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Gir National Park & Sanctury
 Best time to
Visit
: - December to March
Park remains closed from June to October
Distance from Junagadh
: 55km
Distance from Veraval
: 40km
Gujarat has splendid wildlife reserves that are quite out of the ordinary. The Gir National Park is where the last surviving population of the Asiatic lion is to be found and the Little Rann of Kutch, the home of the Indian wild ass.
Located in the South west of the Saurashtra Peninsula, the Gir National Park is a haven to about 300 Asiatic lions. The 1,412.14 sq. km. Park has a rugged terrain and the steep rocky hillsides are recovered in mixed deciduous forests. There are teak, ber, flame of the forest and banyan trees. Streams run through the deep ravines.
The lions, a smaller more compact version of their African cousins, are best viewed at dawn or dusk when they are on the move. Gir has also nearly 210 leopards and numerous chital, nilgai, chinkara, the four horned antelope and wild boar. Marsh crocodiles are often seen along its rivers. The forest is rich in bird life and the paradise fly catcher, black headed cuckoo shrike, pied woodpecker, Bonelli's eagle, crested serpent eagle, painted sand grouse, bush quail and grey partridge are among the variety that is found here.
Three unusual reserves, the Nalsarover Lake and Sanctuary, where large numbers of water-birds can be seen; the bare saline flats of the Rann of Kutch, incredibly the home of the Indian wild ass and the spectacular Flamingo island where nesting colonies of flamingoes are to be seen make Gujarat an exciting place for wildlife enthusiasts.
Topographic Variations
Gir exhibits great variation in topography, including flat, gently undulating to hilly tracts; and elevation ranges between 152m at Vasadhol to 530m above the sea level at Nandivela hills.
The Gir forest area is extremely rugged and hilly. Slopes are generally moderate, hills are of volcanic origin and the soil varies from one area to another. While most of the soil is generally black, the other types one may come across will be red, yellowish, white clay and sandy. Each soil type supports a different kind of plant life and hence the wildlife too differs based on vegetation types.
Climate
Out of the three prominent seasons of summer, winter and monsoon, the longest stretching is the summer, in which the average minimum and maximum temperature ranges between 10ºC to nearly 45ºC. April and May are the hottest months. The erratic monsoon is eagerly awaited, with its active period between middle of June and September. The maximum rainfall in the area is recorded around 1,866 mm and the minimum recorded being 199mm.
The water always remains a critical factor in the well being of the forest. At times the waterholes are required to be replenished through water tankers from outside at great expense. Around 350 of such waterholes are maintained by the park staff.
River And Water Courses
Gir has seven main rivers. They are Datardi, Shingoda, Macchundri, Saraswati, Raval, Ardak, and Hiran of which only Hiran has perennial flow, the rest being seasonal. Many of these seasonal streams have permanent waterholes, called 'Ghunas' and 'Virdas', which provide precious water to animals and birds. Gir also has four dams and that has made possible to store water in large reservoirs.
Hiran River is the main lifeline of Western Gir. It originates from Kansa hills of Gir, and flows close to Sasan, Dadhia, Rajasthali, Gidadiya ness and close to Talala village. It meets Sarasvati and Kapila rivers near Prabhas Patan to reach the Arabian Sea. Sarasvati originates from Dipada-No-Dungar in Gir to meet Hiran hillocks of Dhali Bakini Dungari near Chanchai hills. It crosses Gir near Kardapan, Mandvi, Kodila, Ghodavadi and near Una Navabundar and meets the Arabian Sea.
Shingoda River originates from the Chasa hillocks and Kadi Vadli hillocks and crosses Gir near Buntel, Chhodavadi, Jamwala and Kansaria-No-Ness. It meets the Arabian Sea near Kodinar. The Dataedi river passes close to the Jamwala ness to meet at Jamwal, while the river Raval originates from Dhundhia hills of Gir, goes to Una and near Manekpor, meets the Arabian Sea.
Gir Vegetation
Vegetation in Gir can be looked at in four ways. The first is the Teak forest and nearly half of the protected area has this kind of a habitat. The main tree species that occupy this habitat are Khair, Sadad, Timru, Babul, Amla, Moledi, Dhavdo, Kadayo and Bahedo.
The non-Teak forests, which comprise the remaining forest consists of tree species like the Khair, Dhavdo, Sadad, Timru, Amla, Moledi, Kadayo, Salai, Simal, Khakhro, Ber and Asundro.
A distinct belt of vegetation is found along the main rivers and streams. Species like the Jambu, Karanj, Umro, Vad, Kalam, Charal, Sirus and Amli are found here. These trees are mostly broad leaved and evergreen, giving the area a cool shade and the moisture content. Finally, Prosopis and Casuarina have been planted in the coastal border as part of the aforestation plan.
Modad, Kakad, Kalam, Garmalo, Limdo, Apto, Dudhlo, Siras, and Dhraman are trees that form the top part of the forest. The understory is formed by Mindhol, Bordi, Kanthar, Hingori, Karamda and Antedi. Ground cover has herbaceous growth of Desmodium, Tephrosia, Indigofera and Vernonia.
Grasses mostly include Bhagoru, Ratad, Zinjavo, Saniyar and Kagadiyu. Important 'Lianas' (woody climbers) include Khervelio Baval, and Malvelo. Around Gir there are some grasslands, locally known as 'Vidis'. Reserve Vidis have better palatable grass species and are well protected.
The moist, shady riverine habitats show presence of more evergreen type of trees like Kalam, Sajad, Karanj, Jambu, Amli, Umbro, to name a few.
Flora
Vegetation in Gir can be looked at in four ways. The first is the Teak forest and nearly half of the protected area has this kind of a habitat. The main tree species that occupy this habitat are Khair, Sadad, Timru, Babul, Amla, Moledi, Dhavdo, Kadayo and Bahedo.
The non-Teak forests, which comprise the remaining forest consists of tree species like the Khair, Dhavdo, Sadad, Timru, Amla, Moledi, Kadayo, Salai, Simal, Khakhro, Ber and Asundro.
A distinct belt of vegetation is found along the main rivers and streams. Species like the Jambu, Karanj, Umro, Vad, Kalam, Charal, Sirus and Amli are found here. These trees are mostly broad leaved and evergreen, giving the area a cool shade and the moisture content. Finally, Prosopis and Casuarina have been planted in the coastal border as part of the aforestation plan.
Fauna
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.
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