About Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary
Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected forest area covering about 178.87 sq km around the Girnar hill range near Junagadh, Gujarat. Notified in 2008, it forms an important habitat and corridor for Asiatic lions dispersing from Gir National Park. The sanctuary features dry deciduous forests, rugged hills and diverse wildlife including lions, leopards, deer and birds, alongside the sacred Girnar Hill pilgrimage complex.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a dry deciduous forest landscape surrounding the Girnar hill range with rugged terrain, scrub and teak forests. The sanctuary offers jeep safaris and guided nature trails for wildlife viewing, birdwatching and photography. Visitors can see Asiatic lions, leopards, spotted deer, antelopes and diverse birdlife, and explore the foothills of the sacred Girnar Hill with temple clusters visible on the peaks.
Key highlights
- 01
Important habitat and corridor for Asiatic lions outside Gir National Park
- 02
Diverse wildlife including leopards, spotted deer, sambar, chinkara and over 300 bird species
- 03
Scenic Girnar hill range with dry deciduous forest and rugged terrain
- 04
Proximity to sacred Girnar Hill Jain temples and Dattatreya shrine
- 05
Jeep safari and trekking opportunities through forested trails
History of Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary
Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary was notified on 31 May 2008 with an area of 178.87 sq km to protect the Girnar forest ecosystem and provide a secure corridor for Asiatic lions. The Girnar hills have a long history with Jain temples dating to the 10th-12th centuries and earlier, and Ashokan rock edicts at the foothills dating to 3rd century BCE.
Culture & Context
The Girnar hills enclosed by the sanctuary are a major pilgrimage centre for Hindus and Jains. The hill hosts a cluster of Jain temples on its peaks and the Dattatreya shrine at the summit, attracting thousands of pilgrims annually, especially during the Girnar Parikrama festival.
Route
| By air |
|---|