Experiences in Sasan Gir
- 01
Crocodile Breeding Centre, Sasan
A small conservation facility near the Sasan Gir permit gate that breeds and rears mugger crocodiles, with rearing ponds holding everything from hatchlings to adults. A quick, easy stop between safaris.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Any time during opening hours; late morning or afternoon suits a gap between safari slots
- Tickets
- There is a modest entry fee, payable at the centre; it is usually visited independently of the main safari permit system, so you do not need a jungle safari booking to come here.
- 02
Devalia Safari Park (Gir Interpretation Zone)
A 412-hectare fenced section of Gir forest where lions, leopards and deer live in a large, naturalistic enclosure. It gives a far higher chance of seeing a lion at close range than the main sanctuary, in a shorter visit.
- Time needed
- 45–75 minutes for the bus or jeep circuit
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon slots, when animals are more active and the light is softer
- Tickets
- Entry is by timed slot, bookable online or at the gate, with separate bus and jeep options; jeep safaris cost considerably more than the shared bus. Timings shift between winter and summer, so confirm the current slots on the official site before you go.
Read the Devalia Safari Park (Gir Interpretation Zone) guide →
- 03
Gir National Park Safari (Gir Jungle Trail)
An open-jeep drive through dry teak forest in the only place on earth where wild Asiatic lions survive. Mornings are the main event of a Sasan Gir trip, and most visitors do two or three before they feel satisfied.
- Time needed
- About 3 hours door to door, including briefing, travel to the zone and the drive itself
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- The first morning slot of the day, year-round; March to mid-June often has the best sightings near waterholes despite the heat
- Tickets
- Safari permits are issued through the Gujarat Forest Department's official online booking system for fixed morning and afternoon slots, with a registered guide compulsory in every vehicle. Book as early as possible; winter weekends and holiday periods sell out well in advance.
Read the Gir National Park Safari (Gir Jungle Trail) guide →
Day trips in Sasan Gir
- 04
Diu Fort & Nagoa Beach
A 16th-century Portuguese sea fort guarding a small island off Gujarat's coast, paired with Diu's most popular beach a short drive away. Best treated as an overnight rather than a single long day from Sasan Gir.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours for the fort; a half-day including Nagoa beach
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon for the fort, to avoid the strongest midday sun on open stone ramparts
- Tickets
- There is a modest entry fee for the fort; Nagoa beach is free to visit. Check current road conditions and travel time before committing to a single-day round trip from Sasan Gir, since it is a long drive each way.
- 05
Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary
A small grassland sanctuary of about 18 sq km on Gir's eastern side, where lions and leopards range between Gir and farmland. It is an outlying lion habitat, not a safari destination.
- Time needed
- Half a day including the drive; longer if the forest office arranges a visit
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Winter; summer is dry and hot
- Tickets
- Fees, hours and any permit rules for tourists are not published online; Gujarat Tourism gives conduct rules only. Confirm with the Gujarat Forest Department before travelling, and never enter restricted forest areas to look for lions without permission.
- 06
Pania Wildlife Sanctuary
A dry, hilly sanctuary in Amreli district, notified in 1989 and bordered by Gir on its south and east. Known for chinkara, with lions and leopards passing through.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours on site, plus a long drive
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- October to March; the published season runs October to June
- Tickets
- Fees, daily hours and visitor rules are not published online beyond an October to June season. Contact the Gujarat Forest Department's Gir (East) division office at Dhari before travelling and ask about permission and vehicles.
Temples in Sasan Gir
- 07
Kankai Mata & Banej Temples
A pair of shrines deep inside Gir forest, Kankai Mata and the Banej Mahadev temple, reached only through the sanctuary's restricted interior. They are as much a lesson in the forest's pastoral Maldhari communities as a pilgrimage stop.
- Time needed
- Half a day, including the drive in and out
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Cooler months, October to February; access and permissions should be confirmed in advance regardless of season
- Tickets
- Access to this part of the Gir interior is controlled by the forest department and has periodically been restricted to protect the sanctuary's ecology. Confirm current permission requirements and route conditions locally or with your lodge before planning a visit.
- 08
Tulsishyam Temple & Hot Springs
A Vishnu temple on the southern edge of the Gir forest tract, known for three graduated hot-water kunds fed by natural springs. A combined pilgrimage and curiosity stop for travellers heading toward Una or Diu.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Cooler months for a comfortable stop; the springs are naturally hot year-round
- Tickets
- There is no general entry fee for the temple itself; approach the hottest of the three kunds with care, as the water temperature rises noticeably between each pool, and avoid it if you have any heat-sensitive health condition.
Culture in Sasan Gir
- 09
Jambur Village (Siddi Dhamal)
A small village on the edge of Gir forest where the Siddi community, descendants of East Africans brought to India centuries ago, perform the traditional Dhamal dance. A short, respectful cultural detour rather than a staged show.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- The Dhamal dance is traditionally performed by Siddi men on Fridays; confirm current timing with a local guide before planning around it
- Tickets
- There is no formal entry ticket to the village; visits are best arranged through a local guide or lodge, and any contribution toward a performance should be offered directly and respectfully rather than assumed.
Landmarks in Sasan Gir
- 10
Kamleshwar Dam
A 1959 rock-fill dam on the Hiran River inside Gir forest, often called the lifeline of Gir for the water it holds through the dry months. Its reservoir draws mugger crocodiles and large numbers of waterbirds, especially in winter.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Winter mornings (November to February) for migratory birds; any clear morning for crocodile sightings
- Tickets
- There is no separate ticket for viewing the dam from the roadside viewpoint, though it lies within the sanctuary boundary and is usually visited as part of, or alongside, a booked safari rather than as a standalone entry.
Close enough to combine