Discover India's Wild Heritage
Explore the diverse ecosystems and magnificent wildlife across India's national parks
Explore ParksExplore the diverse ecosystems and magnificent wildlife across India's national parks
Explore ParksAntelope on the Open Plain
Gujarat
Image: Arun76tn / CC BY-SA 4.0Welcome to Velavadar Blackbuck National Park! Use the resources below to plan your adventure in one of India's most treasured wild spaces.
Safaris, bird watching, nature walks, and more
Safari timings, open seasons, and park schedules
Entry fees, safari charges, and camera fees
How to reach by air, rail, and road
Official booking links, permits, and offline reservation guidance
Nearby stays, forest rest houses, and booking resources
Book Velavadar visitor permits through Gujarat's official Gir/Blackbuck permit portal, then confirm forest rest house availability separately.
This link opens Booking.com, a third-party site.
Wildlife viewing is mostly from vehicles on flat tracks, making it easier than many forest parks. Heat, dust, and limited facilities remain practical constraints.
Velavadar Blackbuck National Park protects open grassland and saline flats in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district. The park is famous for elegant blackbuck herds, Indian wolves, striped hyenas, and wintering harriers that gather in large evening roosts. Its open terrain and relatively small size make it one of India's best parks for grassland wildlife photography and birding.
| Season | Morning Safari | Evening Safari |
|---|---|---|
| Winter (Oct - Feb) | 6:30 AM - 10:30 AM | 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM |
| Summer (Mar - Jun) | 6:00 AM - 10:00 AM | 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM |
Drive routes and viewing areas are managed by the forest department. Evening visits are excellent for harriers and golden light.
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Entry Fee | As notified by Gujarat Forest Department |
| Vehicle and Guide | Varies by vehicle and visitor category |
| Camera Fee | As applicable locally |
Confirm current entry, vehicle, and camera fees through Gujarat forest channels or the park office.
Velavadar Blackbuck National Park, Bhavnagar District, Gujarat
22.0440° N, 72.0470° E
Bhavnagar Airport is the closest, with Ahmedabad as a larger air gateway.
Bhavnagar is the main railhead for the park.
Accessible by road from Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad, and Vadodara. The park lies near Velavadar village.
Use private vehicles or lodge transfers; park drives follow designated tracks.
Semi-arid grassland, saline flats, scrub, and seasonal wetlands near the Gulf of Khambhat.
Velavadar is one of India's finest blackbuck habitats and supports wolves, hyenas, foxes, nilgai, raptors, larks, cranes, and wintering harriers.
Velavadar was once a private hunting reserve of the Bhavnagar princely state and was declared a national park in 1976. Its protection helped conserve one of the best remaining blackbuck grasslands in western India.
