Latest Update : For the upcoming season 2024/25, safari bookings are open for Gir National Park. Always book your safari in advance.
Gir National Park In Gujarat
About Gir National Park
Located in the west Indian state of Gujarat, Gir National Park or Sasan Gir is an important wildlife reserve for the population of the big cat species of the Asiatic Lion. Inhabited by the endangered species, the forests of Gir are the only place in the world besides Africa where you can spot a lion! Spread over an area of 1412 sq. km. Taking a jungle safari through its forests is the best way to spot one in its natural habitat. Not just home to the Asiatic Lion, Gir Sanctuary also houses a sizable population of leopards, striped hyenas, and jackals among many others.
Among the 4 national parks and 21 wildlife sanctuaries in Gujarat, Gir Sanctuary is one of the most visited parks by national and international travelers and is a main attraction of Gujarat Tourism. The Asiatic lion population is on the rise at Gir, with 674 lions recorded in the latest census of 2020.
History of Sasan Gir Park
Being a part of the princely state of Junagarh once, the Nawabs had an important role in the establishment of Gir National Park in Gujarat. Once functioning as the hunting ground for many, the forests of Sasan Gir saw a decline in the population of the Asiatic Lions in the 19th century. This decline in their population, faced by their possible extinction, led the Nawabs of Junagarh to cordon off the forests of Gir to be established as a “protected area”, and barred practices of hunting for sport. The then Nawab of Junagarh, Nawab Sir Muhammad Khanji Rasul Khanji Babi is the one accredited with the conservation effort and the possible establishment of the wildlife sanctuary of Gir.
After demarcating the forests of Gir as a protected area, it was years later on 18th September 1965, that these forests would be declared a wildlife sanctuary. With the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary covering an area of 1153 sq. km. a smaller part of the sanctuary, measuring 259 sq. km. was declared as a national park in 1975. Today, the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary has become an important site for the conservation of the Asiatic Lion in the country and the world.
Thriving in the Gir forests of Gujarat’s Saurashtra region, Gir wildlife sanctuary is the humble abode of the Asiatic Lion. Spread over an area of 1412 sq. km. the national park and wildlife sanctuary are covered in a spread of dry deciduous forests consisting mainly of Teak and Banyan trees as the prominent form of vegetation.
Along with these, Sasan Gir contains over 500 varieties of plant species including 232 types of herbs, 64 types of climbers, and 26 kinds of grasses. Common trees found in the forests of Gir’s Lion Sanctuary include Khair, Ber, Babul, Axlewood, Reonja, Sadad, Tendu, Indian Ash, and the Palash tree. Flowering plants such as Pala Indigo Plant, Bidi Leaf, and Saledi are also found here. A large variety of flowering plants, herbs, and shrubs spread throughout the wildlife reserve, it is helpful in providing sustenance to the birds and herbivores that live within its walls.
Gir Tourism
Fauna at Gir National Park
Home to the Asiatic Lion, Sasan Gir Sanctuary also houses different types of fauna within it. Showcasing a rich biodiversity, the forests of Gir’s Lion Sanctuary contains a mix of 38 species of mammals, 27 species of reptiles, around 300 different varieties of birds, and more than 2,000 species of insects within it.
Apart from the mighty big cat species of the Asiatic Lion, wildlife in Gujarat’s Gir also includes a sizable population of leopards as well, along with other animals like jackals, Striped hyena, Indian fox, civet, Indian mongoose, and the deer and antelope species of chital, sambar, and nilgai. Reptiles found in the park include the marsh crocodile, monitor lizard, star tortoise, and varieties of snakes such as Indian cobra, Indian rock python, and Russel’s viper.
Covered by dense trees of teak all along its forests, Sasan Gir wildlife sanctuary creates a perfect atmosphere for numerous species of birds to thrive. The wildlife reserve includes a number of native as well as migratory birds for the delight of birdwatchers who can spot them during a jungle safari. Some of the birds that can be spotted here include the Indian vulture, Crested serpent eagle, Changeable hawk-eagle, Asian paradise flycatcher, Mottled wood owl, Black-naped flycatcher, and the Indian pygmy woodpecker.
Gir Tourism
Wildlife Safari in Gir National Park
One of the best ways to venture through the forests of Gir is by opting for a jungle safari here. A jungle safari will allow you to travel through the dense and charming forests of the national park and will provide a chance to spot the different wildlife of the park. If you’re lucky you may get to sight the majestic Asiatic Lion or even a whole pride of them! For the convenience of its visitors, unlike other national parks of India which are divided into different zones, Sasan Gir has been divided into 13 routes which are assigned at random. Jungle safari at Gir is only available between the months of October to June when the park remains open, which otherwise remains closed due to the onset of monsoon.
