Wilson Hills, Gujarat

 Named after the English Mayor of Bombay, Lord Wilson, Wilson Hills, in the state of Gujarat is one of its very popular hill stations also nicknamed as Mini Saputara, due to its resemblance and proximity to the famous hill station Saputara. Both lie in the Sahyadri ranges and hence have an extremely pleasant and cool climate. Wilson Hills lies in the midst of lush green forests with panoramic views, closeness to the Arabian Sea, foggy weather in the monsoons, pristine and picturesque lakes and quite a few awe inspiring points. It is best to visit it in the monsoon months when everything is fresh, green and clean. 

There is no direct railway station or airport near the hill station and the only way to reach it is by roadways. Although, the last 20 kms road is very steep with 16 switchbacks, so one needs an experienced driver to navigate it. 

Here are more details about the same.

Taluka - Dharampur

District - Valsad

State - Gujarat

Elevation - 2500 ft / 750 mt

Distance from ( Via Roadways )

Barumal - 18 kms 

Dharampur - 25 kms

Valsad - 54 kms

Saputara - 120 kms

Surat - 123 kms

Nashik - 145 kms

Mumbai - 250 kms

Nearest Railway Station - Valsad

Nearest Airport - Surat, 99 kms

When To Visit - Monsoon months ( July to September )

Where To Stay - Wilson Hills Resort 

What To See - 

Barumal Shiv Temple - Barumal Shiv Temple lies on the road from Dharampur to Wilson Hills and is a must-visit for Shiv Bhakts. The temple is beautiful with canteen, gallery and a guest house. 

Marble Chatri Point - Built by King Vijay Devji  as a tribute to his friend, Lord Wilson, this point lies at the top of the hill station.  

Wilson Hills Museum - Named after Lady Wilson, it displays precious artefacts and antiques pertaining to the history of Wilson hill station. 

Sunrise Point - As the same suggests, this point is ideal for viewing the most beautiful sunrise over the hills and valleys. 

District Science Centre - Lying about 26 kms from the place, the District Science Centres prime objective is to impart information, knowledge about the methods of preservation of the environment of Wilson Hills. It provides various events for the visitor to engage in.

Bilpudi Twin Waterfalls - Twin waterfalls, at a distance of about 10 kms from Dharampur city, can easily be visited on a trip to Wilson Hills. It has two waterfalls, one falling from a height of 30 feet and another from a height of 20 feet it is a mesmerising sight. 

Ozone Valley Point - Only about 500m from the center of the hill station, Ozone Valley point provides an opportunity to view the valleys around and get pictures clicked in the lush greenery. It is preferred as a camping point as well. 

Shankar Waterfalls Point - At about a distance of 6 kms from Wilson Hills, the waterfall is worth a visit in the monsoon months when it cascades down a height of 150 ft in all its glory. Perfect place for nature photography. 

Note - It is the only hill station in Gujarat  from where the Arabian Sea is visible. 

Images - Wikipedia

Tourist Information Centres of Gujarat

Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited,

Udyog Bhavan, Block No. 16,
4th Floor, Sector-11,
Gandhinagar - 382 011
Tel: +91 79 23222523/ 23222645/ 23220002
Fax: +91 79 23238908
E-Mail: ps2md-tcgl@gujarat.gov.in, ps2jtmd-tcgl@gujarat.gov.in

Toll Free Number - 1800 233 7951

Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd., H. K. House, Opp: Bata Showroom, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad. Tel: +91 79 26576434/ 26589172 Mb: +91 9727723928 Fax: +91 79 26582183 E-Mail: tibahd@yahoo.co.in, toptib99@yahoo.in Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd., Tourist Complex, Wallajah Road, Chennai - 600002. Tel: +91 44 25366613/ 25364159 Mb: +91 9840090881 Tele Fax: +91 44 25366613 E-Mail: gujarattourism@vsnl.net Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd., Khaitan Bhavan, 1st Floor, J.Tata Road, Opp: Ritz Hotel, Churchgate, Mumbai - 400 020 Phone: +91 22 22024925 Mb: +91 8898318298 Fax: +91 22 22883541 E-Mail: pancholi_rmtcgl@yahoo.co.in,tcglmumbai@mtnl.net.in Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd., A/6, State Emporia Bldg., Baba Kharak Singh Marg, New Delhi - 110 001 Phone: +91 11 23744015 Mb: +91 9999987909 Fax: +91 11 23367050 E-Mail: somanspathy@yahoo.com  Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd., Government Hostel Campus, M. I. Road, Jaipur - 302 001 Phone: +91 141 2378070 Fax: +91 141 2378070 Mb: +91 9829079388 Shri P. C. Das, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd., C/O. Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation, 15, C.R.Avenue, 5th Floor, Kolkatta-72 Tele Fax: +91 33 22254317 Mb: +91 9433196081 Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd., Narmada Bhavan, C- block, Indira Avenue, Vadodara - 390 001 Tel: +91 265 2427489/ 2431297 Mb: +91 9727723934 Fax: +91 265 2412191 E-mail: sto-tcgl-vad@gujarat.gov.in,tcgl@sify.com Tourist Officer Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited, Athava Lines, Jilla Seva Sadan – 2, Block No. “A” Ground Floor, Surat. Tel. No. +91 261 2652266 Mb. +91 97277 23954 Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited, Bhavnagar House, Jawahar House, Behind State Bank of Saurashtra, Rajkot - 360 001 Tel: +91 281 2234507 Mb: +91 9727723953 Tourist Information Bureau, District Information Office, Information Department, Raj Mahal Compound, Amreli Mb: +91 9727723939 Tourist Information Bureau, Jan Seva Kendra, Collector Office Compound, Surendranagar Mb: +91 9727723940 Tourist Information Bureau, Jilla Seva Sadan, Ground Floor, Room No. 1, Dahod. Mb: +91 9727723941 Tourist Information Bureau, Jan Seva Kendra, Lal Banglow Area, Jamnagar. Tel: +91 288 2663922 Mb: +91 9727723937 Tourist Information Bureau, Bahumali Makan, Block No. 2, Ground Floor, Assistance Research Officers's Office, Opp: G-2, Near G-4, Mehsana. Tel:  +91 2762 221826 / 222090 Mb. +91 9727723942 Tourist Information Bureau, Office of District Information Centre, First Floor, Exhibition Hall, Opp: Bahumali Bhavan, Bhuj Tel: +91 2832 224910 Mb: +91 9727723943 Tourist Information Bureau, Office of the Tourism Commissioner, Gandhi Chawk, Vanthali Darwaza, Junagadh-362 001 Tel: +91 285 2651170 Mb: +91 9727723944 Tourist Information Bureau, Collector Office Compound, Jan Seva Kendra, Bhavnagar Mb: +91 9727723945 Tourist Information Bureau, Office of Assistance Director of Information, Outside Section, Ahwa - Dang Mb: +91 9727723947 Tourist Officer, Tourist Information Bureau, Jilla Seva Sadan, First Floor, Panel 107-108, Anand Mb: +91 9727723938 Tourist Information Bureau, Collector Office, Ground Floor, Near Staircase, Porbandar Tel.  +91 286 2245475 Mb: +91 9727723936 Tourist Information Bureau, Jilla Seva Sadan, First Floor, Near Tenancy Branch, Civil Lines, Godhra - Panchmahal Tel. (PP): +91 2672 245681/ 253622 Mb: +91 9727723948 Tourist Information Bureau, Govt. P.W.D. Store, Motipura, Himatnagar, Dist. Sabarkantha Tel: +91 2772 291681 Mb: +91 9727723951 Tourist Information Bureau, Sector-16, Nigam Bhavan, First Floor, Gandhinagar. Tel: +91 79 23221599 Mb: +91 9727723952 Tourist Information Bureau, Jilla Seva Sadan, Rajpipla Tel. (PP): +91 2640 221012 Mb: +91 9727723946 Tourist Information Bureau, Jilla Udyog Kendra, Opp: Collector Office, Bharuch. Mb: +91 9727723950 Tourist Information Bureau, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd., Sardar Bhavan, Block No. D-115, Nadiyad. Mb: +91 9727723949 Tourist Information Bureau, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd., Collector Office Premise, Palanpur, Dist. Banaskantha Mb: +91 9727723957 Tourist Information Bureau, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd., Seva Sadan, Block No.2, Second Floor, Patan, Dist. Patan Mb: +91 9724082103

Uttarayan - The kite festival of India

During Makara Sankaranthi, the International Kite festival takes place in Gujarat. It is a very unique festival in India whence the whole sky is filled with kites from dawn till dusk. The festival marks the going off of winter and setting in of summer. Not only the people of the state but kite makers and kite flyers from all over the world participate in this festival. Kite making competition, Kite flying competition, Kite decorating competition all take place.

Kite Spools at Patang Bazaar

The sky will be crowded with all shapes and sizes of kites. The kites are made of springy bamboo frames, kite paper and spool. The string of the kite is coated with a special mixture of glue and glass and is made sharp as possible to cut the strings of the rival kites. The streets of the bazaars of Ahmedabad are crowded with the kite supplies as early as the month of November and the Patang Bazaar of Ahmedabad is open for kite lovers for all 24 hours the week preceeding the kite festival.

The wonderful thing of this kite festival is that the whole family set to fly the kites and compete with other families. Special foods like laddoos, undhyu, Surat Jamun and lots of other Gujarati Special items are prepared and shared with friends, neighbours and relatives.

From the year 1989, Ahmedabad hosts the International Kite Festival as a part of the celebration of Uttarayan. Master kite makers and flyers from all over the world demonstrate their unique skill. The kite festival witnesses Malaysian kite makers who make Wau-Balang Kites, Indonesian kites of LLayang - LLayang, Banner kites from USA, Rokkaku fighting kites from Japan, Sculptural kites from Italy, Flying dragon kites from China.