Gir National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary

Overview: The Sovereign Bastion of the Asiatic Lion

Spanning an expansive 1,412.13 square kilometers across Junagadh, Gir Somnath, and Amreli districts in the Kathiawar peninsula of Gujarat, Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (comprising a core National Park of 258.71 sq km and a surrounding Wildlife Sanctuary of 1,153.42 sq km) represents one of the most revered ecological sanctuaries on Earth.

Established initially in September 1965, Gir is globally celebrated as the **exclusive wild habitat of the Asiatic Lion** (Panthera leo persica). At the turn of the 20th century, relentless trophy hunting and habitat destruction had driven the Asiatic lion to the precipice of extinction, reducing the global population to fewer than 20 individuals. Through the pioneering conservation foresight of the Nawab of Junagadh (Nawab Sir Muhammad Rasul Khanji and later Nawab Muhammad Mahabat Khan III), royal protection was declared over the Gir forest.

Subsequent relentless protection by the Gujarat Forest Department and the unique cultural tolerance of the indigenous pastoral **Maldhari community** have nurtured an astonishing demographic revival: from fewer than 20 cats in 1900 to 284 in 1990, and over **674 lions** documented across the Greater Gir landscape during the 2020 Asiatic Lion census.

Hydro-Geomorphology & The Seven Perennial Lifelines

Gir's rugged volcanic landscape, consisting of Deccan trap basalts, undulating hills, and deep ravines, acts as the primary hydrological water tower for drought-prone Saurashtra. The forest gives birth to **seven major perennial rivers**:

Hydrological Arteries & Major Reservoirs of Gir

River / Water Body	Course & Flow Characteristics	Ecological & Wildlife Significance
Hiran River	Originates in central Gir; flows past Sasan Gir toward Somnath and the Arabian Sea.	Riparian evergreen belt; primary drinking artery for lion prides and leopards.
Kamleshwar Dam (Hiran Reservoir)	Massive man-made reservoir in the heart of the Gir sanctuary core.	Supports the largest breeding population of Marsh Crocodiles (Mugger) in western India (300+ crocs).
Shetrunji River	Flows eastward through Gir into Bhavnagar district.	Vital riverine corridor connecting Gir to satellite lion habitats in coastal Amreli.
Shingoda & Machhundri Rivers	Southern river catchments feeding coastal Somnath and Kodinar plains.	Dense Jamun and Khair ravines sheltering maternal lion dens and sloth bears.
Raval, Dhatarvadi & Godavari Streams	Eastern and northern feeder streams draining rocky basalt hills.	Perennial waterholes (virdas) sustaining ungulate herds through scorching May heat.

Floral Diversity & Canopy Stratification

The vegetation of Gir belongs to the Very Dry Teak Forest classification, interspersed with thorn scrub and savanna:

Dominant Canopy Trees: Teak (Tectona grandis) constitutes nearly half the forest canopy, accompanied by Dhavda (Anogeissus latifolia), Khair (Acacia catechu), Timru (Diospyros melanoxylon), and Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana).
Evergreen Riparian Belts: Along the riverbeds of Hiran and Shingoda grow dense, lush corridors of Jamun (Syzygium cumini), Umbro / Wild Fig (Ficus racemosa), and Karanj (Pongamia pinnata), which remain cool and verdant throughout the blazing summer.
Grasslands & Fodder Glades (*Vidis*): Rolling open savannas carpeted with nutrient-rich Marvel grass (Dichanthium annulatum) sustain massive herds of herbivorous ungulates.

Asiatic Lion Ecology & Coexisting Carnivores

The **Asiatic Lion** differs morphologically from its African counterpart: it possesses a prominent longitudinal fold of skin running along the belly, a sparser adult male mane that leaves the ears visible, and smaller pride structures (females and males generally associate only for mating or large kills).

Asiatic Lion

Panthera leo persica • Endangered

The supreme apex predator of Gir, hunting chital, sambar, nilgai, and wild boar across the open teak forests and riverside glades.

