Book permits early
Permits are sold on the forest department's official website, usually from about three months ahead, and weekends and holidays sell out. Ignore other sites offering confirmed permits.
Gujarat · Home of the Asiatic lion
Gir National Park, home of the Asiatic lion
The Gir forest of Saurashtra is the last wild home of the Asiatic lion. Stay at Sasan Gir and go out in an open jeep with a forest guide; two or three safaris give you the best chance, though no one can promise a sighting.
- Best: Nov–Mar
- 2 nights at Sasan Gir, for two or three safaris and time for Devalia
Asiatic lions once ranged from the Middle East across northern India. By the early 20th century only a few survived, in the Gir forests protected by the Nawabs of Junagadh, and decades of protection have since brought them back. They now range across Gir and the countryside around it, still the only place in the world where they live in the wild.
Gir is dry deciduous forest of teak and scrub, also home to leopards, chital and sambar deer, nilgai, marsh crocodiles and many birds, and to the Maldharis, herders who have lived alongside the lions for generations. Safaris start from Sinh Sadan, the forest department's reception at Sasan Gir, and the park closes from 16 June to 15 October.
What to see
Sights in Gir
- 1
Gir National Park and Sanctuary
Safaris run in an open gypsy (a small four-wheel-drive jeep) with a forest guide, in morning and afternoon slots on set routes. Each permit covers up to six adults and one child.
- 2
Devalia Safari Park
The Gir Interpretation Zone, about 13 km from Sasan, is a fenced area of Gir forest with lions, leopards and deer, toured by forest department bus or jeep. Sightings are more likely here; it is closed on Wednesdays and usually stays open through the monsoon.
- 3
Kamleshwar Dam
A reservoir on the Hiran river inside the park, known for marsh crocodiles and water birds, and seen only on safari routes that pass it.
- 4
Junagadh and Girnar
About 60 km away, Junagadh has the Uparkot fort with Buddhist caves, and a rock inscribed with Ashoka's edicts. Above it, Girnar's Jain and Hindu temples are reached by thousands of steps, or by ropeway to the Ambaji temple.
Things to do
Experiences in Gir
More than one safari
Lions rest in the heat of the day and sightings come down to luck, so book two or three slots, mixing early morning and late afternoon, and add Devalia for a more reliable sighting.
Birdwatching
Forest, river and reservoir make Gir good for birds: eagles and other raptors, owls, woodpeckers and, in winter, migrants.
Kesar mango season
In May and June the orchards around Talala harvest Gir Kesar mangoes, a variety with a Geographical Indication tag, sold by the box at roadside stalls.
When to go
- January: best time
- February: best time
- March: best time
- April: good, with caveats
- May: good, with caveats
- June: hard: heat, monsoon or closures
- July: hard: heat, monsoon or closures
- August: hard: heat, monsoon or closures
- September: hard: heat, monsoon or closures
- October: good, with caveats
- November: best time
- December: best time
December to March is the most comfortable time for safaris. The park usually opens on 16 October and closes on 15 June; April and May are hot, but animals gather near water and sightings can be good.
Getting there
- By air: Diu Airport, about 100 km away (about 2 hours), has flights from Mumbai, Ahmedabad and a few other cities; Rajkot International Airport at Hirasar, about 190 km away (about 4 hours), has more routes.
- By rail: The nearest well-connected stations are Junagadh (about 60 km) and Veraval (about 45 km).
- By road: About 45 km from Somnath (about 1 hour), 60 km from Junagadh and 160 km from Rajkot city (3.5–4 hours).
Local knowledge
Tips for Gir
Carry the ID you booked with
Permits are in the travellers' names and the ID is checked at Sinh Sadan. Report about 30 minutes before your slot, or you can lose the safari.
Quiet colours, warm layers
Wear muted colours, keep voices low and stay in the vehicle; winter mornings are cold in an open jeep.
Questions
Gir: FAQs
Is a lion sighting guaranteed at Gir?
No. Gir National Park is the only place where Asiatic lions live in the wild, but no safari can promise a sighting. Booking two or three safaris and adding Devalia Safari Park gives you the best chance.
When is Gir National Park closed?
Gir National Park's safaris close for the monsoon from 16 June to 15 October each year. Devalia Safari Park, the fenced Gir Interpretation Zone near Sasan, usually stays open then but is closed on Wednesdays.
How do you book a Gir safari?
Gir safari permits are booked on the Gujarat Forest Department's official website, usually up to three months ahead. Each permit is for one slot in an open jeep with a forest guide, for up to six adults and one child.
What is the best time to visit Gir?
The best time to visit Gir is December to March, when the weather suits safaris. April and May are hot, but animals stay near water, which can help sightings.
How far is Gir from Somnath?
Sasan Gir is about 45 km from Somnath, about an hour by road, so the two are often combined.
Combine it with
Nearby destinations
Gujarat
Somnath
The first of the twelve Jyotirlingas
Shiva's shore temple at Prabhas Patan, revered as the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas, with an evening aarti and light and sound show by the Arabian Sea.
Best: Nov–Feb
Gujarat
Dwarka
One of the Char Dham
Krishna's city on the Arabian Sea and one of the Char Dham, with the Dwarkadhish temple, Gomti Ghat, Bet Dwarka and Nageshwar.
Best: Nov–Feb
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