National Parks in India
Wildlife Sanctuaries in India
Indian Wildlife Tour Packages
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Experience a wildlife odyssey in India with India Wildlife Tours. India is reputed to be the home to the finest game parks and tiger reserves, which offer a stunning array of wildlife. India Wildlife Tours presents tours, which have been specially designed to take you to discover some of India's well-known national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. The highlights of these wildlife tours are the exciting jeep safari and elephant rides in "Project Tiger" wildlife reserves at World famous Ranthambore, Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks. As a result of initiatives taken in the field of conservation, these parks have seen a significant increase in the number of tigers, which were once on the verge of extinction.
Sasan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Junagarh district, Gujarat. 64 km south-east from Junagadh and 32 km from Verawal is the place Sasan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and 90 km . Total area covered by the Lion sanctuary is 1412.14 sq.km. Out of Total area of 141,213 hectares national park covers an area of 35,948 hectares.
It was established on 18 th September 1965. Initially it was declared as Forest Reserve whose main aim was to conserve the Asiatic lion.
To reach the place by air the nearest airport is Keshod Airport, Kathiawar (Saurashtra) Peninsula which is 90 km from the sanctuary. There is a forests rest house also located in the headquartes of Sasan sanctuary. The place is a mixed deciduous type of forest with teak, ber, flame of the forest, jamun, there are a variety of acacia, particularly babul. It is a hilly place with a lots of rivers. Visitors can enjoy a drive through the thick forest cover.
Since 1884 Gir National Park is the only home for Asiatic lion which is specific to this forest only. There were approximately 239 lions. The Asiatic lions are smaller than African lions. The male Asiatic lions of the Gir are quiet sight to behold.
The best time to see these big cats is early morning an evening with natural surroundings when these lions go in search of their prey. To view this pride of lions on hunt the forest department arranges lion shows on every Sunday. The trips who go out to watch this are accompanied by guides so that they can watch the scene closely.
There are other animasl also that can be seen in the sanctuary chinkara, wild boar, striped hyena, jackal, common langur, porcupine, hare, black buck. There are more than 200 different types of bird here which have peafowl, grey partridge, Bonelli's eagle, crested serpent eagle, jungle bush quail, painted sandgrouse, common green pigeon and several species of doves. On the river sides one can easily take a look at marsh crocodile. Mainly in the lake of Kamaleshwar dam which is home place for these crocodiles. The sanctuary also includes a crocodile breeding farm.
The Gir National park is also a part of the history and ancient stories. One can talk about the temples which are of ancient times like Kanaki Mata and Tulsishyam which is a place of pilgrimage with hot springs.
The forest also gets herders for domestic animals. The Madharis who bring their buffaloes and they form a substantial part meal for lion's here. The Madharis are herders here and are very hospitable. There lifestyle has also changed over years and their local traditions are unique example of existing of human and lions together. One can have a great look at the Gir wildlife by driving around the forest. The best enjoyable drives are from Sasan to the places like Baval Chowk and Kankai, Chodavdi and Tulsishyam, and Kamaleshwar dam. One can enjoy this drive in a sturdy car but to get a more exiting ride one should take a jeep. The three usual reserves have the Nalsarovar Lake and Sanctuary which is the home to several water-birds, the Little Rann of Kutch which is home of the Indian wild ass and the fascinating Flamingo Island which is render the state of Gujarat and a virtual haven for wildlife buffs.
One can see some extra ordinary splendid wildlife reserves in the state of Gujrat. The sanctuary is a gift to Gujarat which is in South west India which has its beauty in land surface which is rugged with low hills and the vegetation contains of mixed deciduous. The beauty of the place stands with the teaks here and Acacia Jamun, Tendu and Dhak trees and with large patches of grassland. The trees are sparse and sunted on the hills.
Out of the main three seasons summer is the longest here when the average minimum temperature is about 10°C with a maximum temperature of 45°C. The hottest months considered here are April and May. It is a relief to hot summer with an entry of monsoon in the middle June and September. The maximum rainfall recorded till now is 1866 mm and minimum being 199mm. At times of being less rainfall the water always remain a critical factor for the forest. At times it becomes necessary to fulfill this requirement of water in waterholes through water tankers from outside. And the staff has to maintain 350 of such waterholes.
