Polo Forest
— Forest sanctuary, Sabarkantha district
Medieval temple ruins overtaken by a teak forest, with a river running through it. Polo Forest is among the least-visited heritage sites in Gujarat — which is a failure of collective imagination, because it is genuinely wonderful. Bring a tent or stay at the forest guesthouse.
The ruins date from the 10th to 15th centuries — a cluster of Jain temples, step wells, and fortifications spread across roughly 4km of forest. The roots of fig trees have grown through the stonework in a way that could be from Angkor Wat. The birding is exceptional: over 275 species recorded.
The drive is about 3.5 hours north of Ahmedabad via Himmatnagar. The forest guesthouse (Gujarat Forest Department) has basic rooms at ₹600/night. Camping is permitted in designated areas. The forest gets busy in winter weekends — arrive Friday night for the best experience.
— Ananya Mehta · Visited Dec 2025