Updated 3 November 2026
- Permits are issued online only, on the Gujarat Forest Department portal
- Core park closed 16 June to 15 October; Devalia Safari Park is usually open
- Booking opens three months ahead; up to six people per permit
- Sasan Gir is about 60–65 km from Junagadh
Gir is the only natural home of the Asiatic lion, and it lies roughly an hour and a half from Girnar. A safari there is easy to add to a pilgrimage, if you plan the permit before the road.
What Gir is
Gir National Park and the surrounding sanctuary protect the Asiatic lion, which lives in the wild only here. The sanctuary was set up in 1965 and a core area was declared a national park in 1975. Lion numbers have risen from under 200 in the late 1960s to 674 at the 2020 census, up from 523 in 2015; check the forest department for any newer count.
Permits are online only
All jungle safari permits are issued online through the official portal, girlion.gujarat.gov.in; there is no gate-side booking. Booking opens three months before the date and closes two hours before the safari. A permit allows up to six people per vehicle, you must carry photo ID, and online bookings are non-refundable. Guide and vehicle fees are paid locally at the reception centre.
When it is open
- Core safari closed: 16 June to 15 October every year, for the monsoon and the animals’ breeding season.
- Devalia Safari Park: a fenced part of the sanctuary near Sasan, generally open through the year (Thursday to Tuesday) with more reliable sightings but a more managed experience.
- Peak season: December to March, when permits sell out weeks ahead.
- Hot months: April and May are uncomfortable but animals gather near water, so sightings can be good.
Getting there from Junagadh
Sasan is about 60 to 65 km south-east of Junagadh; allow about an hour and a half by road. Many visitors leave Bhavnath Taleti in the dark for an early safari, return for lunch and rest, and keep the next morning for the Girnar climb.
Making it work with a pilgrimage
- Book the safari permit first, then fix the rest of the trip around it.
- Do not schedule the Girnar climb and a safari on the same day.
- Carry ID for everyone named on the permit.
- Read our month-by-month note to choose between comfort and sightings.
Where to sleep
Triloknath Ashram at Bhavnath Taleti suits pilgrims who want a quiet base for both Girnar and Gir. See the rooms or call +91 96274 27283.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book a Gir safari?
Only online, through girlion.gujarat.gov.in, up to three months ahead, with photo ID for each passenger.
When is Gir closed?
The core park is closed from 16 June to 15 October each year.
How far is Gir from Junagadh?
About 60 to 65 km, roughly an hour and a half by road.
Can I visit Gir in the monsoon?
The core jungle safari is closed, but Devalia Safari Park is generally open.
More from the notebook
Planning a stay near Girnar?
Ring the office for rooms and dates at Bhavnath Taleti.
+91 96274 27283