Images | Celebrate World Lion Day by exploring the final refuge of Asiatic Lions: Gir National Park
PuneNow, August 10, 2023: The Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in the state of Gujarat is one of the largest national parks in India. It is situated in a dry region of India and is home to the last population of Asiatic lions in the world. India may not be as well-known for wildlife safaris as Africa, but it offers some of the greatest safaris in Asia. To witness the magnificent tigers, consider going on a tiger safari at Sariska Tiger Reserve.
The Gir National Park is included in the ecoregion of Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous woods. During the era of the Indian Rajs, the park was initially constructed as a royal hunting preserve. The world’s tallest statue, the 597-foot-tall Statue of Unity, is another of Gujarat’s many attractions. Visit the largest shipbreaking yard in the world, the Alang Shipbreaking Yard, while in Gujarat.
Watch Asiatic Lions at Gir National Park
Almost everyone identifies lions with Africa, yet India is rarely mentioned. India is home to the final remnants of the Asiatic Lion population. Historically, the Asiatic Lion inhabited huge areas of Asia and the Middle East. They are pictured in ancient reliefs in Babylon and Assyria and referenced several times in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible. They formerly inhabited Turkey and India.
Having been brought to the brink of extinction, Gir National Park is now their sole shelter. The Asiatic lions have returned from the verge of extinction as a result of protection and intensive conservation efforts. In 2020, there were an estimated 674 Asiatic Lions (up from around 200 in the 1960s).
Approximately 1,000 indegenous people still live in the park (many have been moved). Approximately one-fourth of the lion’s diet is believed to consist of the cattle of these people, as they are mostly herders.
Unlike African Lions, male Asian Lions do not often coexist with their pride’s females. The males differ from their African relatives in that their manes are shorter, sparser, and darker.
Plan Ahead And Reserve Gir National Park Permits And Safaris
Avoid visiting Gir National Park during the monsoon season. Annually, it is closed between 16 June and 15 October due to the monsoon.
Best Visitation Months: November through March (Winter Time) and Mid-October until mid-June
Safari Times: 6.30 am, 9.00 am, and 3.00 pm
Safari Duration: Roughly 3 Hours
Permissions can be sought online up to three months in advance (but no later than 48 hours). Permits are restricted, since only 30 cars are permitted in the park at any given time.
Safari Cost in Gir National Park
Local (Indian) (Indian) Price per Jeep is INR 4,700 ($41)
Foreign Price: INR 13,800 ($170) per Jeep
Included in the fee are the guide, taxes, permit, and services. There is space for up to six people and one child in each jeep.
Also Explore Devalia Safari Park
This fragile refuge is only accessible with a safari permit, which may be reserved online in advance. If one cannot get a permit, then the Devalia Safari Park offers lion experiences (a fenced-off part of the sanctuary). There, lions are considerably easier to observe, but they are also much more staged.
Devalia is referred to as the Gir Interpretation Zone as well. There are 45-minute bus excursions of the sanctuary, which is a 4.12-square-kilometer enclosed area.
There are plenty other wild creatures in Gir National Park (many of which may be familiar from Jungle Book). Crocodiles, elusive leopards, antelopes, sambar, and around 300 species of birds are also present.
Hours of Operation: 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to dusk
While the majority of the park is closed during the winter, the Devalia Interpretation Zone is open year-round. Additionally, it is open Thursday through Tuesday (being closed on Wednesday).
What are you waiting for? On this World Lion Day, check out the various itineraries available on the internet and book one of them while you still have the opportunity to see these majestic creatures up close and personal.
