Gir National Park

The only habitat of Asiatic Lion is Gir National Park in the state of Gujarat in India. The preserve is situated near the city of Junagadh in the Gujarat peninsula in South West India. There are more than 300 hundred Asian lions found in this National Park. The topography is hilly and comprises of dry deciduous forests, scrub, grasslands and plains. The flora is Ber, Teak, Saja, Lendya, Acacia, Bamboo, Jamun, Tendu, Khair, Sadad, Timru, Babul, Amla,Salai, Semal, Moledi, Dhava, Kadayo and Bahera and Palas trees. The fauna besides the Indian Lion comprises of Leopard, Nilgai, Four Horned Deer, Chinkara, Sambhar, Jungle Cat, Black Buck, Wild Boar,Sloth Bear, Hanuman Langur, Indian Flying Fox, Grey Musk Shrew, Pangolin, Indian Hare, Ratel, Pale Hedgehog, Rusty Spotted Cat, Small Indian Mangoose, Desert Cat, Small Indian Civet, Porcupine, Hyena, Fox, and Jackal

The forest is rich in avian species and about 300 species can be check listed. The bird found here are both resident and in winters migrants add up to the numbers. See Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Large Cuckoo Shrike, Black Headed Cuckoo Shrike, Bonelli's Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Crested Serpant Eagle, Grey Framcolin, Painted Sandgrouse, Bush Quail, Red Headed Merlin, Plum Headed Parakeet, Clamarous Reed Warbler, Booted Warbler, Blue Cheeked Bee Eater, Peregrine Falcon, Twany Babbler, Rufous Fronted Prinia, Golden and Black Hooded Oriole, Graceful Prinia and so on.

The Lion King

The big cat is critically endangered species and efforst are made to relocate a pride to Kuno Palpur sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. The Indian Lion is smaller and more compact than its african cousin. The best place for lion safari in India is the Gir National Park.

How to Get there

Air :The nearest airport from Gir is Keshod 90-kms via Veraval. Visitors can easily catch daily flights from Mumbai to Keshod.

Rail : The nearest rail connection is the meter gauge rail line of 395-kms from Ahemdabad.

Road : Gir is situated at a distance of 400-kms from Ahmedabad via Rajkot, Junagadh and Mendarda. State Transport buses are easily available from Junagadh and Veraval to Gir, between November and June.

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