Barda Wildlife Sanctuary

Barda Wildlife Sanctuary is a 192.31 sq km protected forest spread across the Barda Hills near Ranavav in Porbandar district, Gujarat, about 15 km from Porbandar city. Notified in 1979, it features hilly terrain, dry deciduous forests, and seasonal rivers. Known for its diverse flora and fauna including leopards, hyenas, and as a proposed second home for Asiatic lions, it offers nature trails, wildlife viewing and the historic Kileshwar temple within its core.

Visitors can expect a hilly, forested landscape with dry deciduous scrub, grasslands and seasonal streams spread across the Barda Hills. The sanctuary offers jeep safaris and guided nature trails through forest tracks where spotted deer, blue bull, jackal, hyena, leopard and diverse birds can be sighted. Inside the forest is the Kileshwar Mahadev Temple and small water bodies. Facilities are basic and the terrain is rugged, providing a quiet nature and wildlife viewing experience rather than developed tourist infrastructure.

Notified as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1979 under the Wildlife Protection Act, comprising former princely state forests of Ranavav and Jamnagar. The Barda Hills have historical associations with the Jethwa and Jamnagar princely states and contain the historic Kileshwar Mahadev Temple. The sanctuary was later identified and developed as the alternative site for the reintroduction of Asiatic lions from Gir Forest.

The sanctuary encloses the Kileshwar Mahadev Temple, a revered Shiva temple visited by pilgrims, especially during Maha Shivratri. The Barda Hills are locally significant for their traditional grazing lands and medicinal plants used by nearby communities.