Drawing the attention of many tourists, the Jawai Bandh (Dam) is the hot-favourite travel destination in Rajasthan for Leopard safari. Built across the Jawai River and located in the most rugged and wild part of the Aravalli hills in the Pali, Rajsamand and Udaipur districts of Rajasthan, Jawai Dam offers not just the spectacular vistas but also an option for weekend or short getaway from Udaipur, Jodhpur, and Ahmedabad for nature lovers and wildlife tourism enthusiasts. In the past few years, the popularity of this river has increased and today, it attracts domestic as well as international tourists.
Top Tourist Attractions at Jawai Bandh in Rajasthan
- Leopard Sighting
- Wildlife Safari
- Bird Watching
- Granite Hills & Temples
- Jawai Villages
- Luxury Resorts
- Rabari Tribe
- Bera River
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If yes, let’s get some useful information about Jawai Bandh below
Jawai Bandh in a Nutshell
Located near the Sumerpur town in the Pali District of Rajasthan, Jawai Bandh is a habitat for several leopards, birds, crocodiles, and various other animals. The Jawai River on which the dam is situated is a tributary to the Luni River. Jawa Bandh is the largest dam of western Rajasthan and provides water supply to Jodhpur and some parts of the Pali district. The village around the dam is inhabited by the people of the Rabari tribe of Rajasthan. This place today offers several experiences to remember to nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts.
History of Jawai Bandh
The construction of Jawai Bandh began on May 12, 1946 by Maharaja Umaid Singh of Jodhpur. It took 11 years and 2.7 crore rupees to complete the project.
Best Time to Visit Jawai Bandh
In Jawai, one can find the weather to be always pleasant due to its strategic location. Since the location of the dam comprises a range of hills along with a river, one never feels too hot or too cold in the months when the seasons are at their extreme. Therefore, there is no such best time to visit Jawai Bandh, this tourist attraction in Rajasthan can be visited throughout the year.
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What is Jawai Bandh Famous For?
Leopards in Jawai Bandh Area
An unofficial count of leopards at Jawai Bandhi estimates this big cat to be about 50 to 60 in number. The area has been considered a safe haven for the leopards which seem to be increasing in the area gradually. The inhabiting tribe of Rabari consider these big cats as the guards of their local deity. Jawai Bandh is famous for an easy leopard sighting opportunity as these wild cats are often spotted over the rocks, in search of food.
Best Time for Leopard Sighting at Jawai Bandh
The best time of the day to spot leopards at Jawai Bandh are mornings and nights. Since leopards are nocturnal animals, they can be sighted the best at night. At Jawai Bandh, one has this opportunity through night leopard safari, which is conducted by experts and is completely safe. Not only this, the night leopard safari at Jawai Bandh assures 99% chances of sighting leopards.
Jawai Leopard Summer Safari Timings
Morning – 5 to 8 am; Evening – 5 to 8 pm IST.
Jawai Leopard Winter Safari Timings
Morning – 6 to 9 am; Evening- 4 to 7 pm IST.
Interesting Facts to Know About Leopards of Jawai Bandh
There is a special bond between the locals and the leopards of Jawai Bandh. The priests of temples at Jawai Bandh go into the shrine unguarded and unarmed early in the morning which is also the time for leopards to be out in the open. But to one’s surprise, there hasn’t been a single instance of attack on priests or any person in the area.
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Other Wildlife to Spot at Jawai Bandh
Jawai Bandh and its surroundings are also home to a large number of animals apart from the leopards. One can easily spot hyena, white fox, sloth bear, jungle cat, nilgai, and crocodiles here. There’s also a great opportunity of bird watching with the area being haven for more than 100 species of migratory birds including flamingos, spotbill duck, demmossile, knob-billed duck, common eastern crane, sarus cranes, bar-headed geese and many more. The months between October and March are the best time for birdwatching.
Granite Hills & Temples
Jawai has a range of granite hills of which are also carved many Hindu Temples that can be visited. Devgiri Temple and Kambeshwar Mahadev Temple are two popular granite temples in Jawai. These hillocks are also inhabited by many leopards, thus visiting here on your trip to Jawai can be quite thrilling.
Jawai Villages & Rabari Tribe
In Jawai, the villages are mainly inhabited by the Rabari Tribe of Rajasthan. The tribe is primarily matriarchal and rears cattle and sells their milk. In the villages, one can visit to witness the quaint lifestyle and experience warm and traditional hospitality.
Bera River
One of the major attractions around Jawai Bandh, Bera River can capture the sight of nature lovers. Along the river sits a numbers of tiny hamlets which can also be visited to get an experience of rural life.
Accommodation in Jawai Bandh
There are a number of luxury resorts that have been established around Jawai Bandh area. These resorts in Jawai Bandh ensure to take care of all the needs of their guests and offer various activities like wildlife safari and rural tours.
How to Reach Jawai Bandh?
Jawai can be reached using all these modes of transport as it is well-connected through road, rail, and air.
By Air: The nearest airports to Jawai is in Udaipur, which is about 150 km away. Other airports at close proximity to Jawai are at Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Ahmedabad.
By Rail: There are three railway stations near to Jawai and they are all connected to major destinations in India. The nearest one is Mori Bera, which is only 4km away. Trains to Jawai are available from the major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur and Ahmedabad.
By Road: Jawai is well-connected to the major cities of Rajasthan through roads. National Highways 27, 58, and 62 connect Jawai to many destinations across Rajasthan.
Jawai Bandh is the perfect place for nature and wildlife enthusiasts. If you haven’t yet visited this budding tourist destination in Rajasthan, we recommend that you must. For booking your Jawai Bandh tour, call us at +91-9212777225 or drop an email. We have the best holiday packages waiting for you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q.What is the best way to reach Jawai?
Jawai is well-connected by all means of transport - airways, railways, and roadways. Railways and roadways are considered as the best way to reach Jawai.
Q.What are the chances of spotting a leopard in Jawai?
The chances of spotting a leopard in Jawai is better than the other places in India. There are 99% chances of sighting leopards in Jawai.
Q.Is leopard sighting safe in Jawai?
Yes, Jawai is said to be the safest place in India for leopard sightings with its zero report against any attacks on humans by these big cats.
Q.What is the accommodation option in Jawai?
There are a number of luxury resorts in Jawai that offer a pleasant and comfortable stay to the visitors.
Q.What are the other activities/attractions in Jawai apart from leopards?
Apart from leopards following are activities/attractions in Jawai:
- Birdwatching
- Rural tour
- Tribal tour
- Granite temples
About the author
From the Lake District, Nainital, Nidhi Singh is a travel writer whose love for mountains can be seen in her write ups. Talk about solo travelling, indulging in adventure activities, binging on good food, planning budget trips or the Aurora Borealis and you will get all her attention. It is the wanderlust that keeps her going and if at all she could get one wish granted she would love to live a life less ordinary. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram.