Saputara

Saputara is located in the Dang district of southern Gujarat, near the Gujarat–Maharashtra border, at an elevation of about 1,000 metres in the Western Ghats (Sahyadri range). It is Gujarat’s only hill station, surrounded by dense forests, rolling hills, and plateaus that receive heavy monsoon rainfall.

The region’s terrain, climate, and forest cover historically limited large-scale agriculture and urban settlement, shaping Saputara as a sparsely populated upland zone rather than an early political or commercial centre.

Early History and Tribal Society

For centuries, the Saputara region formed part of the tribal belt of the Western Ghats, inhabited mainly by Dang tribes, including the Bhils, Warlis, Gamit, and Kunbi communities. These groups lived in forest-based settlements, practising shifting cultivation, hunting, gathering, and small-scale agriculture.

Social organisation was based on clans, village councils, and customary law rather than state-based administration. Trade links existed with the plains of Gujarat and Maharashtra, but the hills remained culturally distinct and lightly governed.

The name “Saputara” is often locally associated with folk traditions connected to serpents (sapus), reflecting the region’s integration of landscape, belief, and oral history rather than formal political naming.

Medieval and Early Modern Period

Unlike many parts of Gujarat, Saputara did not come under direct control of major medieval empires such as the Solankis, Sultanates, or Mughals in a sustained way. The rugged terrain made effective administration difficult, and governance remained indirect, exercised through local chiefs and tribal intermediaries.

Revenue extraction was limited, and the region functioned largely as a frontier zone between settled plains and forested highlands.

British Period and Dang Administration

During British rule, the Dangs were organised as a scheduled tribal tract rather than a standard district. The British adopted a policy of minimal interference, recognising tribal customary systems while maintaining overall political control.

Saputara itself did not develop as a town during the colonial period. However, British officials identified the plateau as climatically suitable for rest and retreat, similar to other hill stations in India, though it remained undeveloped compared to places like Mahabaleshwar or Panchgani.

The area’s strategic value lay more in forest resources and frontier stability than in revenue or military importance.

Post-Independence Planning and Development

After Indian independence, the Dang region became part of Bombay State, and later Gujarat following state formation in 1960. Recognising the absence of a hill station within Gujarat and the need for economic opportunities in tribal regions, the state government initiated plans to develop Saputara as a planned hill resort.

In the 1960s, Saputara was officially developed as a hill station through state-led planning rather than organic urban growth. Infrastructure such as roads, guest houses, gardens, and civic facilities was introduced in a controlled manner.

This development aimed to balance tourism promotion with tribal welfare, ensuring land remained largely under public ownership and environmental degradation was limited.

Urban Layout and Tourism Infrastructure

Unlike colonial hill stations with dense construction, Saputara was designed with low-rise buildings, open spaces, and regulated zoning. Facilities such as the lake, viewpoints, gardens, and tribal cultural centres were integrated into the natural terrain.

Government-run tourism agencies played a central role, with limited private development compared to major hill towns elsewhere in India. This ensured Saputara retained a quieter character and remained accessible primarily as a seasonal retreat.

Role in Regional Economy

Saputara became an important tourism-driven economic centre for the Dang district. Employment opportunities expanded in hospitality, transport, handicrafts, and local services.

The development also created market access for tribal produce and crafts, linking forest communities more closely with the regional economy while maintaining cultural distinctiveness.

Saputara in the Modern Era

In the modern era, Saputara functions as a state-planned hill station and recreational town, attracting visitors from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and nearby urban centres such as Surat and Nashik.

Its economy is centred on tourism, public services, and seasonal trade rather than industry or large-scale commerce. Urban growth remains controlled, with emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable development.

Saputara’s historical identity differs from most Indian towns: it did not evolve from ancient capitals, medieval forts, or colonial administrative centres. Instead, it represents a modern phase of regional planning, where geography, climate, and tribal context shaped a purpose-built urban settlement within a long-standing forested upland region.