you will see the greenery of nature all around you. The road is clean and well constructed, so a trip to Don Hill Station is a great drive for those who want to experience it and keep it on their to-do list during their Dang tour.
Don Mahotsav
With an aim to popularize the Don Hill Station, the Gujarat government and tourism administration plans to organize a fortnight-long 'Don Mahotsav' from February. This two-week festival will showcase the pristine beauty of the hill station. Professional paragliders and organizers of other adventure sports are invited for the Don Mahotsav.
Tourists will experience tribal food, their traditional songs and dances. Don't forget adventure sports. 2 applause to Dang district administration for such proactive interest. A truly vibrant Gujarat!
Trekking and Camping
Don Hill Station is a great place for trekking and camping if you are a trekking enthusiast. Due to the natural beauty, high and low hills, people also flock here for trekking.
Enjoy the traditional tribal culture
Dang is a predominantly tribal area. The population of tribal community is high here. So you can learn something new by looking at their habitat, their house, their food.
Best Time to Visit Don Hill Station
The best time to visit Don Hill Station is from the months of July to February, as frequent rains enrich the natural beauty of the place. Due to the mountainous terrain, the beauty of this hill station is enhanced by eighteen gushing springs. And the lush green forest is a delight, so monsoons and winters are the best time to visit here.
How to Reach Don Hill Station?
To Reach Don Hill Station, you have to either take public transport or hire a private vehicle. You can take a state bus or any private bus that takes you from the venue to Don Hill. The distance between Don hills to Saputara hill station is about 50 km. Don Hill Station is about 164 km from Surat.
By Road
Waghai city is 51 km away, Ahmedabad: 409 km. Surat: 164 km. Vadodara: 309 km, Mumbai: 250 km. There are state transport buses and private luxury coaches from Waghai and Ahmedabad. If you are coming by private car, the national highway may be faster, but the state highway will provide a spectacular scenic drive.
By Train
From Don Hill Station Gujarat, the nearest railway station on the Bilimora-Waghai narrow gauge section of the Western Railway is Waghai. For people coming from Gujarat to Surat or Ahmedabad or even Mumbai, Bilimora is a more convenient rail head, from there you can also take a narrow gauge train from Bilimora to Waghai, which is very exciting or a direct bus service is also available from there
By Air
The nearest airport to Don Hill Station is in Surat at a distance of 120 km.
Places to Stay in Don Hill Station
There is no option to stay at Don Hill Station Resorts and Hotels, so you have to make arrangements at nearby places like Ahwa or Saputara. Saputara also has many hotels. In Saputara, you have places like Patang Residency, Akar Lord's Inan, Strawberry Hills and Hotel Kansar Palace that offer rooms and restaurants for overnight stays.
After that, you have other places like Jalsa Villas, which offer their rooms for around Rs.2000 per night. Hotels In Saputara, you have places like OYO Rooms which have rooms around Rs. 1000 per night.
Best Places to Visit Near Don Hill Station
There are other places of interest near Don Hill Station, such as Saputara Hill Station. However, you will need a whole weekend to visit both these places, as Saputara is also a hill station, and you will need more than a day to reach the top and back.
Other nearby places are Mahal Eco Campsite, Kilad Eco-Tourism Campsite, Mayadevi Waterfall, Girmal Waterfall, Pandav Caves and Barda Waterfall. All these places are within an hour from Don Hill and also Let's Take A Tour of Saputara Hill Station.