About Saputara
SAPUTARA,
situated in a densely forested plateau in the Sahyadri range, holds the
distinction of being the only hill station in the Dang district of South
Gujarat State.
The Gujarat State is
situated on the west coast of India and boasts of a 1,600 km long coastline.
The Arabian Sea sweeps off the western and south western frontiers of the
state. It is situated between 20o 1' and 24o 7' north latitudes and 68o 4' and
74o 4' east longitudes. Gujarat stretches from Kutch in the West to Daman in
the South. In the East, lies the hilly region of the Aravallis, whereas lush
green woods, hills, plains and rivers are found in the west. Rajasthan lies
towards the northeast of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh to the east and Maharashtra to
the southeast.
The tranquil small
town of Saputara is situated at an altitude of around 1,000 m, and has a
climate that is consistently pleasant, although leaning towards chilly,
throughout the year.
The place is rich in
its bio-diversity and natural relics. It includes in itself many panoramic
natural landscape views and rich heritage of its folklore and tradition of the
native 'Dangi'.
It has been developed
as a planned hill resort with all necessary amenities such as hotels, parks,
swimming pool, boat club, theatres and a museum to ensure an enjoyable holiday
in the cool of the hills.
Saputara History
The name Saputara
literally stands for 'abode of serpents,' a fact that is highlighted by the
presence of an image of a snake on the shores of the Sarpagana river, which
flows through the town.
This image is worshipped by the region's tribal folk, especially during major
festivals such as Holi. Adding to Saputara's mystique is the legend that Lord
Rama spent 11 years of his exile in these very forests.
Museum
Anthropological museum at Saputara is located at a walking distance from theSwagat Circle. The museum gives an introduction to the lifestyle, costumes, heritage and ecology of the tribal Dangs. Established in 1970, the museum exhibits Dangi tribal art, culture, clothes, musical instruments, ornaments, paintings, agriculture implements, proto-typehouses, grass ornaments, stuffed birds, masks used in dance-dramas and objects of day-to-day use by the native Dangis. The famous snake sculpture of Saputara is housed in the museum campus. A small and beautiful aquarium is located near the museum within the same campus.
Sunrise Point
The Sunrise Point,
also known as the Valley View Point, offers a bird's eye view of Saputara and
its environs.
Lake & Boating Club
The Lake & Boating Club,
right in the heart of the valley, is the extremely calm Saputara Lake. It is 70
feet deep and spreads in the vast valley surrounded by the hills. Row and
paddle boats are available for hire. Several types of amusement facilities for
children are available near the lake.
