Velavadar
Velavadar, also known as Blackbuck National Park, is located in the Bhal region of Saurashtra in Gujarat. It boasts a unique grassland ecosystem and is perhaps the only tropical grassland in India designated as a National Park. It is best known for its captivating blackbuck population, with these elegant creatures being endemic to India and Velavadar serving as one of their prime habitats. Established in 1976, the park is located around 42 km from the district headquarters city of Bhavnagar, adjoining the coasts of the Gulf of Khambhat on the south, it is spread over an area of 34.08 km2, which was primarily a “vidi” (grassland) of the maharaja of the princely state of Bhavnagar for hunting the blackbucks with his famous hunting cheetahs.
Kingdom of Blackbucks
Tours to Velavadar & Beyond
Things To Do
Game drives
The diverse fauna of Velavadar National Park, from majestic blackbucks to elusive predators and vibrant bird species, highlights the ecological richness of this unique grassland ecosystem. Visitors can explore the park on guided jeep safaris to observe the varied wildlife, including the famous herds of blackbuck, Indian wolves, and striped hyenas. Other mammals commonly found in the park include the Bengal fox, jungle cat, blue bull (nilgai), and golden jackal. For the best chances of wildlife sightings, early morning and late afternoon safaris are highly recommended.
Birdwatching
Velavadar National Park offers a haven for birdwatchers, with its diverse avifauna boasting over 200 bird species. The park’s unique grassland ecosystem provides an ideal habitat for both resident and migratory birds. Among the key bird species that can be spotted are the Marsh Harrier, Pallid Harrier, and Montagu’s Harrier. Additionally, the park is home to major raptors such as the Steppe, Tawny, Greater, and Lesser Spotted Eagle, as well as the Short-toed Snake Eagle. Visitors can also expect to encounter sandgrouse, larks, and other grassland birds in significant numbers, especially around waterholes where these birds often congregate. A small wetland in the southern part of the Park attracts birds like Pelicans, Flamingoes, Ducks, Waders, Coots, White storks, Painted storks and Sarus cranes etc. The Park is a heaven for Demoiselle Cranes, Common Cranes and a variety of other grassland species. Peculiar courtship display by Lesser floricans could also be seen. Lesser florican is one of the fifty rarest birds of the world and the park has been supporting the breeding of quite a good number of this species.
Best time to visit
The ideal time to visit Velavadar Blackbuck National Park is during the winter months, from November to March. The weather is pleasant, and the park is teeming with migratory birds during this period.
This is the hottest time of the year. During peak May the temperature can rise upto 40C, making life uneasy for both humans and wildlife. Most wildlife sightings occur in the cool periods of early morning and late evening.
The park remains shut for monsoon during this period. This is also the breeding time for blackbuck and Lesser Florican.
