Dungri, Gujarat and Padam Dungri Eco Tourism: The Complete Guide

Two different places in south Gujarat share the name Dungri and searchers often mix them up. This guide, from the team behind Somnath Dwarka Tour Package, a unit of Experience My India, covers both clearly: first the village of Dungri in Valsad district, with its location, facts and landmarks and then the Padam Dungri Eco Tourism campsite in Tapi district, with what to do, where to stay and how to reach it. Wherever a fact comes from an official source, it is noted at the end.

Where is Dungri in Gujarat?

Dungri is a village and growing settlement in Valsad district, in the far south of Gujarat, close to the Maharashtra border. It lies about 11 km from the city of Valsad and sits on National Highway 48, the old NH 8, which links Mumbai and Ahmedabad, so it is easy to reach by road. The village has its own stop, Dungri Railway Station, on the Western Railway line, located in the heart of the settlement near the bazaar. Dati Beach is about 10 km away on the coast.

Dungri village key facts

What is Dungri known for?

For a village of its size, Dungri has a surprisingly strong identity, built on industry, farming and faith:

• Balaji Wafers plant: one of the brand's major production facilities sits near NH 48 in Dungri, making it the village's best known landmark.

• Agriculture: the local economy rests on farming, especially mango, rice and sugarcane, typical of the fertile south Gujarat belt.

• A growing settlement: Dungri has expanded steadily over the past decade, with new homes, buildings and rising land values.

• Temples and community: shrines such as the Bhramadev Bapa hill temple, Ramji Mandir, Amba Mata, Khodiyar Mataji and a Swaminarayan temple serve the village, where the Patel community is prominent.

How do you reach Dungri, Valsad?

Dungri is one of the easier villages in the region to reach, thanks to the highway and the railway:

• By road: it sits directly on NH 48, about 11 km from Valsad, so buses and taxis run frequently; a Somnath Dwarka taxi service is the easiest way to combine it with other stops.

• By train: Dungri Railway Station on the Western Railway line is in the village itself; larger trains also stop at nearby Valsad junction.

• By air: Surat is the nearest major airport, with Mumbai a longer but well connected option from the south.

What is Padam Dungri Eco Tourism?

Padam Dungri or Padamdungari, is a forest eco tourism campsite in Tapi district, in the South Zone of Gujarat, about 30 km from Vyara town and 8 km from Unai village. It sits amid the Sahyadri ranges on the banks of the river Ambika, in deep, dense, multi-storeyed forest with rocky, undulating landscapes and rich biodiversity. It is run as an eco campsite, so the emphasis is on quiet nature stays, walking and river activities rather than crowds. Note that this is a different place from Dungri village in Valsad, roughly a couple of hours apart.

What can you do at Padam Dungri Eco Tourism?

The campsite is built for gentle outdoor days and starry evenings. Typical activities include:

• Treks and trails: walking routes winding up and down the forested hillocks, with an orientation centre to start from.

• River activities: tubing, rafting and floating can be arranged on the river Ambika.

• Sunset points and machaans: observation towers and viewing platforms for landscape and wildlife watching.

• Woodlands and medicinal groves: relaxing forest walks through the site's genetic diversity of plants.

• Wildlife spotting: the forest holds big cats, smaller canines, herbivores, birds, reptiles and aquatic life, best watched quietly and from a distance.

Padam Dungri facilities and where to stay

The campsite is basic but comfortable, designed by Gujarat Tourism for responsible nature stays:

• Cottages: 2 AC and 8 non AC cottages.

• Tented accommodation: tents with separate bathing and toilet facilities.

• Dining: a separate kitchen and dining area.

• Common spaces: an orientation and interpretation centre, a well designed amphitheatre and a dedicated campfire area.

• Wildlife care: a small rescue centre for injured wild animals.

Stays are booked through Gujarat Tourism. You can check availability and rates on the official Gujarat Tourism Padam Dungri page or the state's eco campsite booking portal. Experience My India can also arrange the stay and transport and book nearby Somnath Dwarka hotels, as part of a wider south Gujarat trip.

How do you reach Padam Dungri Eco Tourism?

The campsite is a little off the main routes, which is part of its charm:

• Nearest towns: about 30 km from Vyara and just 8 km from Unai, both in Tapi district.

• By road: easiest with a private vehicle; buses run from Surat, Bilimora and Valsad toward the area, with local jeeps for the last stretch.

• By train: Waghai is the nearest railhead on the narrow-gauge line, with Vyara and Surat as larger options.

• By air: the nearest airport is Surat, about 120 km away.

Nearby attractions from Padam Dungri

The campsite makes a good base for a wider south Gujarat forest trip. Within easy reach are:

• Unai Hot Springs: natural hot springs with the Ghusmaai and Chand-surya temples nearby.

• Vansda National Park: dense forest and wildlife, a short drive away.

• Shabri Dham: a revered pilgrimage site in the Dangs region.

• Waghai Botanical Garden: a large collection of native and exotic plant species.

• Saputara and Don Hill: Gujarat's hill stations, ideal for a cooler add-on.

If Padam Dungri gives you a taste for Gujarat's wild side, the Gir forest in Saurashtra, the only home of the Asiatic lion, is the state's flagship wildlife destination and a natural next trip. For that leg, our guides on how to reach Gir and the places to visit in Gir National Park cover the essentials, while for the coast you can read how to reach Somnath and how to reach Dwarka.

Eco tourism rules and visitor tips

Padam Dungri is a protected natural space, so a few simple rules keep it that way:

• Visit the orientation centre first to understand the site before you explore.

• The camp runs largely on solar power, so use electricity sparingly.

• No smoking anywhere, since cigarette butts start forest fires.

• No flash or intrusive photography and do not disturb plants for a better shot.

• Do not carry music or sound devices and keep vehicles quiet.

• Do not pick plants or insects and do not remove anything from the forest.

• No pets, no weapons, no littering; carry your trash to proper bins.

Dungri or Padam Dungri: clearing the confusion

Because the name repeats across Gujarat, it helps to keep the places straight. There is Dungri village in Valsad district, the settlement with the Balaji Wafers plant and the railway station. There is Padam Dungri Eco Tourism in Tapi district, the forest campsite by the Ambika river. And there is another, smaller Dungri in the Vanthali area of Junagadh district in Saurashtra. They are separate places, so when you plan a trip, be clear which Dungri you mean.

Dungri and Padam Dungri at a glance

Related guides

Planning a wider Gujarat trip? These Experience My India guides help:

Plan your south Gujarat trip

Experience My India can help you plan a south Gujarat nature trip around Padam Dungri and the Dangs. See our Gujarat tour packages or the full Somnath Dwarka tour packages, browse more travel guides, message us on WhatsApp or call +91 73006 20809 and we will put together a route and stay that suits you.