Introducing Velavadar National Park
This beautiful, off-the-beaten-track, 34-sq-km park (Indian/foreigner Rs 10/250, car Rs 20/250, 4hr guide Rs 30/250, camera Rs 5/250, video Rs 200/2500; 7.30am-6pm 15 Oct-15 Jun), 65km north of Bhavnagar, encompasses large areas of pale, custard-coloured grassland stretching between two seasonal rivers.
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It’s famous for its blackbucks, beautiful, fast creatures, with around 3500 in and around the park, which sport elegant spiralling horns – as long as 65cm in mature males. It’s also good for spotting birds such as wintering harriers, and the strange nilgai, which look half-horse, half-cow. You can explore by car or by walking. Local guides don’t tend to speak English.
You can book accommodation at the Tourist Lodge (d Rs 300), which has four rooms at the sanctuary, through the Forest Office (0278-2426425; 1st fl/10 Annexe Bldg, Bahamali Bhan; 11am-6pm Mon-Fri) near the STC bus stand in Bhavnagar.
A taxi from Bhavnagar costs about Rs 800 return. However, there are also buses (Rs 24) that run here.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
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