My Tryst with the Wild: Ratanmahal
I recently had the opportunity of visiting one of the best places to visit near Vadodara – Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary. Situated near the Gujarat – Madhya Pradesh border, this forest has an eco-campsite that is run by the Forest Department of Gujarat.
Right from the moment, I stepped there I knew that I was in for a mini-adventure. After all, camping in tents in the middle of a forest is enough to get the adrenaline rushing through your veins! On reaching, I had a scrumptious breakfast and then started my little adventure into the bowels of the forest.
As soon as I entered the forest, the sunlight started becoming restricted. It was cold and I could feel the wind sending a chill down my spine. Even the rustling of leaves and the slightest of movements on dry leaves on the ground felt so loud that it made my heart pop out every single time.
As I continued my trek, I found a small stream flowing through the rocks with loads of butterflies and dragonflies flying all around. The sound of trickling water combined with the lush surroundings made it an extremely serene environment away from the hullaballoo of the city.
The locals had informed me of a waterfall that’s there deep inside the forest. So I started following the stream and the trek started becoming tougher as well. The inclines became steeper and the forest became denser. It might be worth mentioning that it’s a sloth bear sanctuary, so I was naturally very careful while proceeding throughout the trek.
Finally, after about an hour and a half of the arduous trek, I reached the waterfalls. Seeing the water gushing down the rocks was such a refreshing feeling that all my strain just vanished away. I took no time in finding a sweet spot to sit back and dip my legs in the icy-cold water of the falls. It was a pleasant experience to take sips from the crystal-clear water here as well.
Once I was refreshed and rejuvenated, I started off my trek back to the campsite. Throughout the trek, the chirping of a variety of birds gave me company. I even had the chance to see some fire ants and even flying squirrels! These beautiful creatures just “fly” from one tree to the other every other evening. It was quite a stunning sight in itself.
As it got darker, I quickly hurried back to the campsite and reached there before sundown. The hosts then prepared a nice, hot dinner for me on which I hogged as I was extremely tired after the long day of trekking.
Finally, the day came to a close and I went into my tent and called it a day. However, even when temperatures around were in the 30s, the climate here was absolutely cold! I absolutely enjoyed every moment of the sleep in this cold weather before waking up early the next morning to set out back to Vadodara.
After having a cup of freshly prepared tea, I set off on my return journey and bid adieu to this beautiful natural wonder – Ratanmahal.
Also read: Places to visit near Vadodara.
Images: Tasmai Dave
Author: Tasmai Dave
Tasmai loves to write about food, travel, and digital marketing. He wants to travel around the world with his camera and wishes to capture some beautiful snaps of birds, wildlife, and nature. An avid quizzer, he’s always on the lookout for something interesting that catches his eye. In his free time, he loves to watch movies and TV shows.