Indian Leopard

Panthera pardus • High-Density Co-Predator

With over 500 leopards inhabiting Gir, this master of stealth thrives in rocky ravines and tree canopies, coexisting alongside lions.

Chital (Spotted Deer)

Axis axis • Primary Herbivore

Over 50,000 spotted deer roam the teak savannas of Gir, forming the indispensable nutritional foundation for the big cat population.

Marsh Crocodile (Mugger)

Crocodylus palustris • Vulnerable

Massive freshwater reptiles basking on the rocky islets of Kamleshwar Dam and patrolling the deep pools of the Hiran River.

Chousingha (Four-horned)

Tetracerus quadricornis • Vulnerable

World's only four-horned bovid, preferring undulating hilly terrain and dry deciduous scrub on the periphery of the park.

Changeable Hawk-Eagle

Nisaetus cirrhatus • Apex Raptor

Perches motionless on high teak branches scanning the forest floor for junglefowl, hares, and monitor lizards.

The Maldharis: An Ancient Biocultural Symphony

Deep within the Gir forest reside the **Maldharis**, traditional vegetarian pastoralists belonging to the Charan, Rabari, and Bharwad communities. Living in circular mud-and-thatch settlements called **Nesses**, the Maldharis have shared the forest with Asiatic lions for generations.

Their indigenous, lion-hardened **Gir cattle** and **Jafrabadi buffaloes** graze the forest understories. Remarkably, the Maldharis hold deep spiritual reverence for the lion (*Sinh*), regarding occasional livestock predation as an accepted tribute to the guardian king of the forest—a rare, celebrated example of human-carnivore coexistence.

Safari Logistics, Devalia Park & Visitor Guide

Wildlife tourism in Gir is managed with exceptional precision to prevent ecological disturbance:

Safari Guidelines & Practical Details

Open Season: The core Gir National Park & Sanctuary is open from **October 16 to June 15** (closed during the monsoon breeding period).
Devalia Safari Park (GIZ): The Gir Interpretation Zone at Devalia (a 412-hectare fenced cross-section) remains open year-round (except Wednesdays) for guaranteed lion and herbivore sightings via safari buses and open gypsies.
Core Safari Shifts: Three daily safari slots: 06:00 AM – 09:00 AM, 08:30 AM – 11:30 AM, and 03:00 PM – 06:00 PM across 13 designated safari routes originating from Sinh Sadan, Sasan Gir.
Official Booking: Safari permits must be booked in advance via the official Gujarat Forest Department portal (*girnationalpark.gujarat.gov.in*).

How to Reach Gir National Park

Sasan Gir (the primary tourism hub) has excellent multi-modal transit links:

Gateway Transit Routes

From Junagadh: Approx. 55 km south via Mendarda and Sasan (approx. 1.5 hours by car or state bus).
From Somnath / Veraval: Approx. 45 km north via Talala (approx. 1 hour).
From Rajkot: Approx. 160 km south via Junagadh (approx. 3.5 hours).
By Train: Sasan Gir Railway Station (SASG) has meter-gauge/broad-gauge heritage links; major broad-gauge junctions are Junagadh (JND) (~55 km) and Veraval (VRL) (~45 km).
Nearest Airports: Keshod Airport (IXK) (~50 km), Diu Airport (DIU) (~100 km), and Rajkot International Airport (HSR) (~180 km).

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Gir National Park globally famous?

Gir is globally famous as the only place on Earth where the endangered Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica) survives in the wild.

How many lions are there in Gir?

According to the 2020 census, there are over 674 Asiatic Lions living across the Greater Gir protected landscape.

What is the difference between Sasan Gir and Devalia Park?

Sasan Gir is the gateway to the 1,412 sq km wild forest sanctuary open via gypsy safaris from October to June. Devalia Safari Park is a 412-hectare fenced interpretation zone open year-round for guaranteed wildlife viewing.

When is Gir National Park closed?

The core sanctuary and National Park at Gir are closed annually from June 16 to October 15 for the monsoon breeding season, while Devalia Park remains open.