Location:
64 km from Junagadh and 32 km from Verawal
Total Coverage Area : 1,412.14 sq. km./ Lion sanctuary 141,213 hectares
(of which national park 35,948 hectares).
About
Gir is the only home in India of the Lion of which there are nearly 300 in the
park. The Gir national park lies in the Gujarat peninsula in SW India. The terrain
is rugged with low hills and the vegetation is mixed deciduous, with stands
of Teak, Acacia, Jamun, Tendu and Dhak trees, interespersed with large patches
of grasslands. On the hills of the trees 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. At the edge of the park there are good populations of Indian Gazelle,
protected by the religious sentiment of the local people.
Birds in the park include the Paradise Flycatcher, Bonelli’s Eagle and
Painted Sandgrouse. Three unusual reserves, the Nalsarover Lake and Sanctuary,
where large numbers of water-birds can be seen; the bare saline flats of the
Rann of Kutch, incredibly the home of the Indian wild ass and the spectacular
Flamingo island where nesting colonies of flamingoes are to be seen, make
Gujarat an exciting place for wildlife enthusiasts.
The Topography
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.
Climate:
From
the three common seasons of summer, winter and monsoon, summer takes the longest
stretch, in which the average minimum and maximum temperature ranges between
10ºC to nearly 45ºC. The hottest months recorded in Gir are April
and May. The rains bring some relief from the heat during the monsoons period
of, starting from middle of June and September. The maximum recorded during
this period in the area is around 1,866 mm and the minimum recorded being 199mm.
Because of less rainfall water always remains a critical factor in the well
being of the forest. At times the waterholes are required to be replenished
through water tankers from outside and the park staff maintains around 350 of
such waterholes.
Best Time to Visit
Even if Gir National Park is one of the hottest and most visited wildlife reserves
within India still the period one should visit this park is during the months
of Mid October-Mid June, and the best recommended time is December-April.
How to get there?
By Air: Nearest airport is Keshod 90-km via Veraval. One can catch daily flight
from Mumbai to Keshod. Drive to Gir from Keshod or Rajkot (166-kms) airports.
By Rail: Meter gauge rail line of 395-kms from Ahemdabad. There is also a
railway station at Sasan Gir (1km).
By Road: Distance of 400-kms from Ahmedabad via Rajkot, Junagadh and Mendarda.
State Transport buses are also available from Junagadh and Veraval between November
and June.
Click
Here For Reservation/Booking
SUUGGESTED RESORTS
Gir Forest Lodge,
Gir
The Gir Lodge is 65 km from Junagadh railway station and 60 km from Keshod
airport. Situated at the edge of the world-renowned Gir Forest, the only
home of the Asiatic lion. The Gir National Park and Sanctuary, covering
1400 sq km of dry deciduous forest and tropical thorn forest, is home
to the leopard, jungle cat, rusty spotted cat and hyena. |
SUGGESTED TOURS
Wildlife
Safari India & Nepal
Duration: 22 nights/23 days
Places to Visit: Delhi - Jim Corbett Park - Jaipur - Ranthambhore - Bharatpur
- Agra - Khajuraho - Bandhavgarh - Katni - Varanasi - Kathmandu - Chitwan
- Delhi
|
Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary