Gir National Park

About Gir National Park

Location

Junagadh, Gujarat

Best time to Visit

November to April

Nearest Airport

Diu Airport - About 110 km
Rajkot Airport - About 160 km
Ahmedabad - About 380 km

Area

Approx. 1412 Sq. Km.

Temperature

Maximum 48^oC & Minimum 5^oC

Nearest Railway Station

Junagadh - About 55 km

Note:

The Park is usually closed for tourists from 1st July to 15th October every year.

The Gir National Park was formed in the year 1965 as a forest reserve to conserve Asiatic Lions. This park is the last refuge of these rare magnificent cats where they roam around freely.

In the 19th century, the rulers of Indian princely states used to invite the British colonists for hunting expeditions. Eventually, towards the end of the 19th century, only a few Asiatic lions were left across Asia, all of them in the Gir Forest. This drastic decline of the lion population was brought to the attention of the then Nawab of Junagadh, who then started conserving them on his private hunting ground. Later conservation efforts were taken by the government, and in the year 1965, the Gir lion sanctuary was declared. The total area of the sanctuary is approximately 1412 square km of which, 258 square km form the core area of National Park.

From a population of approximately 20 lions in 1913, it increased to 523, according to the 2015 census. Besides lion, the park is home to a large variety of animals and attracts around 200 species of birds during monsoons. 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.

Major Wildlife

Lion, Sambar, Chital, Blue bull, Four-horned antelope, Wild boar, Jackal, Striped Hyena, Jungle cat, Bear, Rusty-spotted cat, Langur, Porcupine, Leopard, Fox, Common mongoose, Indian porcupine, Chinkara, Golden jackals, Desert cat, Blackbucks, Shrike, Gray Drongo, Pied Woodpecker, Black Ibis, Shaheen Falcon, Bonelli’s Eagle, Great Horned Owl, Tawny eagle, Jungle Bush Quail, Grey Partridge, Nightjar, Black-headed Cuckoo, Painted Sandgrouse, common green pigeon, Crested serpent eagle, orange headed ground thrush, paradise flycatcher, Indian pitta, Shrikes, Drongos, Barbets, Indian Rollers, Grey Partridge and various species of Reptiles, Arthropods, and Fishes.

distance from major cities

Junagadh – About 55 km
Diu – About 100 km
Rajkot – About 155 km
Ahmedabad – About 370 km
Mumbai – About 823 km
Delhi – About 1300 km

near by attractions

Kankai Mata Temple, Somnath Temple and Diu