Gir National Park
General Information | ||
Total Area | 1412.13 sq. km. |
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Best time to visit | November - June. | |
Accommodation | Hoteld & Restaurants. | |
Nearest Town | Junagarh (42 km). | |
How to get there | Train: Sasan Gir (01 km), Air: Keshod (150 km). | |
Species found | The Chinkara, Wild Boar, Striped Hyena, Jackal, Common Langur, Porcupine, Hare, Black Buck. |
The Gir
National Park, was established on 18th September, 1965, as a Forest
Reserve, primarily to conserve the Asiatic lion. The total area
under national park status is about 2,450 hectares. It is located in
the Junagadh District of Gujarat, about 65 km south-east of Junagadh
city, and 90 km east of Keshod Airport, in the Kathiawar (Saurashtra)
Peninsula. Sasan, with a forest rest-house, is the headquarters of
the sanctuary.The Gir is a mixed deciduous type of forest with teak,
ber, flame of the forest, jamun, a variety of acacia, particularly
babul. It is a hilly tract with plenty of rivers, and offers the
visitor long pleasant drives, through the thick forest cover
There are over 200 bird species including the peafowl, grey
partridge, Bonelli's eagle, crested serpent eagle, jungle bush
quail, painted sandgrouse, common green pigeon and several species
of doves . The Gir is also home to the marsh crocodile, which can be
sighted easily in its rivers, particularly in the lake of the
Kamaleshwar dam. There is also a crocodile breeding farm at Sasan.
The Gir is steeped in history and folklore. It boasts of temples of
great antiquity, like Kankai Mata and Tulsishyam, a place of
pilgrimage with hot springs. The forest is famous for its cattle
herders, the Madharis, whose buffaloes form a substantial part of
the lions' meals. Extremely hospitable, the Madharis are herders,
whose lifestyle has changed little over the years, and their
folklore and traditions are a unique record of coexistence of humans
with lions.
The Asiatic lion is slightly smaller than its African cousin,
nevertheless, a large male lion of the Gir is quite a sight to
behold. 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.
The Forest Department does arrange lion shows every Sunday, where
the spectators can watch prides of lions on the hunt.There are
guided trips available, to watch these magnificent animals from a
very close range.