Here’s the King of them all

Location : 415 km SW of Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Go there for : Asiatic Lions, Leopards, marsh Crocodiles and Birds

Area : 1412.13 sq. km.

Climate : Upto 43°C or 109°F (Sum); Around 10°C or 50°F (Win)

Best Sightings : December to April

Park Closed : June 16-October 15

STD Code : +91 - 2877

The very mention of Gir, for those who have the vaguest idea, will flash a picture of huge lions roaring and growling in a thick forest and you might feel a little adrenalin rush through you. Well, it is not that fearful, but adventurous, it is and incomparable with any of your wildlife escapades! Gujarat’s Sasan Gir is the celebrated domicile of the king of the Jungle - the lion, the other being the forests of Africa. A bounty of about 300 Asiatic lions has made Gir, and with it, Gujarat, one of the much sought wildlife destinations in India and worldwide. An expedition to Gir, however, has much more to it than the famous lions. A sneak peek at the lives of the Maldhari tribe, a community of graziers who live within the confines of the sanctuary and know almost all the animals, especially the lions, by heart - can be an curious study of living with the wild. Gir is edged with three wildlife reserves - the Nalsarovar Lake and Sanctuary, the Rann of Kutch and the Flamingo Islands, which gives you all the more reasons to plan a trip next vacation.
A very interesting quote from a popular magazine sums your Gir experience best --- “It’s impossible to describe in words the electricity of seeing an apex predator in the wild....like David Quammen describes in Monsters of God as ‘the awareness of being meat’...”.

Attractions Wildlife Attractions : The Lion brouhaha so dominates any Gir epistle that one very often tends to think there are no other wildlife there and if any, they are simply undermined. The Park's rugged terrain and deciduous forests make it an ideal refuge of one of the largest population of leopards - about 210 of them roam about scot-free and are even seen close to the jungle lodges at night. Other residents include Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, Chowsingha, Chinkara Gazelle, Wild Boar, Langur, Jackal, Panthers, Wild Cats and Hares and Hyena. Marsh crocodiles, another largest population, are often seen basking along the river banks. Avifauna is another ignored aspect of Gir.

Amazingly, amidst the roars and growls survive some 300 species of domestic and migratory birds like Paradise Flycatchers, Black headed Cuckoo Shrike, Gray Drongo, Pied Woodpeckers, Coppersmiths, Indian Rollers, Crested Swifts, Fish Owls, Black Vultures, Shaheen Falcons, Bonelli's Eagles, Flamingo, Crested Serpent Eagles, Painted Sandgrouse, Rock Bush Quail, Gray Partridge, Painted Storks and White Necked Storks.
Snippets Lions can climb trees. That means, there is just no escape if a predator takes fancy after you and decides to do some chasing!

The lion population at Gir is swelling. So much so that the Government is now forced to consider relocating the ‘excess baggage’ to Palpur-Kuno in Madhya Pradesh.

Safaris The best way to explore the wilderness and tread close to the King of the Jungle is in a jeep. You might have to stop here and there to make way for herds of Sambar, Nilgai or at times the King of the Jungle itself. The safari routes cover areas where lion sightings are usually frequent. And to see the majestic predator pass by languidly just a few steps away, is known to cause not just a wild adrenalin-rush but you will actually be amazed at how unaware it is of your presence, or of anybody else's presence for that matter. A Jungle King par excellence! Go there between the months of November and June to experience for real what you just read.

Travel Info ¤ The Park entry is at Sasan on the south-western border, while entry tickets can be obtained from the reception desk at the Sinh Sadan Guest House in the Forest Dept. Complex near the main gate.

¤ The Park charges are: Entry Fee: Rs.30 (Indians) & Foreigners: US $5, Vehicle Entry: Rs.35 (Indians) & US$ 4 (foreigners), Guide Fee: Rs.50 (first 4 hrs) & Rs.20 (every additional hour), Jeep hire: Rs. 600/safari, Still Camera: Rs. 50 (Indians) & US$ 5 (foreigners), Video Camera : Rs.2500 (Indians) & US$ 200 (foreigners).

¤ Park timings are 8 to 11am and 3 to 5pm.

¤ Tourists are permitted to take their own vehicles but accompanied by a Forest guard or guide.

¤ The Interpretation Zone at Devalia, a short drive from Sasan, can be visited for a quieter wildlife viewing, away from the tourist jostle at Gir.

¤ Lion Show Fee for Indians: Rs.50 & Foreigners: US $5 (Wed closed, Daily timing: 8-11 am, 3-5 pm).
Getaways More wildlife in the vicinity : From Gir you can go to the Nalsarovar Lake and Sanctuary where large numbers of water-birds can be seen; the bare saline flats of the Rann of Kutch, the home of the Indian wild ass and the spectacular Flamingo Island where nesting colonies of flamingoes can be spotted.

The Crocodile Breeding Farm : There is also a breeding farm for crocodiles at Sasan, near Gir, which also provides the specimen that are relocated into the water reservoirs inside Gir. Another place that promises good crocodile sightings is Kamlashwar Dam on the Hiran River.


Tango-trips after Gir : Deva Danga, Riley's, Bawal Chowk, Kankai, Chodardi, Tulsishyam are few of the sights near the Gir Sanctuary. Especially, recommended is a trip to Tulsishyam (135 km away), whose hot sulphur springs and temple beckon tourists and pilgrims from far and wide. A trip to other places of Gujarat can be a enriching experience after the feast of the wild. Visit the historical place of Junagarh (65 km) and Ahmedabad (415 km) and the pilgrimage sight of Somnath. You can also laze under the sun at the beaches Diu, Somnath or Veraval. And yes, don't forget to buy some interesting Gujrati embroidered clothing from the very homeland and feast your taste buds in the end with delicious Gujrati dishes.


Hop next to: Daman & Diu, Ahmedabad, Rajasthan