Gir National Park, India
Gir National Park
Gir National Park also known as Gir Wildlife Sanctuary Gujarat. Gir National Park is located in Gujarat. The Gir National Park was recognized as a Forest Reserve on 18th of September, 1965 in-order to conserve the highly endangered Asiatic lion. In 1975, some part of Gir Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as national park. Due to the conservation efforts, the lion population has increased from 177 in 1974 to 411 in 2010. Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Junagadh which is a District of Gujarat state.
Gir National Park is the last home of Asiatic lion which has been restricted to this jungle, since 1884. In 1985, approximately 239 lions were available in Gir Sanctuary. The Asiatic lion is a little smaller in comparison to the African lion. The finest method to watch the big cats is into their usual environment at dusk and dawn when these lions are on the stalk. Formerly Gir was protected by the royal family also known as Nawab of the princely state of Junagadh. Later British viceroys took to their notice the dilemma of the Asiatic lion. Gir Wildlife sanctuary is a gem of ecological sources of Gujarat.
Flora and Fauna in Gir National Park
Gir Wildlife Sanctuary has varied deciduous kind of forest having teak, ber, blaze of the jungle, Jamun, a range of acacia principally babul. It is a mountainous area with an abundance of rivers and gives the tourists extended enjoyable drives, throughout the deep forest wrap.
Asiatic Lion is the biggest attraction of Gir national park. Leopard is the second major usually spotted marauder of Gir Sanctuary. Infect, Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is known as one of the national parks in India having biggest Leopard inhabitants and particularly in the warm months they can be spotted sometimes near to the lodges in the night.
Other prominent wild animals of the Gir national park include Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, Spotted Deer, Four-Horned Antelope, Wild Boar, Chinkara Gazelle, Langur Monkey, Hyena, Jackal and various birds as Paradise Flycatcher, Crested Serpent Eagle, Bonneli's Eagle and Woodpeckers Flamingo etc.
Other attractions of Gir National Park
Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is full of history and myths. Gir Sanctuary possesses of few great ancient temples as Kankai Mata and Tulsishyam - it is an auspicious place along with hot water springs. The jungle is well known for its Madharis - the cattle herders and whose animals as buffaloes make a considerable element of the Asiatic lions' food. Tremendously welcoming, these Madharis are traditional herders and their lifestyle is changing slightly in these years and their legends and customs are quite unique evidence of coexistence of lion with humans.
The best way to do the wildlife sighting in Gir National Park is through the open jeeps around the jungle. The most popular drives in the jungle are Sasan towards Baval Chowk also to Kankai, to Tulsishyam and Chodavdi and to Kamaleshwar dam.
There are 03 remarkable wildlife reserves near to Gir, first is Nalsarovar Lake & Sanctuary - it is known for various water birds, the second is Little Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary- famous for endangered wild ass and the third is charming Flamingo Island.
The Topography of Gir National Park
West Indian state of Gujarat is a home few superb wildlife sanctuaries which are fairly out of the normal. Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is the last home of the Asiatic Lion in India and as per the census of 2010 there are about 411 lion in Gir Park. This Wildlife sanctuary is located in the peninsula of Gujarat in South Western India and has a territory which is rocky with low mountains and the plants are full of varied deciduous along with sets of Acacia, Teak, Tendu, Jamun and Dhak plants mixed together with huge pieces of grasslands.
Climate of Gir Wildlife Sanctuary
From 03 ordinary periods of winter, summer and monsoon, the summer is the longest one. In summer the average maximum and minimum temperature remains between 45ºC and 10ºC. The hottest times of summer in Gir are normally April and May. The monsoon brings little relief in the park from the scorching heat starting from June till September. Due to the less rainfall in the park, the water remains always a critical issue. In summer, the waterholes are needed to be refilled by the water tankers by the forest department from outside and the park authorities keep about 350 of these types of waterholes.
How to reach Gir Wildlife Sanctuary
Air: Diu airport is 112 KMS, Rajkot airport is 164 KMS.
Train: Junagadh 42 KMS, Verawal 32 KMS.
Road: Ahmedabad 390 KMS, Somnath 40 KMS, Jetpur 90 KMS, Gondal 123 KMS, Jamnagar 151 KMS, Porbandar 187 KMS, Dwarka 225 KMS.