Discover India's Wild Heritage

Explore the diverse ecosystems and magnificent wildlife across India's national parks

Explore Parks
Wildlife Sanctuary | Last Refuge of the Asiatic Lion

Gir National Park

Land of the Asiatic Lion

Gujarat

Image: Rhea Bose / CC BY-SA 4.0
Monsoon Closure
The park is closed from June 16 to October 15 every year during the monsoon season.
Permit Required
Safari permits must be booked online through the Gujarat Forest Department portal. Only 8 routes are open for safaris with limited daily vehicles per route.

Plan Your Visit

Welcome to Gir National Park! Use the resources below to plan your adventure in one of India's most treasured wild spaces.

Reservations

Book Gir safari permits online through the official Gir permit portal; Sinh Sadan room bookings are not handled on that permit site.

Lodging

Sasan Gir
The Gir Lodge (Gujarat Tourism), Fern Gir Forest Resort, Lion Safari Camp, and many budget to mid-range hotels around Sasan Gir village. Most are within 1-5 km of the park gate.
Luxury
The Gateway Hotel Gir Forest, Taj Gateway, and several boutique resorts offer premium safari packages with naturalists.
Inside the Park
Limited forest rest houses available through the Gujarat Forest Department. Book well in advance.

Book your stay

Browse stays in Sasan Gir Booking.com

This link opens Booking.com, a third-party site.

Visitor Centers

Sinh Sadan Orientation Center
Sasan Gir (park entrance) • 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Main reception center for permits, guide assignment, and park information. Small museum on Asiatic lion conservation.
Devalia Interpretation Zone
12 km from Sasan Gir • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (closed Wednesday)
Fenced safari zone with guaranteed wildlife sightings. Gift shop and information center.

Rules & Regulations

  • Stay inside the vehicle at all times during safari
  • No honking, loud music, or sudden movements
  • Do not feed any animals
  • Plastic is prohibited inside the park
  • Follow your guide's instructions at all times
  • No smoking inside the park
  • Do not get off the vehicle for photography
  • Maximum speed: 20 km/h on park roads

Accessibility

Jeep safaris can accommodate visitors with limited mobility. The Devalia Safari Park (bus tour) is more accessible than the main park safaris. Most hotels in Sasan Gir are accessible. The park office and orientation center are at ground level.

Basic Information

About This Park

Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat's Saurashtra peninsula is the sole remaining natural habitat of the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica). Once ranging across Southwest Asia from Turkey to eastern India, the Asiatic lion was reduced to fewer than 20 individuals in Gir by the early 1900s. A century of dedicated conservation has brought the population to over 600 — one of conservation's greatest success stories. The park's dry deciduous teak forest, interspersed with grasslands, rocky hills, and river valleys, supports a remarkable ecosystem alongside the Maldhari pastoral communities who have coexisted with lions for centuries.

Operating Hours & Seasons

SeasonMorning SafariEvening Safari
Winter (Oct - Feb)6:30 AM - 9:30 AM3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Summer (Mar - Jun)6:00 AM - 9:00 AM3:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Three safari slots per day at peak season. Wednesday afternoons are closed for maintenance. Each safari lasts approximately 3 hours. Maximum 6 persons per jeep.

Closure PeriodJune 16 - October 15 (monsoon season). The Devalia Safari Park (interpretation zone) remains open year-round and offers a fenced area for guaranteed lion sightings.

Fees & Passes

CategoryAmount
Entry Fee (Indian)INR 75 per person
Entry Fee (Foreigner)INR 1,500 per person
Jeep Safari (Indian)INR 4,500 - 5,500 per trip
Jeep Safari (Foreigner)INR 8,000 - 10,000 per trip
Devalia Safari (Indian)INR 250 per person (bus)
Guide FeeINR 400 per trip (mandatory)
Camera FeeINR 200 (still), INR 1,000 (video)

Online bookings open 45-60 days in advance. Weekend and holiday slots fill up very fast. Devalia Safari Park (Interpretation Zone) offers a quicker, more affordable experience in a fenced 412-hectare area with guaranteed sightings.