Safaris in Gir National Park, when they happen, occur three times a day with each of them covering a duration of 3 hours.
For traveling through the different routes within the national park, visitors have the option of two categories of gypsies which offer seating capacities for 4, 6, and 8 seaters. With one safari booking permit at Gir, a maximum of 6 adults and a child between the ages of 3 to 12 years are allowed. Unlike other national parks in India, Gir allows only gypsies for safari and does not have the option of canter or any other form of jungle safari.
Located within the premises of the national park at Gir, Kamleshwar Dam is built on the Hiran River in the park. With the backdrop of the hills and forests of Gir, the dam provides a scenic location for a sightseeing and bird watching expedition where you can spot a number of native and migratory birds along it. Being a reservoir to store water all year long, the dam is considered to be an important lifeline for the wildlife at Gir and is a place you must explore on your visit to the wildlife sanctuary.
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Somnath Temple in Gujarat's Gir is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas that worship him. Spread throughout the country, jyotirlingas are prominent temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Existing for centuries, Somnath Temple at Gir is an important pilgrimage site for the devotees of Hinduism, known not only for its serenity, but also for its intricate architecture and ambiance. Situated along the backdrop of the Arabian Sea, the temple is a must visit destination to explore while in Gir.
One of the popular places to explore in Gir, Somnath Beach is located in close proximity to the Somnath Temple. With the swaying waters of the Arabian Sea, the beach is the perfect place to enjoy the view of the setting and rising sun. Take a walk along the soft sands of the beach after visiting the Somnath Temple and enjoy the beauty of the coasts of Gujarat.
Another popular temple to explore on your visit to Gir, Bhalka Tirth Temple forms an important pilgrimage site in Gujarat. Dedicated to Lord Krishna, the temple is adorned with multiple beautiful sculptures of him. The temple marks the site where after being accidentally shot by Jara, a poacher who mistook the lord for a deer, Lord Krishna left the earthly abode for heaven, mentions of which can be found in the Puranas.
How to Reach Gir National Park?
Reaching Gir Forest Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat is very easy, as the destination is well connected by all means of transportation.
By Air
The nearest airport to the national park is the Rajkot International Airport at a distance of 198 Km, from where you can take a cab to reach Gir National Park.
By Road
The nearest cities to the park are Junagadh at 72.5 km and Veraval at 64.5 km from where you can take a bus or private cabs to reach the national park.
By Train
The nearest railway station to Gir National Park is the Junagadh Railway Station at a distance of 73 km and the Veraval Railway Station at 64 km. From here you can take a bus or private cab to reach the national park.
Best Time to Visit Gir National Park
Best Time for Gir Jungle Safari
The best time to visit Gir National Park is during the months of October to March since the weather is pleasant and it is comfortable to travel. But it is an even better time to visit the park between the hotter months of April to June. It is between these months that the state faces some heat, forcing the animals to visit the ponds and lakes in the park more often, increasing your chances of sighting them.
Devalia Safari Park is located within the boundaries of Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and is another area in the Gir forests that is open to visitors for a jungle safari. The Safari Park allows the visitors to explore the forests of Gir and sight animals like the Asiatic Lion, leopards, striped hyenas, among others that reside in its forests. This initiative is helpful for those who could not get a safari permit for a jungle safari in the national park due to the number of visitors.
Offering an ecosystem catering to numerous species of plants, mammals, reptiles, insects, and birds, the Ambardi Wildlife Interpretation Zone, or the Ambardi Safari Park is a reserve forest located among the Gir Protected Area. With the beautiful Shetrunji River flowing along, the safari park is home to the Asiatic Lion, Leopard, Chinkara, and Chital, among many others that you can spot on a bus or a gypsy safari through its jungles, allowing for a closer look at the park's wildlife.
Part of Gir's National Park, Girnar Nature Safari takes place among the dense forests of Gir Wildlife Sanctuary. A nature safari through its jungles is the best way to know about its many inhabitants such as the Indian Leopard, Chital, Sambar, Crocodile, Civet Cat, among others, including the majestic Asiatic Lion. The nature safari offers a chance to learn about the importance of a proper ecosystem and lets you observe its resident wildlife in their natural habitat.
Located near the Sasan Gir Sanctuary, Girnar Hills are one of the best places to explore on your visit. The hills form popular pilgrimage sites for the followers of Hinduism and Jainism and have several temples dotted along its landscape. These temples are situated atop the hills at a high elevation which can be reached by either climbing the 10,000 stone steps that lead to the top or by opting for the Udan Khatola ropeway, one of the highest temple ropeways in the country.
Popular Hindu temples at Girnar include Dattatreya Temple, Amba Mata Temple, and the Jatashankar Mahadev Mandir, with the Neminath Jain Temple, and the Mallinath Temple, forming the important Jain temples.
Said to have been built in the 4th century BCE by the Mauryan ruler, Chandragupta, Uparkot Fort is one of the best places to visit in Junagadh, near Gir National Park. Originally constructed by the Mauryan emperor, the fort has been expanded over the centuries and has managed to withstand being besieged for around 12 years! Within its premises, the fort contains a mosque of Jama Masjid as well as a set of Buddhist caves.
Having seen the rule of numerous rulers, Uparkot Fort displays their effect on it through its structure. Structures to explore within the fort include the two stepwells named Adi Kadi Vav and Navghan Kuvo, along with the protective moat surrounding the fort that once housed crocodiles to ward off intruders.
Buddhist Caves at Junagadh are a set of three types of rooms carved out of rocks, meant to be used as living quarters for monks centuries ago. These caves are the Baba Pyare Caves, Khapra Kodiya Caves, and the Buddhist Caves at Uparkot, all of them located within the present-day district of Junagadh. Among the popular places to visit near Sasan Gir Sanctuary, these caves form important heritage sites, dating as far back as the 1st century CE to the 4th century CE.
The caves, which remain in ruins today, display works of art and were constructed with multiple storeys, most of which has been lost due to time and weather. The Buddhist caves of Junagadh are a fascinating set of structures and are places that you must visit on your tour to Gir.
A beautiful mausoleum, Mahabat Maqbara is one of the most beautiful places to explore near Sasan Gir Forest and Wildlife Sanctuary. Located in the district of Junagadh, Mahabat Maqbara originally functioned as the residence of the Nawabs of Junagadh. Now a mausoleum, the historic site today contains the tombs of Nawab Mahabat Khan II, and Bahaduddinbhai Hasainbhai.
Also known for its beautiful architecture, Mahabat Maqbara displays a mix of Indo, Islamic and European Gothic style of architecture throughout, along with the influences of local art and architecture. With intricately designed walls, and stone carved panels, the structure has beautiful minarets and large doors built of silver. A mix of different styles, Mahabat Maqbara in Junagadh is a promising sight to see.
Darbar Hall Museum is one of the most popular places to explore in Junagadh near Gir Wildlife Sanctuary. Though a museum today, the place once functioned as the courthouse for the then Nawabs of Junagadh and has on display artifacts such as arms, paintings, photographs, royal palanquins, textiles, and furniture of the Babi rulers of the region.
One of the best places to explore in the museum includes the Darbar Hall, meant to showcase the grandeur and glory of the courthouse of the Nawabs that once existed and offer it in its authentic setting. Apart from the Darbar Hall, there are numerous galleries within the museum for you to explore where you learn about the history of Junagadh and its rulers.
Gir Lion Sanctuary is located in the west Indian state of Gujarat and lies close to the districts of Junagadh and Gir Somnath.
The forests of Gir are famous for housing the only population of the Asiatic Lion in the world!
The best time to visit the park for a jungle safari is between the hotter months of April to June. It is between these months that the state faces some heat, forcing the animals to visit the ponds and lakes in the park more often, increasing your chances of sighting them.
Sasan Gir Sanctuary can be reached by road, rail, or air depending on where you are traveling from. Here is how you can reach the park:
By Road : The nearest cities to the park are Junagadh at 72.5 km and Veraval at 64.5 km from where you can take a bus or private cabs to reach the national park.
By Train : The nearest railway station to Gir National Park is the Junagadh Railway Station at a distance of 73 km and the Veraval Railway Station at 64 km. From here you can take a bus or private cab to reach the national park.
By Air : The nearest airport to the national park is the Rajkot International Airport at a distance of 198 km, from where you can take a cab to reach Gir National Park.
Apart from the majestic Asiatic Lion, at Sasan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary you can find leopards, Indian fox, Civets, Indian mongoose, Striped hyenas, Wild dogs, Marsh crocodiles, and different species of venomous and non-venomous snakes.
