Vadodara: Located in the deep forest of Jambughoda sanctuary, this eco-tourism center run by the forest department seems to be becoming a hub for tourists and wildlife lovers. Over the last three years, almost 77,000 nature lovers have stayed at the Dhanpari eco-tourism centre.
“It is one of our most popular eco-tourism centers and hence the tourist in-flow has remained good despite the Covid pandemic. The Dhanpari eco-tourism center is owned by the forest department and run by a society operated by the local villagers,” said HD Raolji, assistant conservator of forests, Vadodara.
“The Jambughoda sanctuary spread over 130 sq km is home to sloth bears, leopards, nilgai, snakes and a variety of birds. Wildlife lovers are taken on trekking around the center and they often spot reptiles as well as other animals,” Raolji told TOI. Dhanpari eco-tourism center has 16 cottages and eight tents apart from dormitories for students who make academic visits there.
In 2019-20, 28,632 visitors walked in at Dhanpari eco-tourism center and despite being a pandemic year, 23,645 persons visited the place in 2020-21. From April 2021 to February, 24,950 persons have already visited the center that has earned over Rs 1.49 crore in revenue.
“Due to the increasing popularity of this centre, we have increased the insurance cover for the visitors from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 75 lakh this year,” said Pradeepsinh Rana, chairman of Dhanpari, eco-tourism society run by the locals. Dhanpari is among the few eco-tourism spots that offer insurance to visitors for injuries or death due to an accident or wildlife attacks.
Rana said that the society that operates the center pays the insurance premium.
“It is one of our most popular eco-tourism centers and hence the tourist in-flow has remained good despite the Covid pandemic. The Dhanpari eco-tourism center is owned by the forest department and run by a society operated by the local villagers,” said HD Raolji, assistant conservator of forests, Vadodara.
“The Jambughoda sanctuary spread over 130 sq km is home to sloth bears, leopards, nilgai, snakes and a variety of birds. Wildlife lovers are taken on trekking around the center and they often spot reptiles as well as other animals,” Raolji told TOI. Dhanpari eco-tourism center has 16 cottages and eight tents apart from dormitories for students who make academic visits there.
In 2019-20, 28,632 visitors walked in at Dhanpari eco-tourism center and despite being a pandemic year, 23,645 persons visited the place in 2020-21. From April 2021 to February, 24,950 persons have already visited the center that has earned over Rs 1.49 crore in revenue.
“Due to the increasing popularity of this centre, we have increased the insurance cover for the visitors from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 75 lakh this year,” said Pradeepsinh Rana, chairman of Dhanpari, eco-tourism society run by the locals. Dhanpari is among the few eco-tourism spots that offer insurance to visitors for injuries or death due to an accident or wildlife attacks.
Rana said that the society that operates the center pays the insurance premium.
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