Gir national park is a destination which attracts visitors to see the Asiatic lions which were found only at that location in the world. Once there was a time in 2000 when they were being listed as an endangered species because of high hunting rates, but due to some good conservative efforts made by the officials, today the condition has been recovered and as per 2018 march reports, there are almost 600 lions found in the area.
Looking at the park which extends to around 260 square kilometres is also a preferred habitat for the leopards, hyenas, antelope, jackals, and deer. It is also home to crocodiles, and over 300 species of birds as well.
Location
Gir national park is situated in the southwest part of the Gujarat province, 65 kilometres from Junagadh, 360 kilometres from Ahmedabad and 40 kilometres from Veraval. It covers a total area of 1412 square kilometres of which 260 Km forms the core area of the National Park.
Major attractions at Gir National park
Animals: Other than the Asiatic lions, the forest area is habitat to more than 300 leopards. Apart from these animals the park is also home to two species of deer vis sambar & antelope, also it is home to other small carnivores like hyenas, jackals and Indian fox.
Birds: The exotic flora of Gir National park is home to more than 200 species of birds and is been considered an important bird area by the Indian bird conservation network.
Reptiles: Gir contains more than 40 species of reptiles and amphibians. Kamleshwar is known as the best spot where one can see large number of Marsh crocodiles. The park is also habitat to many species of snakes like the King Cobra, the Krait, Saw-scaled viper and the Russell’s viper.
How to reach Gir National Park
The nearest major airport is in Ahmedabad which is about 7 hours away. There is also way from national airports located in Rajkot, about 3 hours away and diu, about 2 hours away.
One can also take train to come to this location and the nearest railway station is Junagad which is one of the most common approach to the park. The Junagadh railway station receives trains from Ahmedabad, Rajkot and other major cities.
Alternatively, one can also prefer buses which are frequently run throughout the day. Public buses run regularly to Sasan Gir, but one can also take private buses as it conveniently drops you to the guest house you want to reach. No prior booking is required as the buses are available on any part of the day. So, come and enjoy the beautiful flora and fauna of the Gir National park and take some of the most precious moments back home.
Thanks!
