Gir National Park: Home to Asiatic Lions

Home to Asiatic lions, Gir National Park is one of the most important places to spot lions in India. The lion population here has increased by almost 29 per cent in recent years, thanks to all the conservation efforts. You can spot lions roaming in the wild, a lot more now than before, as there were 674 lions in 2020, from 523 recorded in 2015.

Gir National Park is famous for its majestic Asiatic lions and it is the only place where you can find them in wild.

Located in Gir Somnath district in the state of Gujarat, Gir forest is spread over an area of 1,412 sq km including the national park area of 258 sq km. The remaining area of 1,154 sq km is protected as a wildlife sanctuary.

Gir forest was part of the private hunting ground for Nawab of Junagadh during the 19th century. Excessive hunting led to a sharp decline of the Asiatic lion population in Gir. And, this species was almost on the verge of extinction with 20 or lesser fewer lions left in the year 1913.

This made Nawab of Junagadh impose a complete ban on lion hunting within the geographical boundaries of his province. Gir forest got the status of national park in the year 1965 primarily to conserve Asiatic lions.

Gir National Park is situated in Gujarat. According to the directions, it is on the south-west side of the state. It is very far from Ahmedabad and therefore it is advised to go from Veraval. It is only 40 km from there. You can also go from Junagarh; it is also one of the closest spots. The hilly terrain with lush nature surrounding it makes it an alluring beauty. To enter the forest, you need to go to Sassan Gir Village; this is where you can find the main gate.

FLORA AND FAUNA

The flora in the park comprises of mixed deciduous forest with dry scrub, evergreen and semi-evergreen type of trees.

The vegetation of the area is such that most of the bird species migrate or stay here. The park is known to have more than 300 species of birds. It also entitles as an important area for the conservation of birds.

Though the Gir National Park is famous for the majestic Asiatic lion population, it is also home to numerous other wild animals.

You can spot many carnivorous animals, such as leopard, sloth bear, jackal, hyena and wild cat in the park. Reptile population in the sanctuary include mugger crocodile, Indian cobra, python and monitor lizard.

White-backed and long-billed vultures that are now on the verge of getting extinct can be seen here. Other than these species, it shelters more four species of vulture. Other birds include hawk-eagle, black headed oriole, brown fish owl, Indian eagle-owl, rock bush-quail, Indian peafowl, Bonelli’s eagle (endangered), brown caped pygmy woodpecker, crested treeswift, crested serpent eagle and Indian pitta.

HOW TO REACH – GIR NATIONAL PARK

BY AIR

You can reach by a flight up to Rajkot city located at a distance of 156 km from the park and then cover the rest of the distance by car. The other nearby airport is in Diu which is almost 110 km from Gir.

BY RAIL

Junagadh and Veraval are the two nearest railway stations for reaching Gir National Park. These are well connected to several major cities of the country including Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

BY ROAD

Gir National Park is conveniently accessible by road from nearby cities – Junagadh (76 km), Rajkot (161 km) and Ahmedabad (327 km).

WHERE TO STAY

From affordable to luxury, there are many private hotels and resorts near Gir National Park.

Gir Jungle Lodge, located around 2.5 km from the safari booking point, is a good choice for budget travelers. They offer standard rooms as well as tents. Check availability and book your stay at Gir Jungle Lodge.

If you are looking for a lavish stay in Sasan Gir, check The Fern Gir Forest Resort. It is a beautiful resort dotted with greenery. A variety of trees and flowering plants on the premises make one feel close to nature.

GIR FOREST SAFARI

There are two kinds of safaris you can go for – Gir Jungle Trail safari and GIZ Devalia safari. GIZ stands for Gir Interpretation Zone. It is an eco-tourism zone created to bring down tourist overload from the Gir national park visit.

You can book safari permit through Gir national park online permit website. Both Gypsy and Bus safari options are available for Devalia safari. Maximum 6 adults and one child (age between 3-12 years) are allowed in one e-permit.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The best time to visit the park is from November till March as it is not very hot during the day time. April and May are the best months for spotting plethora of wildlife and photography.

It remains closed during monsoon from 16th June to 15th October every year. So, plan your trip accordingly.