Gir National Park

The Gir wildlife sanctuary and national park, collectively referred to as the Gir Protected Area (PA), is located in the Saurashtra peninsula of Gujarat in western India. The Gir national park is a heaven to about 300 Asiatic lions. The Lion, Panther Leo, inhabits the forest of Gir in the Saurashtra peninsula, attracting sixty thousand visitors to this sanctuary of Gujarat every year. Gir today is the only place in the world, outside Africa, where the lion can be seen in its natural habitat. The Asiatic lion is slightly smaller than its African cousin, nevertheless, a large male lion of the Gir is quite a sight to behold. The best way to observe the big cats is, of course, in their natural surroundings, at dawn and dusk, when they are on the prowl. Wildlife viewing in the Girs is best done, by driving around the forest.

Location : 64 Kms from Junagadh and 32 kms from Verawal

Area : 1412 sq km protected area of which 259 sq km is National Park and 1153 sq km is sanctuary

Best Time to visit : December till mid June(closed during monsoon period

Climate : Hot and arid summers and mildly cold winters.

Prominent Fauna : Asiatic lion, leopard, chital, nilgai, chinkara, antelope, wild boar, crocodile, wild ass, paradise flycatcher, back headed cuckoo, pied woodpecker, bonnelli's eagle, crested serpent eagle

North :-

Himalayan National Park :: Keoladeo Ghana or Bharatpur National Park :: Ranthambore :: Rajaji National Park :: Dudhwa National Park :: Hastinapur Sanctuary :: National Chambal Sanctuary :: Dachigam :: Desert National Park :: Sariska :: Corbett National Park :: Govind National Park :: Kishanpur Sanctuary

South :-

Srisailam Sanctuary :: Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary :: Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary :: Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary :: Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary :: Thattekad Bird Sanctuary :: Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary :: Eravikulam Wildlife Sanctuary :: Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary :: Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary :: Silent Valley National Park :: Bannerghata National Park

West :-

Gir :: Kanha :: Bandharvgarh National Park