National Bullock Cart Trekking Program in GIR

This is 1st national trek in Gujarat, organized by YHAI.

YHAI its celebrating 100 years of youth hostels internationally & 60 yrs in India.

To promote enviorment conservation it has organized eco-friendly trekking programme.

It would be an amazing experience to be the guest in the only home to the Great Asiatic Lions.

Participants would also experience the culture of rural india & the slow, simple & yet so comfortable life.

Besides Lions, the Gir Sanctuary region is also famous for its vast forest area which is spread over in 1412 sq. kms. 


more information just click the link below :

http://yhaindia.org/files/adv_programs/description/BULLOCKGUJARAT.html

or contact:

on 98254 33144

Gir nominates fourth in 7 wonders of India - Gujarat episode

A national series about rediscovery of wonders from all around India, '7 Wonders of India', is NDTV channel initiative. As name suggests, it gives chance to highlight wonders across the country to not only citizens of India, but also to the millions of tourists who come every year to make their dream-visit to Incredible India!

In this series they started to roam around all the states of India to explore heritage sites to national parks, natural marvels to magnificent architecture, from most famous to quite unknown ones. Bringing all of them together, to the big number of spectators...

Junagadh, proudly made it's place in Gujarat series with two of it's major attractions, which makes literally millions of tourists to visit them every year, namely...

1) The Junagadh Fort...

&

2) The Gir Asiatic Lion Sanctuary...

However, marvels are scattered throughout not only only India, but in Gujarat itself as well, giving each nominee a tough competition. This led to selection of Gir Sanctuary of these nominees. The video below shows final 7 grand tourist attractions of Gujarat, with Gir proudly standing at fourth place!

This blog, it's authors, supports & all Junagadh lovers heartily convey their wishes that Gir to make its place for national final 7 spectacles as well!

Gir Santuary reopens - Tourist Season 2008-09

Gir National park is the only natural ebode left for Asiatic Lions. It is situated in a western-most state of India - Gujarat & is just 65 kms away in south-east of the district headquarters - Junagadh. Gir has achieved first position among National Parks & Sanctuaries all over India this year. It gets most of the tourist flow from foreign countries, being on top priorities on anyone's list who visit India.

Every year Gir National Park gets closed for tourists during four month long monsoon period, being it the breeding period for the very few left of the Asiatic Lions. Thus, this gives optimum time for the wildlife to flourish during monsoon & thus, tourists can savour the beauty of the only habitat of Asiatic Lions all over the world, as its gates are reopened.

This year Gir National Park (incl. Devalia Park for Safari) getting opened as per schedule on 16th October 2008, Thursday. However, the issues with roads affected by heavy showers lately this monsoon season is also been under consideration by authorities. Though, these areas are not on the main routes for Safari or forest trips, but still, authorities assured the issues would be settled before the tourist season for year 2008-09 takes pace. They are also aware of the rise in number of tourists right after the festival of Mount Girnar Parikrama (a sacred trek of 35 kms around the mountain) & thus, taking the event as their deadline.

Similar reading : http://girasiaticlion.blogspot.com/2008/10/gir-reopens-for-tourists.html

For more on Asiatic Lions, pl visit : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiatic_Lions

For more on Gir Sanctuary, pl visit : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gir_Forest_National_Park

For more on these in local language, pl read : http://www.sandesh.com/sandesh_article.aspx?newsid=20261

Gir prooves itself king of Tourism in Gujarat

The following information is originally an article by the leading newspaper Times of India.

(Article link (courtesy) : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ahmedabad/Gir_is_lion_of_all_sanctuaries/articleshow/3561630.cms)

"...Of four national parks and 22 sanctuaries in Gujarat, Gir in Junagadh and Nal Sarovar in Ahmedabad district top the popularity charts among visitors. The state tourism department seems to have failed to market sanctuaries in other parts.

According to official data, Gir Asiatic lion forest reserve alone has attracted 66 per cent of tourists in Gujarat and over 80 per cent of total foreign tourists visiting the state. Officials said that if the data of Nal Sarovar and Thol bird sanctuaries and Gir are put together, other sanctuaries in the state have just attracted seven per cent of the domestic tourists visiting Gujarat for wildlife tourism.

Forest officials say that the only reason why there are not many visitors at other sanctuaries is lack of infrastructure and not many people are aware that these exist.

Besides, the Devalia interpretation zone for Asiatic Lions and Sasan Gir fall in the pilgrim circuit of Somnath and Diu, for those wishing a boozing break. Officials also say that Sasan Gir is a hot favourite among Amdavadis. "Rest of the sanctuaries are isolated and it is only nature lovers from the state who visit these sanctuaries."

Bharat Pathak, conservator of forests (Junagadh) says, "A detailed analysis is required. But the immediate reasons are the popularity and good infrastructure in Sasan Gir. The other attractions are also the large variety of birds found here."

It is notable that the number of tourists to Gir is increasing every year. Which was stupendous 15% hike last year!

Read more in local language :

http://www.sandesh.com/sandesh_article.aspx?newsid=20841

If curious, here is a nice resource on Asiatic Lions & Gir :

http://girforestguide.blogspot.com/

The Sakkar-baug Zoo

The sakkarbaug zoo is ranked 4th all over india. It is one of the zoos throughout India where the ASIATIC LIONS are bred purely, means that pure gene pool of asiatic lions is maintained, Whereas other zoos of the world produces lions with a mix gene pool of african and asian lions.

Apart from LIONS, many more animals are found in the zoo. Tigers, Leopards, Bears, Jungle cats are the mammals found. Reptiles include crocodile, venoumous and nonvenomous snakes, indian monitor lizard etc.

A vide variety of birds are also preserved. 3 species of vultures also found and within 4 monts, a breeding centre will b set up in the zoo for vultures.

Presenting : Girnar Sanctuary!!

All the Asiatic lion fans & conservationists, its party-time out here...

...'cause yesterday, Gujrat State Forest and Environment Dept. Secy Mr. S. K. Nanda has conveyed that the state govt. is committed for the conservation of Asiatic Lions. As to show the willingness isn't just a tiger (or lion!) of paper, the govt. has declared a package of Rs. 40 crore to develop the declared sanctuary area, a total of 180 sq km of Girnar Forest range as Girnar Sanctuary!

Earlier in 2004, govt. has also declared Mitiyala forest range as sanctuary area. Now sum-up with Girnar Sanctuary, the total sanctuary area for lions available will now increase to 1640 sq km!

It's notable here that, in fact earlier, the world-famous Gir forest was spreaded till Junagadh & was attached to Girnar range. With little bad-times in between, the two in question got separated due to human activities. Though, as response to good efforts of conservation in Gir, the number of lions shoot up day by day. Proving all the theories of ecological niche & survival, the lions came out to find suitable habitat themselves. With occasional conflicts to human interests, some of them has been settled very well in Girnar range in last some of the years. The decision of Govt. can thus be called wisely & timely taken for sure, raising hopes to nurture them better with yet another shelter after Gir.

Also, this is great help on issues of transferring (shifting) some of the lions outside Gir (to prevent inter-breeding, area-shortage & frequent conflicts among pride) to potentials like Baradaa hills (Porbandar dist.), Velavadar Sanctuary (Bhavnagar dist.) and others incl. well-disputed Kuno Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.

All in all, would be even greater help if govt. think & act over seriously, to create patches of sanctuaries nearby like this & create corridors for safe movements. After all, its seen here only, that lions & humans can live friendly!

Google Map showing Mount Girnar Range Forest area; On left, Junagadh city

also check : http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1164481