Also Known As · Mangar Bani, Mangarbani, Mangar Sacred Forest
Faridabad, Haryana · nature walk
Quiet, wild and slightly mysterious — an ancient sacred forest that feels a world away from the city
Tucked into the folds of the Aravalli hills on the Faridabad–Gurugram border, Mangar Bani is a rare thing near a mega-city: a genuinely old, largely untouched native forest. "Bani" means a sacred grove, and this one is watched over — in local belief — by the wandering saint Gudariya Das Baba, whose small shrine sits above Mangar village. For generations, tradition held that nothing living may be cut or removed from the grove, and it is precisely this folk sanctity, rather than any government fence, that let the forest survive while the ridges around it were quarried and built over. Ecologists call it a living relic; villagers simply call it Baba's forest.
Rajasthani-style thali, hot kachoris and fresh Bikaneri sweets — all pure vegetarian
Chole bhature, dahi bhalla and a box of assorted mithai to carry along
Paneer dishes, samosa-chaat and kulfi at this pure-vegetarian outlet on the Gurugram side
Tucked into the folds of the Aravalli hills on the Faridabad–Gurugram border, Mangar Bani is a rare thing near a mega-city: a genuinely old, largely untouched native forest.
Mangar Bani is community-protected and ecologically sensitive, not a manicured park. Come quietly, stay on existing trails, don't pluck plants or feed animals, and treat the Baba's shrine and the villagers' customs with respect. Weekend guided nature walks led by local conservation volunteers are by far the best way to experience it — a knowledgeable guide turns an ordinary green hill into a page of the Aravallis' natural history.
Visiting Hours
Entry Fee: There is no ticket counter or entry fee — Mangar Bani is an open, community-protected forest rather than a gated park. Organised weekend nature walks run by conservation groups may ask for a small contribution towards the guide or transport; confirm directly with the organiser in advance.
Verified: July 2026
Address
Mangar Bani, near Mangar village, off Gurugram–Faridabad Road, Faridabad district, Faridabad, Haryana, 121004
🚇 Nearest Metro: No metro reaches Mangar. The nearest stations are Arjan Garh (Yellow Line, South Delhi/Gurugram) and Old Faridabad (Violet Line), each roughly 20–25 km away; you will still need a cab for the final stretch.
🚶 Walking from Metro: Not walkable from any metro — the grove is around 20–25 km from the nearest station and requires a car or taxi for the last leg.
Distance from
Parking
street · Free
Informal roadside parking near Mangar village and the trailheads; there is no organised car park, so park considerately and don't block village lanes.
🚕 Ride Hailing Tip: App cabs reach Mangar village reliably, but return rides can be hard to find from the forest edge — ask your driver to wait, or pre-arrange a pickup time, as mobile signal is patchy inside the grove.
How to Reach: Mangar Bani lies off the Gurugram–Faridabad road near Mangar village, on the Delhi–Haryana border. It is best reached by private car or taxi — roughly a one-hour drive (about 25–30 km) from central Delhi and Qutub Minar, and a similar distance from Gurugram and Faridabad. There is no direct public transport to the grove itself; app-based cabs will drop you at Mangar village, from where the forest trailheads are a short walk or drive. Because the forest is unmarked and remote, first-time visitors are strongly advised to go with a local guide or an organised weekend nature walk.
History
Mangar village is reckoned to be some 700 years old, and the ridges around it are older still as a human landscape: Palaeolithic stone tools attributed to habitation roughly 100,000 years ago have been recovered here, alongside rock-shelter paintings estimated at 20,000–40,000 years old — among the first such prehistoric art reported from the Aravalli Range.
Significance
Mangar Bani is regarded as one of the last patches of primary, naturally regenerating Aravalli forest in the Delhi–Faridabad belt, and a textbook example of a sacred grove — biodiversity conserved through community faith rather than state fencing.
