How To Reach Gir National Park
Guide To Gir National Park
Famed as the only wildlife sanctuary that houses the Asiatic Lion, the
Gir National Park and Lion Sanctuary, is collectively known as the Gir
Protected Area.
Gir is situated in the Junagadh district of Gujarat. Gir stretches over
1,412 sq km of scrub and grassland, dry deciduous forest and some
marshland. Besides lions, Gir harbours other wildlife such as antelope,
deer, leopards, hyenas, crocodiles, and jackals, along with a
spectacular array of birds.
An important part of the Gir Protected Area is the 4sqkm spread known as
the Gir Interpretation Zone, about 12 km from Sasan Gir Village, the
headquarters of the park. The Zone has a cross-section of wildlife
within the park, and a visit here almost guarantees a lion sighting,
which is otherwise a hit-or-miss affair in other parts of Gir. So travel to Gir Forest Reserve if you want to see a lion.
How to Reach Gir Forest Reserve by Air
The nearest airport is Keshod, at a distance of 90 km from Sasan Gir; the other airport is Rajkot at a distance of 140 kms.
How to Reach Gir Forest Reserve by Rail
Sasan Gir has a railway station of its own, with train connections to a number of other cities and towns in Gujarat and its neighbouring states. The towns of Junagadh, Veraval and Delwada have daily trains to Sasan Gir, from where the park is only about a km away.
How to Reach Gir Forest Reserve by Bus
Fairly good roads link the park to the rest of the country. Junagadh itself is only about 60 km from Gir, and there are frequent buses connecting the town to the park.
Getting Around Gir Forest Reserve
Vehicles are available for hire at Gir, and are easily the best way to
see wildlife in the park. Some of the most popular routes for a drive
are the Sasan-Kamaleshwar Dam, the Sasan-Kankai, the Sasan-Chodavdi and
the Sasan-Tulsishyam routes. Time your jaunt through the park for dawn,
when there are more chances of seeing lions and other wildlife.