Weather

☀️ Summer
March - June
28°C - 45°C
Extremely hot and dry. Lions are more active in the cooler mornings and evenings. Best time for lion sightings as vegetation is sparse and animals concentrate near water.
🌧️ Monsoon
July - October
25°C - 35°C
Park closed. Moderate to heavy rainfall rejuvenates the forest. Lions disperse outside the park boundaries during this period.
❄️ Winter
November - February
10°C - 30°C
Pleasant and ideal for visits. Cool mornings. Best overall season combining comfortable weather with good wildlife activity.

Contact Information

Phone
+91-2877-285540
Website
Authority
Conservator of Forests & Director, Gir National Park, Sasan Gir, Gujarat

Directions & Transportation

Physical Address

Gir National Park, Sasan Gir, Junagadh District, Gujarat 362135

21.1243° N, 70.7942° E

✈️

By Air

Nearest airports are Diu (90 km), Rajkot (160 km), and Ahmedabad (410 km). Diu has limited connectivity. Rajkot is the most practical option with regular flights from Mumbai and Delhi.

🚂

By Train

Nearest railway stations are Junagadh (65 km) and Veraval (42 km), both connected to Ahmedabad and Mumbai. Sasan Gir has its own small station on the Junagadh-Veraval line.

🚗

By Road

Sasan Gir is connected by well-maintained state highways. 65 km from Junagadh, 42 km from Veraval, 160 km from Rajkot, and 410 km from Ahmedabad. State transport and private buses are available.

🚐

Local Transport

Safari jeeps are arranged through the park permit system. Auto-rickshaws and shared jeeps connect Sasan Gir village to nearby towns. Most hotels are within walking distance of the park gate.

Things to Do

🚙
Jeep Safari
Open-top jeep safaris across 8 routes in the national park. Lion sightings are common — success rate is over 80% in peak season.
🦁
Devalia Safari
Visit the Devalia Interpretation Zone (Gir Jungle Trail) — a 412-hectare fenced area offering guaranteed sightings of lions, leopards, and deer.
🐊
Crocodile Breeding Center
Visit the marsh crocodile breeding center near Sasan Gir, which has successfully bred hundreds of mugger crocodiles.
🌊
Kamleshwar Dam
Visit the dam on the Hiran River inside the park — a prime spot for marsh crocodiles, birds, and lion sightings at water's edge.
🛕
Tulsi Shyam Temple
Ancient hot springs temple on the park's eastern boundary, combining spirituality with scenic forest surroundings.
🐦
Bird Watching
300+ species including critically endangered vultures. The Kamleshwar Dam area is excellent for waterbirds.

Nature & Wildlife

Key Wildlife

Asiatic LionIndian LeopardStriped HyenaSambar DeerChitalNilgaiMarsh CrocodileOver 300 bird species

Flora

Dry deciduous teak-dominated forest with mixed deciduous species, thorny scrubland, and semi-evergreen patches along river valleys. Teak, Banyan, Jamun, Ber, and Flame of the Forest are common.

Fauna

Over 600 Asiatic lions (the only wild population in the world), approximately 300 leopards, striped hyenas, jungle cats, Indian grey wolf (rare), sambar, chital, nilgai, four-horned antelope, wild boar, and over 300 marsh crocodiles.

Learn About the Park

History

The Gir forest has been the last refuge of the Asiatic lion since the early 20th century. In 1900, the Nawab of Junagadh, recognizing the dire state of the lion population (estimated at fewer than 20), took conservation measures that laid the foundation for the species' recovery. The area was declared a sanctuary in 1965 and a national park in 1975. The lion population has grown steadily from about 180 in 1974 to over 600 today. This success story is attributed to rigorous protection, community involvement (including relocation of Maldhari pastoralists from the core zone), and the lions' own adaptability.

Quick Facts

Established
1965
Area
1,412 sq km
State
Gujarat
Designation
Wildlife Sanctuary

References

  1. Gir National Park official visitor information Conservator of Forests & Director, Gir National Park, Sasan Gir, Gujarat
  2. Check Gujarat Tourism stays around Gir Gujarat Tourism
  3. Check Gir permit and forest lodge guidance Gujarat Forest Department
  4. Book Gir safari permits Gujarat Forest Department
  5. Gir National Park location map OpenStreetMap contributors
  6. Gir National Park thumbnail image source Wikimedia Commons