| Gir National Park is the probably the last refuge of the Asiatic lion. A terrain composed of steep rocky hills,deep ravines and occasional stretches of grassland irrigated by many rivers, the Park supports a mixed semi-arid deciduous forest.
Over the years the lions have got pretty used to people and sightings are plentiful. As a matter of fact the lion population at Gir has been growing steadily and efforts are on to relocate some of the animals to ease the pressure on Gir. An alternate home may be found for some in Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh.
The closest airport is Rajkot ( 150 km ) and the railhead is Sasangir/Junagadh. The Taj group runs the Gir Forest Lodge - an oasis of luxury in the dry countryside. Cheaper accommodation is also available.
The legendary Somnath temple, renowned for its wealth, was sacked and plundered 7 times by Mehmud of Ghazni. A mere 45 km from Gir, the temple is a major pilgrim centre even today. |
