Sasan Gir - Hammock Holidays

Gir forest in Gujarat, West India, is the only place in the world, outside Africa, where the Asiatic lion can be seen in its natural habitat. The forest, which has shrunk to 1412 sq. km from its original spread of about 5,000 sq. km, was notified a wildlife sanctuary in 1969.

Climate
The sanctuary is open to visitors from 16 Oct - 15 June and remains closed during the monsoons. It is very hot in summers with temperatures going upto 43 deg. celsius and relatively cool in winters.

Connectivity
Nearest Airport(s): Diu Domestic - approx. 90 kms
Nearest Railway Station(s): Junagadh - approx. 65 kms , Rajkot - approx. 160 kms
Nearest Bus Stop: Sasan Gir

In 1975, the core area of 140 sq. km of the wildlife sanctuary was constituted into a national park, which has since been expanded to cover 258.71 sq. km. Though known the world over mainly for its lions, Gir is one of the few remaining forests comprising different habitats - open scrub country, dry deciduous and tropical thorn forests and an evergreen corridor along the river sides.

The forest also harbors a variety of smaller animals and birds. Other predators are the powerful Panther and the ungainly striped hyena. The largest Indian deer, sambar, chital, nilgai, chinkara and the unique chowsingha are found here, along with the bear and the long tailed langur. The peacock, India's national bird with its resplendent plumage, is among the common birds in Gir.

Places of interest in and around Gir include the Crocodile Rearing Centre, Interpretation Park at Devalia, Orientation Centre, Kamleshwar (an artificial reservoir), Sirvan (a unique village where people of African origin live, still retaining their culture), Satadhar, Kankeshwari Mata, Banej & Somnath temples, Junagadh (known for Mount Girnar and Jain temples) and Tulsi Shyam Hot Springs.