Gir National Park

Sasan Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary

Overview

Gir National Park, also referred to as Sasan Gir, is a forest and a wildlife sanctuary. It is located in the southwestern region of the Kathiawar Peninsula near Talala Gir District in Gujarat, India. It is an incredibly beautiful place with intriguing wildlife and landscapes. It was established in 1965, and since then, hundreds of Asiatic Lions are bred here. The most beautiful part of the park is the presence of a small temple devoted to Lord Krishna that is situated near the Tulsi Shyam Springs.

Information

The park encompasses an area of 1412 km², of which 258 km² is reserved as a national park and the rest as a wildlife sanctuary. It has a variety of biodiversity, of which the highlight is the habitation of Asiatic lions. With a population of approximately just 20 lions in 1913, the number of habitats has grown to 523 according to the 2015 statistics. The exotic national park provides shelter to more than 400 flora and 2375 fauna species. It is a stunning place for visitors to view and photograph nature and wildlife.

• Size – 1412 km²
• Forest Type – Dry deciduous forest

Star Species

The ideal way to endure the picturesque beauty and wilderness of the area is by staying in the resorts in Gir National Park. The best time to visit this sanctuary is between April and May. The best part of the Gir is that it is promising and protective for its residing biodiversity. Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is one of its kind, offering alluring and stunning views and wildlife sights to make people fall in love with the park.

• Key Mammals – Asiatic Lion, Honey Badger, Striped Hyena, Indian Leopard, Nilgai, Four-Horned Antelope, Sambar, Golden Jackal, Chital
• Key Birds – Indian Pitta, Indian Eagle-Owl, Indian Peafowl, Brown-Capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Rock Bush-Quail, Crested Serpent Eagle.

How to reach

• By Train – Veraval is the nearest railway station to Gir National Park, situated at a distance of 69kms. Alternatively, the Junagadh railhead is about 77 kms from the Gir National Park. The other railway station that’s near the park is Rajkot Junction, situated at a distance of 165 kms.
• By Air – Gir National Park is 65 kms from the nearest airport situated in Diu. Alternatively, there are two more airports close to the park, the Keshod airport, and the Rajkot airport, located at a distance of 86 kms and 170 kms, respectively. These airports are air linked to all the major airports inside and outside the country. Once you get down at the airport, there are a lot of regular transport services available to reach Gir National Park.
• By Road – Travel via road is much more exciting than by any other means. Junagadh, the city close to Gir National Park, is a prominent place and has well-developed road connectivity. There are various transportation services available to reach the park via road to make your journey more enjoyable and is well-connected to the major cities.

Safari

Gir National Park has three jungle trails for safari. These trails are the safari zones of Gir National Park. Permits can be booked for these safari zones. Timings for these safari zones are: (i) 6:30 am, (ii) 9:00 am, and (iii) 3:00 pm. Safari permits are issued per vehicle.

Weather

Things to carry

Clothing tips for the right safari experience:

• Clothes in the earthy colours to be worn which are greens, beige and grey. Black attracts mosquitoes and should be avoided. Shiny or bright colours are a big no.
• Clothes as per expected weather are very important:
  • Summer clothes to be carried should be preferably cotton or cotton blend that is comfortable, breathable.
  • Winter clothes to be packed should be planned for layering over each other when worn. Advisably 4-5 woollen clothes than one heavy item.
• A raincoat or a windcheater is also recommended.
• A hat or a cap as per the weather or season is also prescribed.
• Avoid wearing strong fragrances on the safari.

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