Oktatabyebye

The Gir is the last home of the Asiatic lion and is itself a survivor, being the only patch of deep forest in the Gujarat Peninsula & plays a prime role in the climate and water table of the area. A denser coat, a distinct belly-fold and a smaller build differentiates the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) from its African cousin. Lions are social animals, and stay and hunt in packs mostly after dusk.

If you want a date with the king of the jungle, it is hard to miss the Gir National Park in Gujarat. The only known home of the famous Asiatic Lion, the park is one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in India. The Gir National Park is the only place where you can see the lion in its natural habitat. Unlike tiger, which is elusive in most wildlife parks in India, lions in Gir are easy to sight. Gir lions are unafraid of humans and perhaps one of the reasons that their sightings are not as rare as of the tigers. Wildlife experts associate this fact to the proximity of lions to Maldharis, a community who rear livestock and have always lived within the park for a long time now. MA Wynter-Blyth, a famous naturalist pointed this fact as one of the reasons why lions have disappeared so quickly.  He said, “The lion is much bolder, more fearless of man and less cunning than the tiger and so is much more easily shot. This explains the disappearance of the noble animals from all its other Indian haunts whilst the tiger manages to maintain its numbers.”

But Gir was not like this always; it had its share of ups and downs. Once upon a time it was full of lions and was a popular hunting ground for nobles of Junagadh. With the coming of the British, the lion population started depleting as they used their sophisticated weapons to hunt down the majestic beast. The famine years (1901-1905) further aggravated the problem and that resulted in man-animal conflict. Things improved when the situation was brought under control by the Nawab of Junagadh. After independence, Gir was formally declared a lion sanctuary in 1965 and a National Park in 1974.
The Gir forest stretches over an area of 1, 412 sq km and is one of the largest tracks of dry deciduous forest. The park has an undulating landscape and is drained by seven rivers – Hiran, Saraswati, Datardi, Shingoda, Macchundri, Ghodvadi and Raval. Steeped in history, Sasan Gir boasts of temples of great antiquity, like Kankai Mata and Tulsishyam, a place of pilgrimage with hot springs. The forest of Gir is famous for its cattle herders (Madharis), whose buffaloes form a substantial part of the lions' meals. Madharis are extremely hospitable and their lifestyle hasn’t changed much over the years.

Places Nearby

Crocodile Breeding Farm: The farm is located near the Sinh Sadan Lodge at Sasan. Here crocodiles are bred and released into the wild. Kamleshwar Dam: Just 10 km away from the breeding farm on the Hiran River is Kamleshwar Dam, which a good place to spot crocodiles.   Junagadh: An important heritage sight 64 km from Sasan Gir is Junagadh. Places to see in Junagadh include Sakkarbaug Zoo, Girnar and the Wild Museum. Places to stay Sasan Gir is the place where major tourist resorts, lodges and hotels are located. Details of hotels in Gir

About Gir National Park: Gir National Park Information & Fact File

Altitude 40 meters Temp Summer 43 (Max) & 28(Min) Degrees Celsius Winter 32 (Max) & 10 (Min) Degrees Celsius Best time to Go December – early June Monsoon July – August Summer April - June Winter December - February Clothes Cottons in summer and light woolens in winter Nearest Airport Ahmedabad, 415 km Nearest Railway Station Junagadh, 65 km Bus Station Regular Volvo bus service from Ahmedabad to Junagadh; Mini buses from Junagadh to Sasan Gir Hospital & Doctor Junagadh (65 km) has a Govt. Medical Centre fully equipped to handle emergencies Places to see Crocodile Breeding Farm, Kamleshwar Dam, Junagadh…