Polo Forest Trek
Sabarkantha, Gujarat
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- Max altitude
- 350 m
- Days
- 1 day
- Distance
- 8 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Gujarat Adventure Club rates it moderate; the walk is a day trek on forest trails at only about 350 m, so effort comes from heat and uneven ground rather than height.
About this trek
Polo Forest
Polo Forest, also called Vijaynagar Forest, is a dry deciduous forest of about 400 sq km in Sabarkantha, Gujarat, in the foothills of the Aravalli range beside the Harnav river. This short walk visits the Sharneshwar Shiva temple group near Abhapur village and returns. The forest has teak at the edge of its range, leopards and sloth bears, and many birds. It suits families and casual walkers; take a local guide.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1 · highest point
Polo Forest campsite area → Sharneshwar Shiva temple group and back
350 m → 350 m
- The Sharneshwar Shiva temple near Abhapur is a three-storeyed ruin with a fortified wall and carvings.
- Other temples in the area include Jain temples at Abhapur and the Trayatan Shiva temple with a sandstone water tank.
- The forest is dry teak-type woodland beside the Harnav river and turns lush between September and December.
Ups and downs
Altitude profile
Where it is
Map
Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.
Weather
Next 5 days on the trail
Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.
Trailhead · Polo Forest, near Abhapur village
at 350 mLoading forecast…
High point · Start: Polo Forest, near Abhapur (the high point is not mapped)
at 350 mLoading forecast…
Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h
Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.
Plan the trip
How to reach
- Trailhead
- Polo Forest, near Abhapur village (nearest town: Vijaynagar)
- Nearest railway
- Khedbrahma (about 15 km, per Gujarat Adventure Club); Himmatnagar is given as 60 km by Safar Gujarat
- Nearest airport
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad (about 140 km)
- By road
- Ahmedabad via Himmatnagar and Idar to Vijaynagar (about 160 km, 3.5-4 hours, per Safar Gujarat)
- Drive
- About 4 h from Ahmedabad
Plan the trip
Permits and fees
We could not confirm the current permit rules and fees from an official source. Check with the local forest department or tourism office before you go.
Plan the trip
Cost
Self-guided
₹500–2,000
With an operator
₹1,600–2,500
Per person, ex-Ahmedabad. Gujarat Adventure Club lists a package from ₹1,600 with AC transport, meals and a guided nature trek. The upper guided figure and the self-guided range are estimates: fuel or shared transport, a local guide (visitors report roughly ₹300-400) and food. Entry fee is unconfirmed (free per Safar Gujarat; one guide says about ₹30).
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
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Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 16
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- Not confirmed by sources; expect patchy signal inside the forest.
- Last ATM
- Vijaynagar or Idar (not confirmed by sources)
- Nearest hospital
- Vijaynagar or Himmatnagar civil hospital (not confirmed by sources)
- Water
- The Harnav river and Badi Lake are named by operators; carry your own drinking water and treat any other water.
Highlights
- Walk through the dry deciduous Aravalli forest of Vijaynagar, about 400 sq km, beside the Harnav river
- 15th-century Sharneshwar Shiva temple and other ancient temples in the Abhapur area, restored by the state archaeology department
- Bird-watching, with migratory birds in winter, and a post-monsoon green season from September
- Forest Department campsite with tents, a watchtower and a nature education centre
Risks
- Unverified page: no source states the trail length; the 8 km figure is an estimate for a one-day walk and must be confirmed with the guide or forest office.
- Trails can be confusing; one visitor reports getting lost without a guide, so take a local guide.
- Summer afternoons are hot and dry; start early and carry plenty of water. The forest is wildlife habitat, so keep to marked routes.
Know before you go
Questions
What are the Polo Forest opening hours?
Safar Gujarat gives 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and it says entry is free with no permit for general sightseeing. Another guide mentions about ₹30, so confirm at the gate.
What is the best time to visit Polo Forest?
Gujarat Adventure Club says October to March; Safar Gujarat says September to February, when the forest is green after the monsoon. Summer afternoons are hot.
Do I need a permit or a guide for Polo Forest?
Gujarat Adventure Club says organised groups need a forest entry permit from the Sabarkantha Forest Office in Khedbrahma, while individual day visitors are usually allowed in without one. A local guide is advised for trails.
How far is Polo Forest from Ahmedabad?
Safar Gujarat gives about 160 km, roughly 3.5 to 4 hours by road via Himmatnagar and Idar.
In an emergency
Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.
- 112All emergenciesIndia’s single emergency number — works in every state
- 108Ambulance
- 1077District disaster control room
You are in
District: SabarkanthaGujarat
- Nearest hospital
- Vijaynagar or Himmatnagar civil hospital (not confirmed by sources)
- Last ATM
- Vijaynagar or Idar (not confirmed by sources)
- Phone network
- Not confirmed by sources; expect patchy signal inside the forest.
Before you set off
- Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
- Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
- Download an offline map of the route.
- Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
Questions about Polo Forest
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Polo Forest Trek & Temple Guide — Gujarat Adventure Club
- Polo Forest, Gujarat — Safar Gujarat
- Polo Forest — Wikipedia
Photos: Naresh Darji, CC BY-SA 4.0; Gannu03, CC BY-SA 4.0; SpeakingArch, CC BY-SA 4.0; Skyp1993, CC BY-SA 4.0
