Around 105 kilometres from Vadodara city, Udhal Mahuda is untouched by the cacophony and pollution of the city. In close proximity to the Ratanmahals sanctuary, which is known to house sloth bears, it is also an ideal sunset point. In 2005-06, the state government gave the Vadodara Forest Circle Rs 15 lakhs to develop this site.

Forest official have now confirmed shortly completing construction of rest rooms construction at this location. Jagdish Prasad, Conservator of Forest (CF), Vadodara forest circle said, while the construction of the Udhal Mahuda rest-houses will be complete by this year, there are also plans to put up bamboo huts in Samli area of Panchmahals district soon. The state government had recently declared setting up a Chittal breeding centre at Samli.

S K Sugur, Division Forest Officer (DFO), Baria said, “We have developed around five rest rooms at Udhal Mahuda. Already water supply and electricity arrangements are made and the guest rooms will soon be functional.” He added, “Recently we have also developed bamboo huts in Nalda forest area of Baria forest division which work on solar system.”

Prasad told Newsline, “Udhal Mahuda lies in the southern area of Kanjeta forest range of Baria forest division, Dahod district. Since it lies close to Ratanmahals sanctuary there are also chances that sloth bear dens are located in this area.”