National
Parks in India
Gir Wildlife Park

Located
in the south west of the Saurashtra peninsula, the Gir National Park is a
haven to about 300 Asiatic lions. The 1,412.13 sq. km. Park has a rugged
terrain and the steep rocky hillsides are covered in mixed deciduous forests
There are teak, ber, and flame of the forest and banyan trees. Streams
run through the deep ravines.
The lions, a smaller more compact
version of their African cousins, are best viewed at dawn or dusk when they
are on the move.
Gir also has nearly 210 leopards and numerous
chital, nilgai, chinkara, the four homed antelope and wild boar. Marsh
crocodiles are often seen along its rivers.

The
forest is rich in bird life and the paradise flycatcher black headed cuckoo
shrike woodpecker, Bonelli's eagle, crested serpent eagle, painted sand
grouse, bush quail and grey partridge are among the variety that is found
here. Three unusual reserves, the Nalsarovar Lake and Sanctuary where large
numbers of water-birds can be seen; the bare saline flats of the Rann of
Kutch, incredibly the home of the Indian wild ass and the spectacular
Flamingo Island where nesting colonies of flamingoes are to be seen, make
Gujarat an exciting place for wildlife enthusiasts.
General
Information : Best Time to Visit : December- Mid- June (Closed
during Monson till mid October).
Nearest Town : Veraval (42 km)
How
to Get Here : Air : Keshod (86 km)
Rail : Sasan Gir (1km)