Saputara offering a glimpse into the world of tribals

Saputara is a land of surprises. The hilly vacation spot changes colour with changing seasons and is certainly at its best during the rainy season when the forests surrounding this town in the tribal-dominated Dangs district turns lush green and redolent with fruits and vegetation. Thin stream rushing down the hillocks and many unexplored trekking routes along make the place a picnic hotspot for people on the plains.

When we headed for Sapurata one Saturday from Ahmedabad, we were in for a surprise. The unassuming picnic spot was bubbling with people who had come there from far off places to make the most of their extended weekend. What better way to enjoy a two-day holiday than give oneself up to the pristine beauty of nature among the Sahyadri hill range?
People coming from far away places in Gujarat and bordering Maharashtra districts make the place a picnic hotspot.

They come in droves, with family and friends, and spend a day or two peddling boats in the natural lakes and trekking around in the surrounding hills. For many tourists from Gujarat, the bordering Maharashtra is a far more alluring place as it provides a much-sought-after break from the liquor prohibition of Gujarat. As soon as one enters Maharashtra, one is greeted with hotels and bars serving chilled beer and liquor of all kind.

Along with a perfect natural retreat, Saputara offers a glimpse into the world of the tribals. One is face-to-face with the people who are considered among the oldest settlers of the country, those who have managed to lived through ages fending for themselves by hunting with bows and arrows and farming. The Saputara Museum, right in the middle of the city, takes one into the world of the tribals by exhibiting their lifestyle and culture.

Although not properly maintained, the museum manages to linger long in one���s memory through the sheer power of display of clothes, musical instruments, household objects, ornaments, artifacts and utensils that are used by the tribal folk of the place. The materials on display stokes one���s imagination and effectively transports one into the world of the tribals. The sculpture of the tribal people waiting for your arrival is a treat to one���s eyes. Outside, one is greeted with people playing on tribal musical instruments.

While one may not expect to meet the tribal people in Saputara itself, the very ambience of the place is enough to transport one into their world. The greenery, hillocks, lakes, wooden resthouses, water streams running down through concrete roads along the forests and gardens dotted with wild flowers are nature at its best. The place looks fascinating during the rainy season, when the forest goes dark green and streams of water run along the road. People climb atop hills to steal a view of the town below. From there, one gets to see the lake surrounded by hillocks and houses of the original inhabitants. There are markets where one gets to buy things made by tribals sourced from the forests.

Another fascinating place that we visited here was huts made only with wood. The entire two-storeyed structure was carved out from teakwood and looked fascinating from outside. From inside, it was even more fascinating with carefully crafted interiors. There are several such log huts in Saputara where visitors are allowed to stay to feel closer to nature. One has to seek the permission of the forest officials for that.

Most people visiting Saputara also visit the Vansda National Park that houses some rare species of spiders and snakes apart from wild cats. Although we were constrained by time, we met with a group of young adventure lovers who were preparing to venture into the wild jungles.