The short answer
Gir Serai – IHCL SeleQtions: what visitors should know first
Book this if you want a comfortable, well-run base close to the safari gate with its own jeeps and driver, rather than a sprawling resort experience; the 29 rooms keep it intimate. Non-guests with a meal reservation can also visit for lunch or dinner.
History and context
The story behind Gir Serai – IHCL SeleQtions
The property operated for many years as The Gateway Hotel Gir Forest, part of the Taj group's Gateway brand, before being repositioned under IHCL's SeleQtions collection as Gir Serai. Many booking platforms still reference the earlier name alongside the current one.
Useful facts
Gir Serai – IHCL SeleQtions facts at a glance
- Location
- Banks of the Hiran River, near Sasan Gir village
- Stay style
- 29-room nature retreat, part of Taj's IHCL SeleQtions
- Location trade-off
- A short drive, not a walk, from the main permit gate
- Best suited to
- Guests wanting hotel-arranged safaris and full service
- Origins
- Formerly The Gateway Hotel Gir Forest
- Operator
- IHCL (Taj group), under the SeleQtions brand
Why it matters
Why Gir Serai – IHCL SeleQtions is worth your time
Gir Serai represents the more established, full-service end of accommodation in Sasan Gir, backed by the Taj group's hospitality standards rather than the area's many smaller independent lodges and resorts. Its riverside setting on the Hiran, the same river that feeds Kamleshwar Dam downstream, ties the property directly into the forest's core water system rather than simply sitting near it.
The hotel's own safari vehicles and drivers also matter practically: for travellers nervous about navigating the permit system or finding a reliable guide independently, having this arranged by the hotel removes one of the more confusing parts of planning a Gir visit.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Hotel-run safari jeeps
Two private open-top vehicles with experienced local drivers are available for guests, simplifying safari logistics considerably.
- 02
A riverside setting
Rooms and gardens sit directly on the Hiran River, the same waterway that feeds Kamleshwar Dam within the sanctuary.
- 03
A compact, personal scale
With only 29 rooms, the property avoids the sprawl of some larger resort-style hotels nearby.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Gir Serai sits directly on the banks of the Hiran River, a short drive from the main Sasan Gir permit gate, in a 29-room property that was long known as The Gateway Hotel Gir Forest before its rebranding under the Taj group's IHCL SeleQtions collection. The scale is deliberately modest compared with some of Gujarat's larger resort hotels, which keeps the grounds easy to navigate and the service personal.
A genuine point of difference here is that the hotel runs its own open-top jeeps with experienced local drivers for safaris into the park, rather than leaving every guest to arrange transport and a guide independently through the general permit system. Rooms and suites open onto garden or pool views, and the property includes a spa, fitness centre and swimming pool, useful for the long gaps between a morning and afternoon safari.
For non-guests, the easiest way to see the property is a restaurant booking, which gives a sense of the riverside setting and gardens without committing to a stay, though the hotel's safari arrangements are really the main reason most guests choose it over other options in Sasan.
Plan with confidence
Before you book the room.
- Book safari slots through the hotel in advance if you want to use its own vehicles
- Reserve a restaurant table ahead if visiting as a non-guest
- Pack for both cold safari mornings and warm midday pool time
- Confirm current rates and inclusions directly with the hotel or IHCL
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- On the banks of the Hiran River, near Sasan Gir village
- Time needed
- A few hours for a non-guest meal; a full stay for guests
- Best time
- Cooler months, October to February, to make the most of the gardens and pool
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- Grounds are level and compact given the modest 29-room size, with a swimming pool, fitness centre and spa on-site, and no long walks between facilities. The hotel's own jeeps and drivers for safaris remove the need to arrange a separate vehicle.
- Tickets and access
- There is no general entry ticket; non-guests need a restaurant reservation to visit for a meal. Guests should book safari slots through the hotel in advance, since its own vehicles are a distinguishing feature of a stay here.
Best for
Plan it with
Book with confidence
Check rates at Gir Serai – IHCL SeleQtions
Compare room types, cancellation terms and breakfast before you book. Ask for a ground-floor or lift-access room if anyone finds stairs hard.
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Travelling with parents?
Grounds are level and compact given the modest 29-room size, with a swimming pool, fitness centre and spa on-site, and no long walks between facilities. The hotel's own jeeps and drivers for safaris remove the need to arrange a separate vehicle.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Is Gir Serai the same as The Gateway Hotel Gir Forest?
Yes, it is the same property, rebranded under the Taj group's IHCL SeleQtions collection; many booking sites still show the earlier name.
Can I visit Gir Serai without staying there?
Yes, with a restaurant reservation, which lets you see the riverside grounds and gardens over a meal.
Does the hotel arrange safaris?
Yes, it operates its own jeeps with experienced local drivers for guests, in addition to the standard forest department permit system.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.