Dhrangadhra — where the wild ass has its office
The sanctuary's headquarters town and the old capital of Jhalavad: ramparts and a clock tower on one side of town, and the white Rann on the other. ~90 km from the Junction, ~2 hours by road.
Two towns in one
Heritage + wildlife HQ
Dhrangadhra is two places at once. As the old Jhalavad state capital, it keeps the palace ramparts, the clock tower and the bazaars of a Rajput-era town. As the headquarters of the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, it's where the forest department sits — permits, gates and information for the Little Rann start here.
For most travellers it's the quieter alternative to Dasada: simpler stays, closer to the salt-pan geography, and a real sense of a working district town rather than a lodge strip.
ધ્રાંગધ્રા જંગલી ગધેડા અભયારણ્યનું હેડક્વાર્ટર અને જૂની ઝાલાવાડ રાજધાની છે — ગઢ, ઘડિયાળમિનાર અને રણનો દરવાજો.
Practical facts — Dhrangadhra
- Distance
- ~90 km / ~110 min from Surendranagar Junction
- Wildlife role
- Sanctuary HQ — permits and gate info for the Little Rann
- Heritage
- Palace ramparts, clock tower, old bazaar
- Stay
- Simple hotels and lodges; eco-lodges are mostly at Dasada
- Best time
- Nov–Feb for wildlife; heritage is fine year-round
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