Skip to main content

Gir National Park Safari: A Roaring Journey

When the heart seeks adventure and the soul craves silence, Gir National Park answers with a roar. For Siri and Sindhu, this isn’t just a safari—it’s a memory in motion. Here’s a complete guide to help you plan a safe, soulful, and thrilling visit.

πŸ“ Location & Landscape

Gir National Park, also known as Sasan Gir, is located in Gujarat, near Talala Gir. It’s:

  • πŸ—Ί️ 43 km from Somnath
  • πŸ—Ί️ 65 km from Junagadh
  • πŸ—Ί️ 60 km from Amreli

Spread across 1,295 sq. km, Gir is the last refuge of the Asiatic lion. The terrain is a mix of teak forests, rocky hills, and dry scrubland—home to over 300 bird species, leopards, deer, crocodiles, and of course, the majestic lion.

πŸ•’ Safari Timings

Gir offers two types of safaris:

πŸš™ Gir Jungle Trail (Main Safari)

  • Morning Safari:
    • 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM
    • 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
  • Evening Safari:
    • 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
  • Closed: June 16 to October 15 (monsoon break)

πŸ›» Devaliya Safari Park (Interpretation Zone)

  • Open year-round except Wednesdays
  • Ideal for senior citizens and children
  • Duration: ~55 minutes
  • Easier access and guaranteed lion sightings

πŸ’° Fees & Booking

🧾 Jungle Trail Safari (per vehicle)

Category                                         Indian Visitors                     Foreign Visitors

Entry Fee (up to 6 persons)            ₹800–₹1000                        ₹6560–₹8200

Safari Vehicle (4–8 seater)            ₹2500–₹4500                        Same

Guide Fee                                        ₹400–₹700                          Same

Book online via the Gir Lion Permit Portal. Advance booking is essential—on-the-spot permits are not available.

🍽️ Food Availability

Gir offers a range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, with local Kathiyawadi flavors and global cuisines:

πŸ₯˜ Recommended Restaurants

  • Flavours of Forest – Pure veg, inside Asiatic Lion Lodge
  • Gir Kathiyawadi Restaurant – Authentic Gujarati thali
  • Terracotta – Multicuisine, scenic ambiance
  • Hotel Aditya – Tasty thali and family-friendly service
  • Swadesh Restaurant – Known for service and variety

Carry light snacks and water during safaris. Alcohol is prohibited as Gujarat is a dry state.

🚐 Local Transport Options

Gir is well-connected by road, rail, and air:

πŸš† Nearest Railway Stations

  • Somnath (56 km)
  • Veraval (45 km)
  • Junagadh (65 km)
  • Rajkot (160 km)
  • Ahmedabad (350 km)

✈️ Nearest Airports

  • Diu Airport (69 km) – Limited flights
  • Rajkot Airport – Good domestic connectivity
  • Ahmedabad Airport – International access

πŸš– Local Travel

  • Taxis and auto-rickshaws available at all major stations
  • Private jeeps for safari pickup/drop
  • State buses and private operators connect nearby towns

🧣 Tips for Comfort

  • 🩺 Carry medical records and prescribed meds
  • 🧒 Use hats, sunglasses, and light cotton clothing
  • 🧘 Choose Devaliya Safari for minimal physical strain
  • πŸ“± Save emergency contacts and hospital addresses
  • πŸ§ƒ Stay hydrated and avoid heavy meals before safari

πŸ’¬ Closing Thought

Gir isn’t just a forest—it’s a feeling. This journey will echo with lion roars, rustling leaves, and shared laughter. It’s a celebration of nature, family, and the quiet strength that binds them.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

🏠 The Conspiracy to Break India’s Joint Family System

  When Families Break, Markets Flourish In the name of modernity, we’ve traded warmth for Wi-Fi, wisdom for algorithms, and relationships for subscriptions. But this wasn’t just a cultural drift—it was a calculated shift. 🧭 What Was India’s Greatest Strength? For centuries, India stood resilient. Mughals came. The British ruled. But one thing remained unshaken: The Joint Family System. It was our real social security —no pensions, no loneliness, no mental health epidemics. Grandparents were guides. Cousins were companions. Festivals were shared, not streamed. 🧠 Why Did the West Dislike This? Western economies thrive on individualism and consumption . But in India, where people shared, reused, and lived collectively, the market couldn’t grow. So a strategy was born: “Break their families. Make everyone lonely. Then everyone becomes a customer.” πŸ“Ί How Was This Attack Carried Out? Media portrayed joint families as quarrelsome and outdated Nuclear families we...

🌾 The Boy Who Slept Through the Storm: A Lesson in Preparedness

Once upon a time, near the coastal edge of a village, there lived a farmer whose life depended entirely on his field. The land was fertile, but the skies were unpredictable. Floods and hurricanes visited often, and each time, they brought fear, damage, and sleepless nights. The farmer knew he couldn’t manage alone. He needed help—not just to sow and reap, but to protect what he had built when the winds turned wild. πŸ§‘‍🌾 The Search for a Helping Hand He interviewed many—strong men, clever boys, experienced workers. None felt right. Then one day, a lean, sorrowful-looking boy came asking for work. The farmer hesitated. Could this boy handle the storms? But with no better option, he agreed. The boy accepted—with one strange condition: “When the storm comes, I sleep deeply. Other times, I’ll work as needed.” 🌩️ The Night of the Storm Weeks passed. One night, the skies roared. Rain lashed the earth. Floodwaters rose. The farmer woke in panic and rushed to the boy’s hu...

☔ Rain, Ride, and the Biometric Machine:

Some people believe the weather is random. I believe it has a wicked sense of timing—especially during office hours. 🌧️   Morning Madness: The Ride to Remember It all begins with a drizzle. I gear up, hop on my bike, and head toward the office like a determined warrior. But the moment I hit the main road— boom —the skies open up like someone hit the “monsoon mode” switch. Puddles splash, my raincoat flaps like a superhero cape, and visibility drops to “guess and go.” By the time I reach the office, I’m soaked, squelching with every step. I walk in like a waterlogged legend and stood in front of the biometric scanner.   And just like that... the rain stops. Coincidence? I think not. πŸ•’ The Great Biometric Rain Switch It’s almost as if the rain was waiting for me to clock in. I imagine a weather god somewhere chuckling, “Alright, he’s in. Turn it off.” The day goes on. Files, meetings, coffee. The sun peeks out. Birds chirp. I start to believe the worst is over. But th...