Recreation
» Festivals & cultural evenings : Dungarpur
district is the stronghold of Bheels, a tribe whose history of occupancy in
the Aravalli range is said to date back to 4000 BC Besides visits to the
many unspoiled Bheel hamlets in and around the town, you can look forward to
special shows of tribal music and dancing at the palaces itself.
Bheels
from this region and from the neighbouring states of Madhyapradesh and
Gujarat can be seen at their best during the annual tribal fair at Baneshwar
temple around 70 kms from Dungarpur where they assemble in large numbers.
» A bird-watcher's paradise : Udai Bilas Palace is a
round-the-year paradise for bird watchers. The cooler months from November
to February are the best to see winter migratory birds and the monsoon
season, from July to October, is the nesting season when birds can be
observed in attractive plumage. One can see from the Palace itself at
remarkably close range egrets, night and pond herons, white necked and
painted storks, coots and winter or resident ducks among others, depending
on the season of your visit.
Sightseeing
»
Juna Mahal : Unlike the more recent Udai Bilas, the Old Palace or Juna
Mahal as it is locally known is no longer occupied. It is still owned by the
family and can be visited only on invitation. Almost as old as the town
itself, the construction of the palace was started sometime in the turbulent
13th century amongst the superb natural defenses of a rocky peak some 1500
ft. from the sea level.
» Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary : Nature lovers can
expect visits to the Sitamata Wildlife sanctuary, a 423 - sq km forest which
abounds in bird life and animals such as the leopard, four horned antelope,
spotted deer, sambar and even the giant brown flying squirrel ( 140 Kms)
Another sanctuary is at Jaisamand which spreads around one of the largest
artificial lakes of India (90 Kms).
