 |
A Few Must Know
Facts |
»
Area : The wildlife sanctuary is covers an area of 1412.13 sq km.
» Climate : All the seasons are experienced here and
out of these the summer season extends for the longest period, 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
offer great relief from the heat during the monsoons period starting from
middle of June and last till September. The maximum rainfall recorded during
this period in the area is around 1,866 mm and the minimum rainfall recorded
being 199mm. In winters, the temperatures go down to as low as 6 degrees
centigrade, while soaring up to a scorching 46 degrees in the summers.
» When to Visit : The best time to visit the
sanctuary is between the months of November and June.
» Nearest Access : Veraval which is 42 km from Gir
is the nearest destination.
|
A Rendezvous With
Gir |
Once the royal hunting grounds of the Nawab of Junagarh, the Gir
National Park was later reserved as a protected forest by the concerned
Government bodies. In 1900, the lion was declared a protected animal but it
was only in the year 1952 that it found it's place among the 13 rare animals
to be officially protected. In 1966, 600 sq km were initially demarcated as
the Gir forest area, which was later increased to 1150 sq km. In 1975 the
park with it's core area of approximately 300 sq km was officially declared
a national park. Home to about 300 Asiatic Lions, the Gir wildlife sanctuary
and national park, collectively referred to as the Gir Protected Area (PA),
is located in the Saurashtra peninsula of Gujarat in western India. The
Asiatic lions of Gir are their last surviving population of the same
species. The park close to the Nalsarovar Lake and Sanctuary; the Rann of
Kutch and the Flamingo Islands is an amazing tourist spot in Gujarat.
|
Sightseeing in Gir
National Park |
»
The Flora : The Gir National Park is a mixed deciduous forest with well
spread stock of teak, some Acacia and Banyan trees. A unique patch of
vegetation is found along the main rivers and streams. Species like the
Jamun, Karanj, Ber, Tendu, Semul, Umro, Vad, Kalam, Charal, Sirus and Amli
are found here.
» The Fauna : While cruising through the thick belt
of these trees you will come across numerous wildlife creatures, who shelter
on these trees. Gir is famous for Asiatic Lions. The best way to see the big
cats is, of course, in their natural habitats, at dawn and dusk, when they
are on the prowl. In addition to lions, Gir also houses leopards, sambar,
chital, nilgai, chowsingha, chinkara gazelle, wild boar, langur, jackal,
panthers, wild cats and hares and hyena.
» The Avifauna : The park is home to a large number
of bird species. The birds like Paradise Flycatchers, Black headed Cuckoo
Shrike, Gray Drongo, Pied Woodpeckers, Crested Swifts, Fish Owls, Black
Vultures, Shaheen Falcons, Bonelli's Eagles, Flamingo, Crested Serpent
Eagles, Painted Sandgrouse, Rock Bush Quail, Gray Partridge, Painted Storks
and White Necked Storks are found here.Besides these you will also find
several types of reptiles in the park.
» The Reptiles : The reptile population of the park
is mainly represented by Marsh Crocodiles, Monitor Lizards, Pythons and a
large variety of snakes. There is an interesting breeding farm for crocodile
at Sasan, which also provides the specimens that are relocated into the
water reservoirs inside Gir.
|
The Park Trip |
Hire a jeep to explore the jungle of Gir.
|
Excursion |
To make your tour interesting you can visit the places close to the
park like Deva Danga, Riley's, Bawal Chowk, Kankai, Chodardi, Tulsishyam and
Kamleshwar dam.
|
Getting There |
» By Air : The nearest airports are at Diu
(104 km), Ahmedabad (381 km) and Rajkot (150 km).
» By Rail : The nearest railway station is at
Junagarh and is 65 km from the national park.
» By Road : Gir is situated at a distance of 381 km
from Ahmedabad via Rajkot, Junagarh and Mendarda. State Transport buses are
easily available from Junagarh and Veraval.
» Private Vehicles : If your wish to travel by a
private vehicle, then our fleet of vehicles functional all over India will
make your trip to the park completely satisfying.
|
Anchoring in Gir |
Gir
is located 65 km from Junagarh, Gujarat, in the western part of the country.
This is the only national park where Lions can be seen in their natural
habitat. People come from various parts of the country to see various plants
and animals in their natural habitat protected here.
It must be noted that Gir is a remote destination and the nearest airport
is at Diu (104 km) and the nearest railway station is at Junagarh (65 km).
To reach the park one has to hire a taxi or a bus from either the Keshod
airport or the Junagarh railway station. Since Gir is a small place away
from the main city, it is advisable to carry items of necessity with
yourself when you leave for Gir. Besides this you need to follow certain
rules and regulations specified during the park tour.
To avoid any type of transportation hassle contact us. We actually deal in
transportation and have a wide range of cars and coaches for you to select
from. Book with us as soon as your travelling dates are finalise and leave
your worries with us. Its our promise that your trip will be comfortable and
in no way will be disappointing.
|
Accommodation |
There several categories of accommodation within the park. The range
is between luxury and budget. The forest department operates two lodges, the
Sinh Sadan Forest Lodge and the Gir Lodge, while some private lodges also
exist.
gir
wildlife sanctuary
