GIR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
 Just imagine coming face-to-face with the splendid aura of a lion! What a sight and moment it would- surely a moment to relish for a lifetime. This long-cherished dream comes true at the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, perhaps the most renowned lion sanctuary in India. Situated in the south-west border of the Saurashtra Peninsula in the state of Gujarat, the Gir National Sanctuary is a home to the last surviving population of the Asiatic Lions. Apart from Asiatic lions, a tour to Gir Wildlife Sanctuary endows tourists the visit of leopards and chowsingha (the four-horned antelope. With a delightful blend of the forest air and a lion's roar, the sanctuary attracts tourists from all parts of the globe.
At the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, you’re taken pretty closes to the mighty and splendid nature at its usual best. Seeing lions roaming freely in their natural surroundings, unlike in a zoo, would truly be a memorable experience here. Apart from being the only refuge of Asiatic lions, the sanctuary ensures that its guests easily feel the unique flora and fauna in the luxuriant environs of this wildlife park. With inhabiting about 300 Asiatic Lions and being flanked with three unique and unusual reserves, Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is spread in an area of 1412.13 sq km. Having once served as the royal hunting grounds of the Nawab of Junagadh, it was later declared a national park in 1975.
Best Time to Visit
Visiting Gir Park throughout the year is not an issue, though the best period to visit the Gir Sanctuary is between the months of November and June.
Major Tourist Attractions in Gir
The Flora
Species like the Jamun, Karanj, Ber, Tendu, Semul, Umro, Vad, Kalam, Charal, Sirus and Amli are found here.
The Fauna
Tourists from all parts of the globe throng the park to see the Asiatic Lions at their usual best. Apart from the lions, it’s also home to one of the largest Leopard populations in any park in India. Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, Chowsingha, Chinkara Gazelle, Wild Boar, Langur, Jackal, Panthers, Wild Cats and Hares and Hyena are some other animal species that delights tourists beyond their expectations.
The Avifauna
The sanctuary is nothing less that a bird’s paradise as it houses a great variety of birds. The birds like Paradise Flycatchers, Black headed Cuckoo Shrike, Gray Drongo, Pied Woodpeckers, Coppersmiths, Rock Bush Quail, Gray Partridge, Indian Rollers, Crested Swifts, Fish Owls, Black Vultures, Shaheen Falcons, Bonelli's Eagles, Flamingo, Crested Serpent Eagles, Painted Sandgrouse, Painted Storks and White Necked Storks are easily seen here.
The Reptiles
Marsh Crocodiles, Monitor Lizards, Pythons and a large variety of snakes.
The Park Trip
Jeep is the best option to explore the park.
How to Reach
By Air
At Keshod (90 km via Veraval)
By Rail
The meter gauge rail line of 395 km from Ahemdabad
By Road
Gir is situated at a distance of 400 km from Ahmedabad via Rajkot, Junagadh and Mendarda. State Transport buses are easily available from Junagadh and Veraval.
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