Route : Sasan gir - talala - jamwala - Chodvadi forest check post - turn right toward Banej
Excellent natural beauty in Gir forest, in fact, very few people know about this place forest area around this place. The best place in the entire gir forest. Especially when you visit after monsoon when permits start. Wintertime is also good. It's a totally off-road journey so fewer ground clearance cars are to be avoided. in Road travel your car window opens to enjoy forest noises and fresh air of nature (if you get lucky you may encounter lions on the return journey specially early mornign or evening time). A permit is totally free but with strict disciplined drive & avoid Noise by Horn to disturb wildlife, This Banej trip will give you a feeling of a Jungle safari ride. Good to enjoy a day excursion. Carry water & snacks with you. Suggest to start at early morning with sufficient food and water since you wont find anything on the way
Our journey to Banej started on 20 aug 2022 morning, we leave at 9.30 am from dhava village. & first, reach ankolwadi to jamwala forest entry & Single Patti road. on way, we enjoy Live garma garam thabdi penda. then after reach jamawala checkpost. ( Nr jamwala, famous jamjir waterfall is also their, one can visit )
Forest entry is free at jamwala checkpost but all information we share like a number of people, male, female, kids along with from where we came & car number, with strict rules as follow mention in receipts back side, key rules is avaoid plastic waste & No noise to disturb wildlife. forest office is cooperative.
The road is not so good but one should visit at least once in life. It may not be a long run as per kms but the road is too rough and have suv type of vehicle. The total distance from jamawal to banej is 23 km on Google Maps. From jamwal to chhodavadi forest check-post distance is 15km on google Maps but due to off-road, it takes 1hrs to reach there. from chhodavadi check-post to banej shiv temple distance of 8 km.
we reach chhodvadi forest check-post, on the way we see a peacock, deer, monkey, Bagla & Neelgay etc, also witness kala karto mor. from chhovadi checkpost right side banej shiv temple & left side kankai mata temple. we are in between monsoon so heavy waterflow on road, no access to reach kankai mata mandir, so we visit only banej shiv temple.
chhodvadi forest to take right side & drive 8 km with travel time 40 min reach at banej. on way, heavy rain make a road in bad conditiion & car is difficult to pass but we manage & reach banej,
in normal time river has less flow, and the car can easily pass through the river, but now the heavy rain river flow is high so we park a car on the opposite side & decided to walk & reach shiv temple. put all stuff like a mobile purse at car & water level is upto high then thigh. we cross the river in support of each other & it is a thrilling moment for all of us. again walk for 500metre one check dam cross with high flow water & it is also thrilling adventure for us. Its a peaceful place as per location n place.
The Indian mega-epic Mahabharata's famous character Arjuna comes alive here so this place is famous because of him. Once travelling through this forest, Pandavas gets thirsty and Arjuna uses his bow to discover water from the earth. There is a Mahadev temple here called 'Banej'. Today the place is there & water came from there, now then call as "Banganga" & temple drink this water only.
if you planning to Sasan Gir & you love nature & forest then this is must visit place in your itinerary. although it is a hectic journey with a 10-15km speed car ride you get a thrilling & adventurous experience through this road travel.
Near River @banjej
Kala karto Mor
On way Deer
