A sprawling 47,000-square-metre rainforest at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat's Narmada district is set to open to the public, anchored by a 220-metre-long glass-deck skywalk and featuring plant species drawn from the Western Ghats, the Himalayas, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the facility during his state visit on 30–31 October, adding a significant eco-tourism asset to a destination already known for the Statue of Unity — the world's tallest statue.

What the Rainforest Offers

The ₹9.49-crore project, located near the new Gora Bridge and close to the Vagadiya Checkpost, brings together evergreen vegetation from three of India's most ecologically distinct regions under one landscaped site. The centrepiece glass-deck skywalk will allow visitors to walk above the canopy and take in views of the layered greenery below.

Other features include a waterfall between 5 and 8 metres in height, a circular pond, and connecting bridges. The entrance gate — standing 20 feet high and 40 feet wide — has been constructed using natural stone, while walking trails are laid with Narmada stone and traditional brick-and-lime elements.

Education and Conservation at the Core

A dedicated information centre will present material on rainforest ecology, biodiversity, and forest conservation through maps, illustrations, displays, and QR codes. The landscape itself has been designed to replicate the distinct vertical layers of a tropical rainforest, offering an immersive educational environment for students, researchers, and nature enthusiasts.

The facility is explicitly aimed at promoting environmental awareness and responsible tourism — two priorities that have gained traction in India's eco-tourism policy discourse in recent years.

Children's Zone and Recreational Features

The site also includes a children's play area with a rock-climbing wall, slides of varying heights, swings, and tree balconies connected by stairways. The blend of recreational and educational features is designed to broaden the demographic appeal of Ekta Nagar beyond its existing visitor base.

Boosting Ekta Nagar's Tourism Footprint

Ekta Nagar, which draws large crowds to the Statue of Unity, has been steadily expanding its ancillary attractions. The rainforest project is the latest addition in that effort, intended to lengthen visitor stay durations and support local economic activity in the surrounding region. Notably, clustering flora from geographically distant ecosystems — the Western Ghats, Himalayas, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands — in a single accessible venue is a relatively novel approach for publicly funded eco-tourism infrastructure in India.

With the inauguration by Prime Minister Modi expected on 31 October, the site is likely to draw immediate national attention and could set a template for similar biodiversity parks at other heritage tourism nodes across the country.