Hathni Waterfalls

1. There is no protection or site for lifeguards at the Hathni Mata Waterfalls -- moreover, the Gujarat government strictly prohibits rock climbing at the falls. This is a very dangerous activity for a tourist.
2. Stock up on petrol and make sure your fuel tank is full -- especially if you are someone who likes to travel on motorcycles. Once you have travelled beyond the main road, you will not be able to find any petrol pumps. Getting fuel from local shops is difficult, too, as many of them do not sell it.
3. Despite having Google Maps and looking up the road map on the internet, it is recommended to ask other people for directions as the route is not very easy to navigate.

Not only will you be unable to find restaurants or cafes near the Hathni Mata Waterfalls, you will also not be able to see a single small shop or tea stall in sight. Finding food is a very difficult issue over here and therefore you are recommended to arrange for your own food and snacks before travelling.

The same goes for accommodation -- because the Hathni Mata Waterfall is located in a remote rural area which is difficult to navigate -- there are no hotels or resorts near it. Luckily, though, there are a number of resorts in Pavagadh city, which is just 30 kilometres away from the waterfall. Even the cities of Vadodara and Halol have many comfortable options for accommodation and stay. You can even rent vehicles such as motorcycles or cars for yourself, as well as special tours organised by either the government or locals.

If you’re looking to spend your vacation in the lap of nature, then Hathni Waterfalls is the place to be. Not only do you get to surround yourself with calming scenic beauty but also get a chance to have a thrilling experience.

The name of these waterfalls translates to ‘small elephant’ -- the legend goes that many years ago the local tribal community observed a rock that looks exactly like a baby elephant. If you go to the base of the waterfall, you can still see this rock now dressed up in religious fabric and adorned with flowers. The “Hathni Mata” is a prominently-worshipped goddess that the tribal community follows -- and hence you will see many fairs in dedication to it, mainly during the winters.

There are a number of activities you can undertake to enrich your experience of visiting Hathni Waterfalls:

1. Dirt Biking

Mainly to be done during the monsoon season, the narrow tracks on the way to the Hathni Mata Waterfalls are made up of corn fields and jungles. The rainfall makes it the ideal path for dirt biking.

2. Photography

Because Jambughoda is full of forests and wildlife, most of which are still numerous despite deforestation, which makes for amazing photography -- whether you are a professional or amateur.

Via Air: The nearest airport is the Vadodara airport. Upon reaching the airport, it is recommended to take a cab or hire a car to drive to the site of the waterfalls.
Via Road: It is approximately 80 kilometres of travel distance from Vadodara to Hathni Mata Waterfalls, if you are going by road. Even the nearest villages offer public transportation but the sheer frequency of buses on these roads makes it not advisable to use. Ideally, you should be travelling by a car or motorcycle to reach the Hathni Mata Waterfall. As previously mentioned, you can even rent or hire vehicles from the cities of Vadodara, Halol or Pavagadh.
Navigation is slightly difficult, but you simply have to follow the route to the Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary once you have reached Pavagadh. The town of Shivarajpur happens to be on the way, around 15 kilometres in distance from the sanctuary. This is the place where you should be asking people for directions to the Hathni Mata Waterfalls. After that, you only need to travel 25 kilometres to reach your destination.