Sacred Groves in Gujarat
Sacred groves are seen throughout Gujarat, in varied forms. They have come into being owing to various cultural practices and belief systems. 42 sacred groves have been documented in the state.
Khodiyar mata, Oran Mata, Jhalai mata, Panch Krishna, Mahadev are some of the deities to whom these sacred groves are dedicated.
The vegetation in the groves is highly varied viz. mangroves, fresh water swamps, or other tropical forest types.
Cotton tree, Bengal quince, Neem, Mango, Flame of the forest, Sissoo, Thorny staff Tree, Banyan and Pipal are among the most commonly found plant species in the sacred groves.
Sacred groves play an important role in the conservation of biodiversity, recharge of aquifers and soil conservation. The cutting and climbing of trees and removal of wood are strictly prohibited.
List of Sacred Groves in Gujarat
| Sl.No | Sacred Grove Location | Name of the deity | Area | Source | |
| District – Sabarkantha | |||||
| 1 | Cholia | Choliyawala Mahadev | Not Known | Patel, H.R. and R.S. Patel, 2012, Study of sacred groves and sacred plants of R.D.F. Poshina Forest Range of Sabarkantha District, Northe Gujarat, India, Life sciences Leaflets, 5: 11-16. | |
| 2 | Jotasan | Ambaji Mata | Not Known | ||
| 3 | Dotad | Bhamrawali Mata | Not Known | ||
| 4 | Dantral | Chhibadi Mata | Not Known | ||
| 5 | Movatpura | Chamunda Mata | Not Known | ||
| 6 | Malvas | Mevadwala/Devda Bhagvan | Not Known | ||
| District – Dahod | |||||
| 7 | Sakarda, Chosala | Kedarnath Mahadev | Not Known | Maru, R.N.1 and Patel R.S, 2013,
Ethno-Botanical Survey of Sacred Groves and Sacred Plants of Jhalod and Surrounding Areas in Dahod District, Gujarat, India, Res.J.Recent.Sci. Vol. 2 (ISC-2012), 130-135. |
|
|
8 |
Therka | Panchkrishna | Not Known | ||
| 9 | Kota village, near sanjeli | Sankatmochan Hanuman | Not Known | ||
| 10 | Chhakaliya village | Ghugardev Mahadev | Not Known | ||
| District – Banaskantha | |||||
| 11 | On the bank of
the river Saraswati. |
Shankar Mahadev | Not Known | Patel, P.K.and M.K.Patel, 2013, Sacred groves in conservation of plant biodiversity in Banaskantha district, Gujarat, India, Recent Research in Science and Technology, 5(1): 13-16 | |
| 12 | On the bank of
the river Saraswati. |
Sendhani Mata | Not Known | ||
| 13 | Mukteshwar | Mukteshwar Mahadev | Not Known | ||
| 14 | Shembhar | Shembharia Goga Maharaj | Not Known | ||
|
15 |
Mukteshwar | Guru nu Bhankharo | Not Known | ||
| 16 | Cholia | Khedawali mata | Not Known | Patel Hitesh R & R. Patel,2013, Ethnobotanical Plants Used by the Tribes of R.D.F.Phoshina Forest Range of Sabarkantha District,North Gujarat, India, Int. J.Sci. Res. Publication, Vol. 3, Issue 2, Pp. 1-8. | |
| 17 | Polapan | Polagadawalimata | Not Known | ||
| 18 | Devrabavaji | Dedka | Not Known | ||
| 19 | Ganer | Chamunda mata | Not Known | ||
| 20 | Demti | Gogabapji maharaj Mahadev | Not Known | ||
| 21 | Kotda -Gadhi | Jata matajinu mandir | Not Known | ||
| District – Banaskantha | |||||
| 22 | Rinchadi, Jetvas | Ambaji | 1 acre | http://www.kalpavriksh.org/images/CCA/Directory/M-8%20Gujarat.pdf | |
| 23 | Kundel | Palanpur | 2 acres | ||
| 24 | Kheraniumbari | Ambaji | 4 acres | ||
| 25 | Rupavasa | Palanpur | 0.5 bighas | ||
| 26 | Chauri | Palanpur | 2 acres | ||
| 27 | Dabhachitra | Ambaji | 1.5 acres | ||
| 28 | Khermal | Ambaji | 2 acres | ||
| 29 | Viramveri | Ambaji | 1 acre | ||
| 30 | Kanabia vas | Palanpur | 1 bigha | ||
| 31 | Pataliya | Palanpur | 1 acres | ||
| 32 | Khapra | Palanpur | 2 bighas | ||
| 33 | Khuniya(Amirgad) | Palanpur | 1 acre | ||
| 34 | Sarotra | Palanpur | 2 acres | ||
| 35 | Pedagara | Palanpur | 5 acres | ||
| 36 | Isawani | Palanpur | 1 acre | ||
| 37 | Khara | Palanpur | 2.5 acres | ||
| 38 | Dharmata | Balaram | 2.5 acres | ||
| 39 | Surela | Palanpur | 2.5 acres | ||
| District– Kachchh | |||||
|
40 |
Bhuj | Shravan
Kavadia temple (within the Mangrove) |
1.73 acres | Nimisha, T., Raj S. Singh, B. Bakhori, C. Dalal, D. Parmar and B. Mishra, “The world’s only inland mangrove in sacred grove of Kachchh, India, is at risk”, Current Science, Vol. 105, NO. 8, 2013. | |
| 41 | Gugaliyana Reserve Forest (RF) | Oran Mata | 2 ha | Rohit Patel, Arun Kumar Roy Mahato and Yatin S. Patel, 2014,” Study on the Floristic Diversity of Two Newly Recorded Sacred Groves from Kachchh District of Gujarat, India”, Indian Journal of Plant Sciences, Vol.3 (1), pp.75-81. | |
| 42 | Gugaliyana Reserve Forest (RF) | Sadhay Pir | 3 ha | ||