Gir National Park at a Glance :

Area : 1412 sq km. (Approx.)

Maximum Temperature : 40°C (Approx)

Minimum Temperature : 12°C (Approx)

Major Languages spoken in Gir National Park : Gujarati, Hindi and English

Best Time to visit : December-April

About Gir National Park :

Gir is the only home in India for the Asiatic Lion of which there are nearly 300 in the park. The Gir National Park lies in the Gujarat peninsula in South-Western India. The terrain is rugged with low hills and the vegetation is mixed deciduous, with stands of Teak, Acacia, Jamun, Tendu and Dhak trees, interspersed with large patches of grasslands. The trees on the hills are sparse and stunted.

Within the sanctuary, there are numerous human settlements of cattle herders called Maldharis with an estimated 20,000 head of livestock (which, incidentally, forms a significant part of the Lion’s diet). There are also places of Hindu worship and pilgrimage and sulphur springs at Tulsi Shyam and Kankai Mata. The edges of the park have good population of Indian Gazelle, protected by religious sentiments of the local people.

Extension Of The Sanctuary :

In the past Gir had a much bigger coverage area. After Indian government placed a total ban on killing of Lions in 1955, within the time span of three years the area estimation came around 2,560-sq-km and the Lion population was estimated at 287. Since then, the forest area very quickly got reduced in area to 1,452-sq-km. In 1965, the Gujarat government declared Gir forest as a sanctuary and in 1975; part of the sanctuary was declared as a National Park. And with the success of the protection program there is an incredible increase in the Lion population too, from 177 in 1974 to around 300 in 1995.

The Topography(Gir Wildlife Sanctuary ) :

The state of Gujarat has some splendid wildlife reserves that are quite out of the ordinary. The Gir National Park is the only home in India of the Asiatic Lion of which there are nearly 300 in the park. This sanctuary lies in the Gujarat peninsula in South West India and is gifted with a terrain that is rugged with low hills and the vegetation is full of mixed deciduous, with stands of Teak, Acacia, Jamun, Tendu and Dhak trees, interspersed with large patches of grasslands. On the hills of the trees are sparse and stunted.

The Lion King (Gir National Park ) :

Gir Sanctuary is the last and only home of the critically endangered Asiatic Lion. These lions are a smaller more compact version of their African version, and are best viewed at dawn or dusk when they are on the move. The major difference between the two is that the African Lion appears larger than the Indian Lion because of its large and luxuriant mane.

Safaris at Gir National Park :

Jeep Safari : The best way to observe the big cats is, of course, in their natural surroundings, at dawn and dusk, when they are on the prowl. Wildlife viewing in the Girs is best done, by driving via jeep around the forest.

Places to Stay at Gir National Park :

• The Gir Lodge
• Maneland Jungle Lodge
• Sinh Sadan Guest House
• Gir Birding Lodge
• Lion Safari Camp

How To Reach Gir National Park :

By Air : The nearest airport from Gir National Park is Keshod at a distance about 90 kilometers and then from Keshod, Gir can be reached after a drive of 166 kilometers.

By Rail : Ahmedabad station is at a distance about 395 kilometers from Gir. There is one more station and very near to Sasan Gir, at a distance of one kilometer.

By Road : You can reach Gir by road from Ahmedabad about (400 kilometers) via Rajkot, Junagadh and Mendarda.