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| Gir National Park |
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Accommodation |
Sasan Gir has forest bungalows and tourist lodges.
But book ahead. The Forest Department runs Sinh Sadan Guest
House, which has large rooms amidst well-kept gardens. Meals
are reasonably priced. Rooms go for Rs 150 for a double room
and Rs 450 for an air-conditioned double room.
Dormitories cost Rs 50. There is a good restaurant on the premises.
For bookings call:
Conservator of Forests
Sasan Gir,
Dist Junagadh.
Tel: 91-(02877) 85540.
Off the main road, the Gujarat Tourism Department Corporation
runs the Lion Safari Lodge. The rooms are comfortable with
attached baths. Excellent meals are served in the dining hall.
Contact: Gujarat Tourism,
Rangmahal,
Diwan Chowk,
Junagadh.
The ITDC also has a Forest Lodge, and any ITDC branch can
help with bookings.
An upmarket option is the Gir Lodge, Sasan Gir, run by the
Taj Group of hotels.
It has 29 large rooms near the river about 200 m. from the
forest lodge. The restaurant offers interestingly different
cuisines to guests or visiting clients.
Tariff:
Rs 1,930 (standard river view single room)
Rs 3,400 (standard view double room)
Rs 3,800 (deluxe river side double room)
Rs 4,200 (deluxe river view suite)
Rs 6,250 (deluxe river side -three rooms suite)
Tel: Sasan Gir: 91-02871-85501/04
or
Fax: 91-85528
or
The Taj, Mumbai
Tel: 91-022-202 2626.
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Terrain |
| Located in southwest Saurashtra, the Gir forest
extends across an area of 1,412 sq kms and is clothed by a combination
of grassland, scrub and forests of teak that grow on lateritic
soils. An aerial view reveals low undulating hills rising from
a height of 225 to 648 m, almost fully encircled by agricultural
fields. Naturalists and historians point out that what is left
in Gir today, is the last remnant of native landscape within
the Saurashtra peninsula
As many as seven significant rivers pass through Gir: the
Hiran, Saraswati, Datardi, Shingoda, Machhundri, Ghodavadi
and Raval. The water from these rivers is key to the survival
of the lions. This supply is also invariably the last source
available to downstream human communities when their wells
and streams run dry just prior to the arrival of the next
life-giving rains.
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Waterholes and Trails |
| There are three main tracks in the forest, all
well known to the many drivers and guides. Among the more productive
drives are ones you might take early in the morning or late
in the evening between Sasan and Kankai, Baval Chowk, Chodavadi
and Tulsi Shyam. Other interesting routes are to Deva Danga
and Riley's.
Water is a scarce resource in Gir, but around the rivers
and reservoirs crocodiles do thrive and there is a breeding
farm at Sasan (strictly for release into the wild, not for
commerce) that is worth a visit. When water sources dry in
the summer, these reptiles gather around the five perennial
streams and a few waterholes. The Kamleshwar dam built on
the Hiran river is one of the best places to see crocodiles.
Bathing is strictly prohibited. Dewaliya, 12 kms away is the
location of the Gir Interpretation Zone, where lions can be
seen and photographed in a large 4.12 sq kms enclosure. Buses
take visitors to Dealiya from Sasan at 9 am on most days and
a minibus will drive you fairly close to the lions.
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