The Gateway Hotel Gir Forest

Gir Serai is a 29-room nature retreat set on the banks of the Hiran River and surrounded by jungles, ideal for personal safari vacations in the home of the great Asiatic Lion. Gir Serai is an oasis in the midst of the city’s bustle. The garden and swimming pool are visible from the spacious, well-equipped rooms and suites. Life moves at a leisurely pace. Birdsong wakes up the guests. Chess, basketball, badminton, and other outdoor/indoor activities provide opportunities for families to bond. Serious birders can spend hours in the charming Tea Lounge’s wildlife library, which has breathtaking river views. A low-pitched roar occasionally reverberates around the hotel, signaling the king of the jungle’s call to adventure.

Apart from lions, Gir Forest National Park (also known as Sasan Gir) is home to over 2,300 species of wildlife, including the Indian Leopard, Golden Jackal, Chousingha (the world’s only four-horned antelope), crocodiles, chinkara, and over 300 bird species.

The Gir Serai experience is deeply rooted in the culture of the region. Gum Tree is a multi-cuisine restaurant that serves Kathiyawadi Cuisine, as well as a variety of Indian and international cuisines. The tribal Siddi community performs an action-packed Mashira Nritya performance twice a month for guests.

The hotel concierge can arrange for guests to meet Gir’s pastoral nomads, known as maldharis, in a rustic setting. Day trips to Junagadh, a former princely city with historic sites, and the famed Somnath temple are other ways to learn more about this intriguing region.