The Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is located about 65 kms to the south-east of Junagadh city of the Junagadh district in the kathiawar peninsula of Gujarat state, India. Established in 1965, it has a total area of 1412 km squares in which 258 km square area comes under “fully protected area” and 1153 km square area is for the Sanctuary. It is basically a hilly tract of dry deciduous forests, acacia scrub, evergreen and semi-evergreen flora and grasslands, fed by rivers and streams. But it is mainly famous of the only remaining place in the world, where one is likely to see the pure Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica). At present there are nearly 300 lions in the park.

Within the sanctuary, there are numerous human settlements of cattle herders called Maldharis with an estimated 20,000 head of livestock (which, incidentally, forms a significant part of the Lion’s diet). There are also places of Hindu worship and pilgrimage and sulphur springs at Tulsi Shyam and Kankai Mata. The edges of the Gir National Park have good population of Indian Gazelle, protected by religious sentiments of the local people.

Apart from Wildlife attractions and Safaris in Gir National Park you can also enjoy the tribal village visit and historic town of Junagadh. A couple of tribes still reside inside the park co-existing with the wild animals. A visit to these tribal villages is an interesting experience that introduces the visitors to the unique lifestyle and ways of living of the tribal people.

Places of importance and interest in the historic town of Junagadh are: