A holiday in a Forest of Gir in Gujarat is a treat in itself

India is a wonderful land of great jungles and endemic beautiful wildlife. From north to south and from east to west the country has thickets of dense forests and jungles. Nature has showered the best of its gifts on India as is evident from the rich growth of fauna and flora all year round in every corner of the country. A lot of international visitors pay a visit to the country by catching their flights to India from USA.

One such corner in the western part of India is the Gir forest area in Gujarat. Gir forest area is famed worldwide and is a household name, but little does everyone know that it also makes a great offbeat destination. The first thing that comes to mind when hearing of Gir is the majestic Asiatic lion which is endemic to only Gir jungle. Not a trace of lions is to be found in the rest of the continent. The Gir is the only home to Asiatic lions in the world. Furthermore, lions are found only in Africa and the Gir worldwide.

When in Gir there is an assortment of activities to choose from. A wide range of things and activities to do awaits you if you happen to catch your flights to India from USA to visit Gir.

Here is a list of a few of the activities and things to do in the Gir forest area. The GIr truly offers a splendid getaway this holiday season.

Gir national park

This place is also known as Sasan, Gir. the Gir national park is the chief mascot of the tour. This is the core of all the activities on your trip. The park engulfs in it a unique landscape comprising of hills, plateaus, sharp ridges, and portions of 7 major rivers of the region like Hiran, Raval, Datardi, etc. the Gir park is home to 400 species of fauna and 2300 species of flora. One can spot several animals that include lions, chinkara, nilgai, hyena, pythons, tawny eagle, crocodiles, Malabar whistling thrush, etc. but the main attraction always remains the lion. The park is also home to rare tree species like kalam, the flame of the forest, Charal, Sirius, etc. A lot of international visitors book their last minute flights to reach the Gir at the earliest.

The park also houses a crocodile breeding center. While taking a detour by the iconic Gir lion safari, don’t forget to take note of crocodiles. Watch them as closely as you can. There is a souvenir shop in the park where you can buy local handicrafts and fabrics.

Kamleshwar dam

It is the most beautiful water body in Gir located inside the Sasan-Gir park. The lake is on the Hiran river and is the prominent source of water supply for the region. It is heaven for nature lovers, especially during sunsets. Moreover, the place serves as a rearing site for crocodiles and is frequented by migratory birds. It becomes a paradise for bird watchers during winter. Lastly, individuals can enjoy this beautiful mini getaway with friends and family.

Uparkot fort

The fort is believed to have been built by Chandragupta in 319 BC. It is renowned for its impregnable structure that protected Junagadh from invaders for 12 long years. There are caves near and beneath the fort built during the 2nd to 4th century AD. the beautiful paintings and pillars allure people from far wide and across. The major attraction of the fort is 300 feet long moat that also houses crocodiles.

It is one of the few remaining moats in India. The fort also houses the temples of Ganesh, hanuman, and shakti and engravings from the ancient rulers of Uparkot. The fort is so strategic and impregnable that it survived numerous siege attempts in the past. Other important architectural sites in the area are Baba Pyara caves, Navghan Kuvo, Buddhist caves, and Adi-kadi vav. Book international flight tickets online with Flyopedia for your India trip to immerse richly in the flavors of this great fort of Gujarat.

Girnar hills

It is not only lions that are the major attraction of Gir but also the Girnar hills. The hills offer many trekking opportunities. The main and highest hillock of Girnar bears spiritual importance right from the days of Mohenjo-Daro. The hillock attracts many Hindu and Jain pilgrims who come here to seek blessing. The views from atop the hillock are breathtaking.

There is a famous 10000-step trek to the top of the mountain and there are many temples on the way such as Dattatreya, Kamadulu Kund, and Sri Ambaji temple. On the 9999th step, you can pay homage to Dattatreya Paduka, an ancient temple en route. Flights to India from USA are now available at the cheapest prices from Flyopedia for this year’s holiday in Girnar.

Durbar hall museum

It is the city palace of Uparkot and one of the most important historical places to visit in Gir Gujarat. The museum holds a collection of paintings, costumes, silver articles, thrones, and tapestries. The major attraction of the museum is the beautiful carpet woven in the Junagadh jail. Unique antiques in the museum give a tinge and flavor of the erstwhile Nawabi style. Here, one can browse through many paintings from the royal galleries. Times become constant when visiting this museum as the artifacts and things take back the person to a different era. The shots of the movie 1920 London were shot right here in this museum. Check Flyopedia.ca for flight offers from Canada to India.

So this was the comprehensive list of the places you can visit when around the Gir for holidays.