Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary

About The Location: This forested, hilly, 1412-sq-km sanctuary about halfway between Veraval and Junagadh is the last refuge of the Asiatic lion (Panthera leopersica). Taking a safari through the thick, undisturbed forests is a joy – even without the added excitement of spotting lions, other wildlife and myriad bird species. Access to the sanctuary is by safari permit only, bookable in advance If you miss out on a permit, your other option for lion encounters is at the Devalia Safari Park, a fenced-off part of the sanctuary where sightings are guaranteed but more stage-managed. The sanctuary’s 37 other mammal species, most of which have also increased in numbers, include dainty chital (spotted deer), sambar (large deer), nilgais (blue bull / large antelopes), chousinghas (four-horned antelopes), chinkaras (gazelles), crocodiles and rarely seen leopards. The park is a great destination for birders too, with more than 300 bird species, most of the residents. While the wildlife has been lucky, more than half the sanctuary’s human community of distinctively dressed maldhari (herders) have been resettled elsewhere, ostensibly because their cattle and buffalo were competing for food resources with the antelopes, deer, and gazelles, while also being preyed upon by the lions and leopards. About 1000 people still live in the park, however their livestock accounts for about a quarter of the lions diet.Twelve kilometers west of Sasan Gir village at Devalia, within the sanctuary precincts, is the Gir Interpretation Zone, better known as simply Devalia. The 4.12-sq-km fenced-off compound is home to a cross-section of Gir wildlife. Chances of seeing lions and leopards here are guaranteed, with 45-minute bus tours departing along the trails hourly. You may also see foxes, mongoose, and blackbuck – the latter being lion fodder.Brief History: The sanctuary was set up in 1965, and a 259-sq-km core area was declared as a national park in 1975. Since the late 1960s, lion numbers have increased from less than 200 to 674 (Census 2020).How to get thereBy RoadJunagadh (60 km) and Veraval (45 km) have bus connectivity to national park.By TrainJunagadh (60 km) and Veraval (45 km) are the major rail heads from the national park.By AirThe closest airport to Gir National Park is Rajkot, nearly 170 km away.

It was early morning with harsh cold winter winds in the jungles. And on top of that the excitement wali fear was visible on all of our faces. Goosebumps were already started. Our faces were whitish because of fresh cool air of the jungle.And we had just started the safari after checking in at security gate. And boom 💥, it's not even been proper sunlight yet. within first five minutes we spotted a beautiful lioness ahead of our open jeep in search of someone.I had my video recording on, but as soon as i saw the lioness i stopped recording and kept my mobile in pockets without even knowing. And the whole purpose of the trip was met.It was a 3 hour open jeep Safari. They took us to different assigned routes throughout the jungle. We were on route 6. In midst of the jungle there was temporary bathrooms erected. I had to take a pee and for that i had to get down of the jeep but that was also a humongous task. That is the power of lions.Maldhari community lives inside the jungles as casual as we live in our villages. It was wonderful to see those children roaming freely in jungles.

Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary - It was established to protect Asiatic lions, who frequent the fenced-off Devalia Safari Park. We took 1 hour jungle safari to see the lions, deer and leopards. We visited local village and had a Desi Gujarati food. Please check this link "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69Z79Go6ALU" to know from close to GIR

A philosophy revolves around our love, choices and care for nature. Every human has a pinch of love for nature and that he expresses through bringing plants at home or workplace. Now think if this philosophy converted to large scale project. There would be walking jungles in cities, vertical parks on high-rise buildings and leaf curtains on windows. May look like ruined forts taken over by climbers. Not everyone loves this idea of being biophilic due to maintenance, time and space. But, there is a place in Gujarat near Gir National Park in South West Saurashtra known as a " Woods at Sasan". A 38 room retreat that talks about biophilia and sustainability. Every corner speaks nature when you walk through it. Eight acres of land with more than 300 mango trees and 150 native flora remained intact when the retreat was constructed. Out of 100% area, 70% of the landscape remained open against 30% of constructed area. Imagine how much space one gets when one stays inside. Their idea of biophilia is not just restricted to bringing nature close to the humans but bringing biophilic experience upfront. Open to sky bathrooms that allow water to percolate directly in the ground. Walkways and parking have lime mortar without RCC fillings that allow surface water runoff to percolate straight to the aquifer. Age-old technology of limestone plaster that absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere and once removed can be reused anywhere in new construction. Sustainably procured & less traveled material used in construction to reduce the footprint, Sand stone and Kota stone used at the accommodation and public gathering areas which ultimately a material that withstands extreme climate. Hence the reduced the consumption of Air-conditioning. The design of each room allows sunlight to enter throughout the day and reduces the consumption of artificial light. Every room and the public area will bring you close to nature in thousands of ways. Woods at Sasan, a retreat in Gir National Park, Gujarat in a true sense gives you an experience of sustainability and allows you immerse with nature. Woods at Sasan is a model biophilic property that gives learning to many industries in this segment and motivates them to think towards sustainable living especially in the accommodation at natural destinations around the country. One cannot offset his footprints, by just building a room full of RCC and steel, at natural places by ruining the vast resources the place has from where raw material is extracted. The philosophy of Woods at Sasan is to talk biophilia, live biophilic and bring regenerative experiences by building the places with less traveled local material, using spaces to magnify nature more close and less construction. Slow and low impact experiences at Woods at Sasan further emphasis on regenerative living for better future and India. Innovative designs and the material will lead us to climate change adaption. It would not be stopped but it can be controlled with wise human interference.