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Location :
64 Kms from Junagadh and 32 kms from Verawal, Gujarat
Coverage Area : 1412 sq km protected area of which 259 sq km is National
Park and 1153 sq km is sanctuary
Main Attraction : Asiatic lion, leopard, chital
Best Time To Visit
: December till mid June (closed during monsoon period
Accommodation
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Arrival
Information :
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Rail :
-- By Air :
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By Road :
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Nearby Excursions :
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Nearby Cities :
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.
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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