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Gir National Park, also known as Sasan Gir, is the only wildlife sanctuary left in the world where the endangered Asiatic lions can be seen. In fact, Gir Sasan Park is the only place other than African Savanna where you can see majestic lions, freely roaming around in their natural habitat. Gir National Park has a diverse variety of wildlife, and plants, along with some notable tourist spots.
On September 18, 1965, the Government officially announced the vast 259 square kilometres of the land of Sasan Gir as a "National Sanctuary". The park encompasses a total of 1,412 sq km area of hilly, forested, dry heathland located near the coast of Gujarat. It's situated midway between Veraval and Junagadh.
Sasan Gir National Park falls under a portion of dry deciduous forest of the Kathiawar-Gir, with a blend of dry deciduous scrub and dry savanna vegetation. The area is full of teak, with densely forested valleys and grassy plateaus.
Many Gir travellers will also enjoy visiting the tribal regions of the uniquely dressed Maldharis (herders) and the Siddis (African-originated tribes) who have lived in harmony with the lions on the Sasan Gir forest grounds for ages.
As per the Gujarat Forest Department's 2020 survey, the population density of Asiatic lions in the Gir forest is 15.2 per 100 square kilometres. The Census 2020 data showed that lion populations in Gir have risen from less than 200 to around 674 since the late 1960s.
This was all thanks to the endless efforts of the Forest Department, NGOs and wildlife activists who took the initiative of preserving the Asiatic lions, which were originally on the verge of extinction.
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Wildlife of Gir National Park
Aside from the Asiatic lions, the Gir national park also has 300 leopards. The sanctuary has around 38 species of mammals. The hare and porcupine are common among the smaller mammals. The most rarely seen mammal in the park is the pangolin.
Tourists will also be able to spot other carnivorous animals like striped hyena, golden jackal, jungle cat, rusty-spotted cat, desert cat, the Asiatic wildcat, honey badger, Bengal fox, Indian ruddy mongoose etc.
Wild boar, spotted deer (Chital), gazelles (Chinkaras), Sambar, blue bulls or Nilgais, and four-horned antelopes (Chousinghas) are among the main herbivores of Gir National Park.
During your Gir travel, there's also the probability of seeing Blackbucks coming from the surrounding area of the park.
The national park has a large population of around 40 species of reptiles and amphibians. Some notable reptile species are soft-shelled turtles, mugger or marsh crocodiles, star tortoises, monitor lizards, etc. There are numerous snake species, such as the Indian rock pythons, King Kobra, Krait, Russell's viper, and Saw-scaled viper.
The river banks of the park also happen to be a dwelling place for around 300 species of birds. Commonly sighted birds include the Crested Hawk-Eagle, Rock Bush-Quail, Indian Eagle-Owl, Lesser Florican, Sarus Crane, Black-Headed Oriole, Pygmy Woodpecker, Crested Treeswift, Indian Pitta, Malabar whistling thrush,King Vultures, Crested Serpent Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, Orange-headed ground thrush, Paradise flycatcher, Black-naped flycatcher, Tawny Eagle, Painted storks, Pelicans, Peafowl etc. as well as the endangered Bonelli’s Eagle.
The park is also home to 2,000 insect species which are seen flying or dwelling around a wide variety of plant species like the Amla, Amli, Asundro Jambu, Dhavdo, Kalam, Khakhro, Samai, Simal, Timru, Umro, Vad, Dudhlo, Khair, Ber, Desi Baval, Hermo, Sadad, Ashitro, Saledi, Modad, Khakhro, etc.
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Gir Lion Safaris
To get the best experience of lion safari in India the Gir National Park authorities have arranged three major lion safaris: the Gir Jungle Trail, the Devaliya Safari (Gir Interpretation Zone) and Kankai Jungle Safari.
Gir Jungle Trail Lion Safaris
There are three Gir Jungle Trail lion safaris per day. The Jungle Trail Lion Safari consists primarily of jeep safaris and guided walking safaris.
