Anant Ambani’s 140 km Padayatra and Vantara Controversy
Anant Ambani’s spiritual padayatra and his wildlife project Vantara are making headlines, with people praising his devotion while others question the treatment of animals at the centre.
Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, is once again in the news. After the grand celebrations of his wedding with Radhika Merchant, he is now trending for his 140-kilometre padayatra (foot march) from Jamnagar to the famous Dwarkadhish Temple in Gujarat.
On 1st April 2025, he was seen walking even at night with tight Z+ security. He started the journey from his house in Jamnagar and is expected to reach the temple in the next few days.
Anant said, “We will reach in another 2–4 days. May Lord Dwarkadhish bless us!” He also gave a message to the youth to keep faith in God and remember Lord Dwarkadhish before starting any work.
This walk is also believed to be a spiritual journey ahead of his 30th birthday on 10th April. During the padayatra, Anant also visited temples along the way. He was joined by Shikhar Pahariya, boyfriend of Bollywood actress Janhvi Kapoor.
Many people are praising Anant for following traditions and inspiring others by doing such a walk himself. But at the same time, there is also criticism—this time about Vantara, a large wildlife project run by the Ambani family in Jamnagar.
Vantara helps rescue and treat animals that are injured or abused. It also works to protect endangered animals in India and other countries.
However, some animal rights groups in South Africa are raising serious questions. They claim that Vantara is like a private zoo and that it is not right to bring wild animals—like lions, cheetahs, snow leopards and jaguars—from their natural homes to Jamnagar.
For example, they say snow leopards naturally live in cold mountain areas like Kashmir and Himachal, but Jamnagar is hot and not suitable for them. They are worried about how these animals can survive in a very different climate.
Some groups have also accused Vantara of illegal activities and questioned what happens to the animals when they die. Are their body parts being sold or are they properly cremated?
Another concern is that the Vantara centre is very close to the large Reliance Jamnagar Refinery, which may pollute the environment and harm the animals.
Vantara officials have denied all these claims. They said they follow all legal rules and are working hard to give the animals a natural and comfortable environment.
Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Vantara on World Wildlife Day on 3rd March 2025. His photos with the animals were shared widely on social media.
Now, people are divided—some believe Vantara is doing good work for wildlife, while others are worried it may be harming animals in the name of rescue.
So what do you think? Is Vantara really helping animals or is it a private zoo?