Till the time Indian government had banned on killing of lions in 1955 the area covered till that time was much bigger. Within the three years time the area came around to 2,560 sq.km when the estimated Lion population came to 287. After that there was a reduction in the forest was to 1,452 sq.km in 1965. Gir fores was declared as a sanctuary in 1975, part of this sanctuary was declared as National Park. Once this protection program was started the population of lions increased to 300 in 1995 which was earlier 177 in 1974.
The main territories outside Gir in Gujarat are Nagwa Beach in Diu, Sutrapada, Palitana, Mahuva, Savarkundla, Mitiyala, Keshod, Maliya Hatina, and Girnar.
It was established on 18 th September 1965. Initially it was declared as Forest Reserve whose main aim was to conserve the Asiatic lion.
To reach the place by air the nearest airport is Keshod Airport, Kathiawar (Saurashtra) Peninsula which is 90 km from the sanctuary. There is a forests rest house also located in the headquartes of Sasan sanctuary. The place is a mixed deciduous type of forest with teak, ber, flame of the forest, jamun, there are a variety of acacia, particularly babul. It is a hilly place with a lots of rivers. Visitors can enjoy a drive through the thick forest cover.
Since 1884 Gir National Park is the only home for Asiatic lion which is specific to this forest only. There were approximately 239 lions. The Asiatic lions are smaller than African lions. The male Asiatic lions of the Gir are quiet sight to behold.
The best time to see these big cats is early morning an evening with natural surroundings when these lions go in search of their prey. To view this pride of lions on hunt the forest department arranges lion shows on every Sunday. The trips who go out to watch this are accompanied by guides so that they can watch the scene closely.
There are other animasl also that can be seen in the sanctuary chinkara, wild boar, striped hyena, jackal, common langur, porcupine, hare, black buck. There are more than 200 different types of bird here which have peafowl, grey partridge, Bonelli's eagle, crested serpent eagle, jungle bush quail, painted sandgrouse, common green pigeon and several species of doves. On the river sides one can easily take a look at marsh crocodile. Mainly in the lake of Kamaleshwar dam which is home place for these crocodiles. The sanctuary also includes a crocodile breeding farm.
The Gir National park is also a part of the history and ancient stories. One can talk about the temples which are of ancient times like Kanaki Mata and Tulsishyam which is a place of pilgrimage with hot springs.
The forest also gets herders for domestic animals. The Madharis who bring their buffaloes and they form a substantial part meal for lion's here. The Madharis are herders here and are very hospitable. There lifestyle has also changed over years and their local traditions are unique example of existing of human and lions together. One can have a great look at the Gir wildlife by driving around the forest. The best enjoyable drives are from Sasan to the places like Baval Chowk and Kankai, Chodavdi and Tulsishyam, and Kamaleshwar dam. One can enjoy this drive in a sturdy car but to get a more exiting ride one should take a jeep. The three usual reserves have the Nalsarovar Lake and Sanctuary which is the home to several water-birds, the Little Rann of Kutch which is home of the Indian wild ass and the fascinating Flamingo Island which is render the state of Gujarat and a virtual haven for wildlife buffs.
One can see some extra ordinary splendid wildlife reserves in the state of Gujrat. The sanctuary is a gift to Gujarat which is in South west India which has its beauty in land surface which is rugged with low hills and the vegetation contains of mixed deciduous. The beauty of the place stands with the teaks here and Acacia Jamun, Tendu and Dhak trees and with large patches of grassland. The trees are sparse and sunted on the hills.
Out of the main three seasons summer is the longest here when the average minimum temperature is about 10°C with a maximum temperature of 45°C. The hottest months considered here are April and May. It is a relief to hot summer with an entry of monsoon in the middle June and September. The maximum rainfall recorded till now is 1866 mm and minimum being 199mm. At times of being less rainfall the water always remain a critical factor for the forest. At times it becomes necessary to fulfill this requirement of water in waterholes through water tankers from outside. And the staff has to maintain 350 of such waterholes.
Till the time Indian government had banned on killing of lions in 1955 the area covered till that time was much bigger. Within the three years time the area came around to 2,560 sq.km when the estimated Lion population came to 287. After that there was a reduction in the forest was to 1,452 sq.km in 1965. Gir fores was declared as a sanctuary in 1975, part of this sanctuary was declared as National Park. Once this protection program was started the population of lions increased to 300 in 1995 which was earlier 177 in 1974.
The main territories outside Gir in Gujarat are Nagwa Beach in Diu, Sutrapada, Palitana, Mahuva, Savarkundla, Mitiyala, Keshod, Maliya Hatina, and Girnar.