Historic 10th-century reservoir and the venue of the famous crafts mela
Restored Aravalli lake and wetland popular with birdwatchers
Scenic Aravalli lake and weekend picnic spot near Sohna
UNESCO-listed victory tower, about an hour's drive north
Sprawling heritage park of tombs, stepwells and ruins beside Qutub
Family Highlights
💰 Equipment Fees: None for personal cameras; the grove has no photography charges
📍 The Golden Spot: The viewpoint near Gudariya Baba's shrine, looking out over the Dhau canopy
🌅 Best Light Time: The first hour after sunrise, when low light filters through the trees and birds are most active
🌅 Secret View: The rise near Gudariya Baba's shrine gives a sweeping look over an almost unbroken Dhau canopy — a rare sight of what the Aravallis once looked like.
🎯 Crowd Hack: Come on a weekday morning if you want the forest to yourself; weekends draw guided-walk groups and cyclists.
💎 Secret Fact: The ridges here hold Palaeolithic stone tools and rock-shelter paintings tens of thousands of years old — among the oldest evidence of human presence anywhere in Delhi–NCR.
⚡ Express Tour
Short on time? Do the 90-minute loop from Mangar village into the Dhau grove and up to the viewpoint near the shrine, then head back.
🔭 Deep Dive Tour
With a half-day, combine a guided Mangar Bani walk with a stop at the seasonal Lulu wetland for birds and, on the way back, Surajkund or Badkhal Lake.
👕 Dress Code: Comfortable, covered outdoor clothing in muted colours, closed walking shoes, a hat and sunscreen; dress modestly near the shrine.
📷 Photography Rules: Personal photography is welcome and free. This is a living sacred grove and wildlife habitat, so photograph respectfully — keep your distance from any wildlife, don't use flash near birds, and ask before photographing the shrine or villagers. There is no formal drone policy, but flying drones over a sensitive forest and community land is discouraged; seek local permission first.
🏧 Nearest ATM: In Mangar village or on the Gurugram–Faridabad road; carry enough cash before you arrive as there are no ATMs at the grove
📡 Public Wi-Fi: None
🔌 Charging Points: None — charge devices before you arrive
Pro Tip: There are effectively no public toilets at the grove — use facilities in Mangar village or before you leave the city, and plan accordingly.
Bargaining: No
👮 Tourist Police: No on-site police; the nearest help is via the Faridabad/Gurugram police control room — dial 112 for any emergency
🎒 Lost & Found: There is no lost-and-found facility; report losses to your guide or the nearest police station in Faridabad or Gurugram
💊 Nearest Pharmacy: Pharmacies are in Faridabad and Gurugram, roughly 18–22 km away; carry a small personal first-aid kit
Air Quality: Air is far cleaner here than in the city, but Delhi–NCR winter smog (November–January) can still cut visibility; check the AQI and carry an N95 if you are sensitive.
Water Safety: There is no drinking-water source at the grove — carry sealed bottled water and do not drink from any pond or stream.
Yes, it is an open forest with no ticket counter or entry fee. It is community-protected rather than a gated park, so there are no formal facilities — come prepared and self-sufficient.
Drive or take a taxi — it is roughly a one-hour, 25–30 km trip from central Delhi via the Gurugram–Faridabad road to Mangar village. There is no direct public transport or metro to the grove itself.
The hills are part of a leopard corridor and big cats do move through, but daytime encounters are extremely rare. Walking by day is generally safe; stay on trails, go in a group or with a guide, and avoid dawn/dusk and after-dark visits.
Winter mornings, roughly October to March, are ideal — cooler air, clearer skies and migratory birds add to the resident species that naturalists have recorded across the Mangar landscape.
No — there are no shops or stalls inside the forest. Carry your own water and vegetarian snacks; the nearest reliable pure-vegetarian restaurants (Bikanervala, Haldiram's) are 18–22 km away in Faridabad and Gurugram.
It is strongly recommended. The forest is unmarked and remote, so a local guide or an organised weekend nature walk makes navigation safe and turns the visit into a proper introduction to the Aravallis' ecology and prehistory.