More Information About Gir Wildlife Sanctuary
According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)'s Red List, the Asiatic Lion is now listed as an endangered species. Although a matter of concern, it is an improvement for the big cats whose population was earlier designated as “critically endangered”. The Asiatic Lion which was earlier on the verge of being extinct has seemed to have recovered exponentially.
Saving the Asiatic Lion- A Success Story
The Indian subcontinent which saw the population of this lion species in the regions of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, currently remains confined within the Gir forests of the west Indian state of Gujarat. It is due to numerous reasons that a thriving population of the Asiatic Lions has ceased to exist in other states. The main cause for the decline in their population is mainly attributed to hunting them for sport.
As per a record from the year 1893, the forests of Gir only had around 18 lions within them, which led to concerns regarding their extinction, leading the forests to be closed off for hunting activities. As a result, the population of the Asiatic Lions rose to 50 by 1920 and then further jumped to 287 by the year 1936.
Maintaining this streak of success, mainly due to the efforts of conservationists, wildlife experts and the authorities of the Sasan Gir National Park, the population of the Asiatic Lion which was 411 as per the 2011 census, rose to 523 lions, a rise by 27%, which further saw a rise by 29% in 2020 when their population was recorded at 674 lions, leading the park's conservation efforts to be acknowledged as a success story.
According to the park's authorities, it has been due to factors like timely rescue, improvement in habitat, water management, and mitigation of man-animal conflict, along with awareness among the locals, that the park has seen a steady rise in the numbers of the Asiatic Lion. With the authorities also having managed to prevent poaching, a major threat to the existence of the big cats has been removed. Other practices involving removal of electrical fences by farmers, covering up of open wells with surrounding walls, installation of CCTV cameras, and radio-collaring all the lions have also contributed to the safety and conservation of the lions at Gir Wildlife Reserve.
Quick Facts & Information About Gir National Park Forest
The safari timings vary according to the season so it is better to confirm it before your visit.
Months
Morning Safari
Afternoon Safari
Evening Safari
16th Oct - 28th/29th Feb
06:30 am - 09:30 am
09:30 - 12:30 pm
03:00 pm - 06:00 pm
01st Mar - 15th June
06:00 am - 09:00 am
09:00 - 12:00 pm
04:00 pm - 07:00 pm
Note: Gir National Park remains closed from 16th June to 15th October.
Important Quick Facts and Information About Gir Sanctuary
Gir National Park is the only place outside of Africa where you can spot a lion, and the only place in India to sight the Asiatic Lion!
The Asiatic Lion which was on the verge of extinction in 1893 with less than 20 lions today thrive in Gir with an approximate population of 674.
Fearing the extinction of the Asiatic Lion, it was the then Nawab of Junagadh who closed off the forests of Gir for hunting.
There are several communities along the periphery of the national park that have coexisted with the lions of Gir for generations, and have even aided in their conservation.
The forest department at Gir with its Vanya Prani Mitra Programme has incorporated several initiatives and practices that have managed to prevent poaching at Gir completely.
Given the concentration of the Asiatic Lion in just one spot can be risky for their species, initiatives to spread them to nearby wildlife reserves are also being discussed by the government.
Travel Tips to Keep in Mind
When planning to visit Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, it is important that the booking for your safari be done in advance, since it is a popular activity, you may miss out on getting a permit.
It is advised to take multiple safaris to increase your chances of sighting the Asiatic Lion, since the sightings depend significantly on the seasons and their movement.
Carry with yourself a valid ID at the time of your jungle safari at the national park.
Carry plenty of water to hydrate yourself since the safari takes around 3 hours to finish, during which it can be easy to get dehydrated.
Since the animals may be at a distance from your vehicle, you might want to carry a pair of binoculars to see them more clearly.
It is advised to wear clothes with more earthy colors, such as brown, green, and beige that help you blend with the surroundings and avoid bright colors such as red which may make the animals cautious and hinder them from coming your way.
Carry sun hats, scarfs, and masks during your safari since the climate of the park is dry and hence might be a lot of dust.
Always stay composed, calm and listen to your guide.
Do not feed the animals at the park since they already get sufficient food and it could turn out dangerous for you, as they are wild animals.
Do not litter during your safari and just dispose of the waste later at a designated spot.
Do not get off from your vehicle at any point and remain seated at your seat.
Do not make loud noises or sounds as they may deter the animals from coming close and you may not be able to sight them.
Do not smoke or drink alcohol in the park's premises.
