Wilson Hills, Gujarat
Encyclopedia
Wilson Hills is a hill station
in the Valsad district
in the Indian
state
of Gujarat. It is near Dharampur
Tahsil and is also the nearest hill station to Surat
.
Wilson Hills stands in a densely forested region close to the Pangarbari Wildlife Sanctuary. It is one of the few hill stations in the world from which it is possible to glimpse the sea.
It has an average elevation of 750m (2500 feet). Due to its elevation, Wilson Hills enjoys a cooler and less humid climate than the surrounding area, which makes it popular during the summer months.
, the Governor of Mumbai from 1923 to 1928, by Vijay Devji, the last King of Dharampur. Lord Wilson and King Vijay Devji had planned to develop the area into a hill station, but the project failed to take place. A monument to their memory remains on the peak.
In 2003, Ashish Birendra Sharma, a businessman of Vapi, formed a company named Hotel Wilson Highland Pvt Ltd with the intention of finally developing a hill resort.
, which is 29km (18 miles) away at the base of the hills.
, located around 130km from Wilson Hills. The nearest railhead is Valsad on the Surat-Mumbai main line.
From Surat
Set off on the Surat-Mumbai road (NH-8) through Udhana
-Sachin
-Palsana
(approximately 30 km). Take the Surat
-Mumbai
highway at the Palsana junction and continue to Chiklli. From there, turn left and go towards Khergam-Dharampur. Then take the Dharampur-Nasik highway. After 3 km you will reach a junction - one road toward Nasik, one toward Dharampur, and one toward Wilson Hills and Barumal. Take the Wilson Hills road and you will reach the foothills after 10 km. This marks the start of the Wilson Hills Ghat Road. Wilson Hills is reached after a very steep ascent for 20 km including 16 switchbacks.
Hill station
A hill station is a town located at a higher elevation than the nearby plain or valley. The term was used mostly in colonial Asia , but also in Africa , for towns founded by European colonial rulers as refuges from the summer heat, up where temperatures are cooler...
in the Valsad district
Valsad district
Valsad district is one of the 26 districts in the Western Indian state of Gujarat. It is bound by Navsari district to the north, Dang district to the east and the State of Maharashtra to the south. The Arabian Sea lies west of the district...
in the Indian
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Gujarat. It is near Dharampur
Dharampur
Dharampur, was a princely state ruled by Sisodia Rajput rulers, which acceded to the Union of India June 10, 1948. It is now loacted in Gujarat, India....
Tahsil and is also the nearest hill station to Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
.
Wilson Hills stands in a densely forested region close to the Pangarbari Wildlife Sanctuary. It is one of the few hill stations in the world from which it is possible to glimpse the sea.
It has an average elevation of 750m (2500 feet). Due to its elevation, Wilson Hills enjoys a cooler and less humid climate than the surrounding area, which makes it popular during the summer months.
History
Wilson Hills was named in memory of Lord WilsonLeslie Orme Wilson
Sir Leslie Orme Wilson, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, DSO, PC was a British soldier, Conservative politician and Governor of Queensland.-Personal life:...
, the Governor of Mumbai from 1923 to 1928, by Vijay Devji, the last King of Dharampur. Lord Wilson and King Vijay Devji had planned to develop the area into a hill station, but the project failed to take place. A monument to their memory remains on the peak.
In 2003, Ashish Birendra Sharma, a businessman of Vapi, formed a company named Hotel Wilson Highland Pvt Ltd with the intention of finally developing a hill resort.
Location
Wilson Hills is located at 20.51441973°N 73.218813°E, about 130km from Surat, 80km from Navsari, and 60km from Valsad. It is connected by a tar road to the town of DharampurDharampur
Dharampur, was a princely state ruled by Sisodia Rajput rulers, which acceded to the Union of India June 10, 1948. It is now loacted in Gujarat, India....
, which is 29km (18 miles) away at the base of the hills.
Travel Information
The nearest airport is in SuratSurat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
, located around 130km from Wilson Hills. The nearest railhead is Valsad on the Surat-Mumbai main line.
From Surat
Set off on the Surat-Mumbai road (NH-8) through Udhana
Udhana
Udhna is a Sub-City of Surat. Located primarily on Surat-Navsari Highway in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is 7 km south of the Commercial Capital of Gujarat i.e Surat. Udhna is a Major Railway Station in Western India. Udhna is one of India's largest Textile manufacturing city...
-Sachin
Sachin
The name Sachin is derived, via Indic languages like Bengali and Marathi, from the Sanskrit name Shachindra. Shachindra is a name given to Hindu mythological god Indra which means Shachi's Indra. Shachi was one of the wives of Indra. It is the other name of Hindu god Shiva...
-Palsana
Palsana
Not to be confused with the Palsana located north of Jaipur in Rajasthan.Palsana is a city and a Municipality in Surat district in Gujarat, India. It is situated on National highway-8 at a distance of 25 km from Surat. Palsana connects Surat with NH8 by Outer Ring Road also known as Hazira-Sachin...
(approximately 30 km). Take the Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
-Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
highway at the Palsana junction and continue to Chiklli. From there, turn left and go towards Khergam-Dharampur. Then take the Dharampur-Nasik highway. After 3 km you will reach a junction - one road toward Nasik, one toward Dharampur, and one toward Wilson Hills and Barumal. Take the Wilson Hills road and you will reach the foothills after 10 km. This marks the start of the Wilson Hills Ghat Road. Wilson Hills is reached after a very steep ascent for 20 km including 16 switchbacks.