This three-hour Jeep safari is meant to take the visitors on an exciting and knowledgeable tour through a dense Indian forest while spotting lions in their native surroundings, as well as other mammals and colourful birds.
The morning safari offers stunning scenery of the sunrise. Moreover, there's a high chance of spotting Asiatic lions in action.
The lion safari time slots are 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.; 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.; and 3 p.m. to 6.
Gir Interpretation Zone (Devaliya Lion Safari)
The Devalia Lion Safari Park is a fenced area of the Gir National Park, with a double-gate entrance. It is situated roughly 12 kilometres from the Gir Sanctuary and is excellent for a fast and easy Gir forest tour. The lion safari to this park was designed to provide a better understanding of the Gir ecosystem and the importance of preserving biodiversity among the visitors.
Not only lion, but it also increases the probability of spotting wildlife, particularly prominent animals such as lions and leopards. There are also stores within the park where you can purchase souvenirs such as tees, coffee mugs, keychains, caps, calendars, stationery items, etc.
The lion safari time slots are 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Kankai Jungle Lion Safari
The Kankai Lion Safari will take the tourists to the Kankai Temple, which is 25 kilometres from Sasan Gir. Also known as the Kankai Mataji Temple, this place for worship is dedicated to Shri Kankeshwari Mataji, the goddess who is the rescuer of props lost in the Gir forest.
Since the Kankai Mata temple is located within the Gir National Park, it is an ideal location for wildlife enthusiasts to get a good view of a large gathering of wildlife. Even within the temple, visitors can occasionally hear the roar of the lion.
There are two slots for Kankai Lion Safari, the morning shift from 6.30 a.m. to 12 a.m. and the evening shift from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Gir Travel Tourist Spots
The popular tourist spots or attractions of the Gir National Park mainly include the Crocodile Breeding Center, Jamjir Waterfall, Kamleshwar Dam; Temple of Tulsi Shyam, and Sasan Gir Museum as well as the tribal villages.
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Crocodile Breeding Center
In 1977, the Forest Department of Gujarat launched the Indian Crocodile Conservation Project. The project involved releasing approximately 1,000 mugger crocodiles into the Kamleshwar Dam.
The park thus has the highest population of mugger crocodiles in India. Tourists will be able to watch and photograph these tough reptiles basking in the sun or catching prey.
The visiting hours for this spot are from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Kamleshwar Dam
The Kamleshwar Dam, also known as the Hiran-I Dam, is a long-established dam on the Hiran River. The Dam is located inside the Gir National Park, in the western patch of forest. While going for Gir lion safari rides, tourists can stop by the Kamleshwar Dam. The reservoir formed by the dam is popular for its bird populations, mugger crocodiles, and other reptiles that have been spotted often.
The visiting hours for this site are also from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Temple of Tulsi Shyam
This well-known temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna, is one of the must-see attractions within Gir National Park.
According to mythology, Lord Krishna defeated the demon Tul, and thus the location is linked with his name. It also features Lord Krishna as "Shyam" in Tulsishyam. The Lord Tulsishyam idol, made out of black stone, is said to be 3000 years old.
The visiting hours for this temple are from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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Sasan Gir Museums
There are many museums and tourist attractions in Sasan Gir National Park. It is a place to learn about the diverse animal and bird species on display.
The Junagadh Zoo Museum, located at the foothills of Mount Girnar, is one of these museums. It is the oldest museum in the state of Gujarat and is home to a variety of motley-coloured birds, such as flamingos, as well as animals such as tigers, lions, leopards, etc.
The visiting hours for this place are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Jamjir Waterfall
Jamjir Waterfall is a beautiful location near Sasan Gir. It is located in the Saurashtra district, close to Kodinar. Regarded as the largest in Gujarat, the Jamjir waterfalls are an excellent location for bird watching and photography.
