Gir National Park and Nature Reserve – Last Bastion of the Asiatic Lion
23rd Sep 2025

Gir National Park and Nature Reserve – Last Bastion of the Asiatic Lion

Gujarat is very much in the top searches on the Net for millennials and Gen Z and other culture buffs, simply because it’s that time of year… It's ‘dandiya’ time and where else would you find the best performances of this famous stick dance? In Ahmedabad and Vadodara, of course!

With the Navaratas starting early this year, you don’t have to wait till late October to plunge into the vibrant festivities of Gujarat’s famous Navaratri, or 9 Sacred Nights. Also known as Shardiya Navaratri or Sharada Navaratri, the holy festival is dedicated to the Goddess Durga, an embodiment of Shakti, or female power.


But Gujarat is also synonymous with power (we are not talking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah!) of a different kind…a wild kind. Yes, we are talking about the ‘Lion’, the original apex predator of the India jungle, who lost his crown to the tiger, after being hunted to near extinction as a trophy animal.

You may have at some point taken the kids to the zoo to see this magnificent beast… but in its natural habitat in India, not at all! Gujarat has the exclusive privilege of playing host to the Asiatic Lion at the Gir National Park. Here he strides with pride and pleasure through his domain, frightening anyone who dares to question his right to the last sanctuary, with a full-throated roar, which sends everyone scurrying for cover. A lion’s roar is truly a kingly reminder of his glorious past in the Indian jungles.


The Gir forest in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region remains the sole natural wilderness habitat of the globally-threatened wild lions in India. Your gateway to this beautiful kingly retreat is the city of Junagarh, which is about an hour’s drive away. In fact, it was the Nawab of Junagadh, who on recognizing the plight of the lions, very sensibly decided to create a safe haven for this fast-diminishing species. He was able to do this in his private hunting grounds.

With the Indian government formally banning hunting in 1955, animals were now safe from the hunter’s gun, but irreparable damage had already been done to the majestic lion. To add more heft to the Nawab’s conservation initiative Gir was officially declared a lion sanctuary. In 1974, this protected habitat was given the status of a national park nature reserve.


Just recently the world celebrated World Lion Day on August 10. It was an initiative to drive greater awareness about the protection of this species on Planet Earth estimated to be between 30,000 to 100,000 in number.

So, when you are on safari in Gir remember that it is the lion’s second-largest habitat on earth outside of Africa. With the Indian government increasing the domain available to them, sightings are possible in almost all districts of Saurashtra except Morbi and Devbhumi Dwarka.

Do make bookings well in advance for the safaris as they get booked up really fast. To avoid disappointment, plan well ahead to have a really wonderful time stalking the glorious lion in the wild— but only with your camera!!