Who's been to India

[Wolverine]

(03-12-2019, 10:44 PM)Lycaon Wrote: Are you allowed to do a self drive to gir national park . I have been thinking for some time now to visit it .

Based on my own experience 25 years ago they will on first place offer you to visit so called "Devalia interpretation zone" - a stupid place, kind of safari park where they will explain you "you can see lions and many other animals and plants typical for Gir forest that's way there is no need to visit the Gir forest itself"..... Since I was persistent to see the Gir forest itself the admin told us to wait in town of Sasan (on the entrance of the park) for some trucks for tourist to come. We waited 1-2 days, the trucks were not coming, wait 3-4 days - no any trucks again. I was stucked in Sasan and got bored, so in the 5th day (again no trucks) I decided to take the action in my own hands walking in the forest myself (basically illegally). Every morning I followed the old railway crossing the forest for about an hour and than followed a small river bad also about an hour. Finally I saw 2 male lions from about 10 meters distance (got totally scared), a leopard from 30-40 meters (Gir is probably the best place outside Sri Lanka to watch spotted cats) and countless number of peacocks, every evening the forest is vibrating by their voices.

For sure Gir forest is a majestic place one must see, unique place. My experience is obsolete (before 2 decades) so hopefully the transportation is much better today, but I think still the local forest authorities are not very enthusiastic about massive tourist visits and prefer to send the visitors to Devalia zone. See what is written in wiki:
"Gir National Park and Sanctuary does not have a designated area for tourists. However, to reduce the tourism hazard to the wildlife and to promote nature education, an Interpretation Zone has been created at Devalia within the sanctuary. Within its chained fences, it covers all habitat types and wildlife of Gir with its feeding-cum-living cages for the carnivores and a double-gate entry system. "
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gir_National_Park

So, @Lycaon in case of problems with transportation never forget about the old railway crossing the forest I mentioned above. Reply