Tribal Settlements
The last but not least tourist attraction is a visit to Gir National Park's distinct tribal communities. It is an incredible opportunity to connect with the Maldharis Tribe and the Siddis Tribe and learn more about the culture, traditions, and natural surroundings.
Maldhari Tribe
The Maldhari Tribes is a rural community that moved to the Gir area approximately 125 years ago. They have become an integral part of the forest region by coexisting with wild animals, including lions.
These vegetarian tribesmen live in nesses and rely on cow raising for survival. Being highly religious they believe that cattle that managed to escape the carnivores of the park are 'prasad' (offerings or gifts) in exchange for living in someone else's house.
Siddis Tribe
The Siddis are India's single most important African settlement, having arrived 800 years ago and have lived here ever since. In addition to the Gir National Park, these tribes can be found in small villages in areas of Hyderabad, Karnataka, and Maharashtra as well. Like the Maldhari Tribe, the Siddis Tribe also lives in harmony with the wildlife of the park.
Note: These tribal settlements can be visited anytime but tourists must bring a guide along with them.
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Gir Safari Planning & Reservation
The Gir National Park's entrance is at Sasan Gir. Travellers must first make their way to the forest department's guest house, Sinh Sadan. The Gir National Park's reception is right next to it. It is best to reserve a jeep safari permit in advance, be it for the Jungle Trail Safari, Devaliya Safari, or Kankai Jungle Safari.
It must be noted that only a maximum of 6 adults and 1 child will be allowed per jeep. During safari booking, those under the age of 12 are considered children, while those over the age of 12 are considered adults. If there are fewer adults, more children can be accommodated, but it has to be within the limit of seven.
Since the prices are per Jeep rather than per person, the prices would be the same for 1 person and 6 people booking the safari.
Online booking systems are also available for Gir National Park and Lion Safaris. Tourists must provide information such as their ID, name, age, gender, and so on. It should also be noted that permits obtained online are non-refundable.
Best Time to Visit Gir National Park
The winter season, which runs from December to March, is the most popular time to visit Gir National Park and experience one of the present best lion safari in India. This is largely because the average temperature in Gujarat during the winter months is around 20 °C, which is suitable for all sorts of activities in the park, including the lion safari.
However, during these rush hours, it can become overcrowded, resulting in lengthy queues. So, alternatively, you can go for a Sasan Gir travel safari during the hot and dry season, which is from March through May. This is the time when animals gather more near the edge of the river or lakes so that you can easily spot them and take photographs of them.
Gir National Park is closed annually from June 16 to October 15 during the monsoon season.
How to Reach Gir National Park
Gir travel can easily be done via all three modes: road, rail, and air.
By Road: The National Park is 13 kilometres from Sasan Gir, 56 kilometres from Junagadh City, and 64 kms from Veraval by road. The nearest bus stands to the Gir national park are the Sasan Gir bus stand (0.5 kms).
The average bus duration from Junagadh to Gir is 1 hour 17 mins and Veraval to Gir is 1 hour 10mins. Several GSRTC AC bus services run from big cities such as Rajkot, Somnath, and Junagadh to Gir. If not GSRTC, many private companies operate AC bus services from these locations.
By Rail: Traveling by train from Junagadh is probably the best way to conduct Gir travel. Tourists can first travel to Junagadh via major urban cities like Rajkot or Ahmedabad, and then they can take a local train from Junagadh to Sasangir Village.
As per the Indian Rail Network, the distance from Junagadh railway station to Sasan Gir National Park is 72km, and so it takes approximately 2 hours 29 mins to reach there. After reaching the station, tourists can easily get a taxi, cab or bus to finally reach the park.
By Air: The closest airports to the Gir National Park reserve area are Keshod (90 kilometres), Diu (92 km), Rajkot (160 kilometres), Bhavnagar (193 km) and Ahmedabad International Airport (326 km). Tourists can catch flights to any of these airports and then take a cab, bus, or taxi to reach Gir National Park.
