The Rich History and Culture of Gir National Park

Gir National Park is a wild place in Gujarat that is famous because of the sightings of Asiatic Lions. Before coming here, know about the history and culture of this park so that you can experience the true feel of the area.

History of Sasan Gir

The Devalia Safari Park which is a part of Gir National Park was acknowledged back in 1975. Gir is the only national park in India, where the Asiatic Lions can be seen in their natural habitat. This area was ruled by the Britishers, Kings, and Nawabs before India’s freedom but the Sasan Gir maintained its charisma. This park was protected and saved from disappearing by the Nawab of the princely state of Junagarh in the early 20th century.

Gir National Park is the only place on earth besides Africa where people can see the Majestic Asiatic Lions in their real and natural homes along with the diverse variety of birds and small animals. There is a tribe living inside the forest which is known as Maldharis. It is a significant dilemma for the Maldharis to save the livestock that is often preyed upon by lions. The hyena and panthers are the two predators of them. Many animals can also be found here such as the long-tailed langur, bear, Sambar, Chowsingha, Chital, Indian Deer, Chinkara, Nilgai, and many others.

This wild place which is known as Gir National Park is the final earthly home to the majestic Asiatic Lions and it is the Lion Sanctuary snuggled in Gujarat’s Kathiawad peninsula. More than 300 Asiatic Lions call this place their home which are one of the world’s most endangered species and is on the verge of extinction before this park was made. This park is a major tourist attraction of Gujarat and around 60,000 tourists visit this scenic park every year.

Culture of Sasan Gir

If you’re coming to Gujarat then your trip would be unsuccessful without visiting this scenic park. A visit to this park is a must when paying a visit to this beautiful state. This place has a diverse culture and a visit to Sasan Gir will provide you with a whole lot of memories and thrill. You can explore the culture of this place in the well-portrayed traditional customs, art, cuisine, and architecture. People can see a beautiful blend of way of life, modern tradition as well as tribal culture at this place. The Residents of Sirvan village of this area are Siddhi. The Siddhis of the nearby village pursue some indigenous traditions except the Damal Dance, which is a derivative of Africa’s Ngoma drumming and dance genre.

One of the scenic sights that one should visit in this area is the Kamleshwar Dam. This is built over one of the seven rivers and this scenic Dam passes through the Gir forest housing the crocodiles. Some of the other places that can be visited near this wild park include Somnath Temple, Kankai Temple, Tulsi Shyam Temple, Mandvi Beach, Diu, Kutch, Junagarh, Dwarka, and the Girnar Hills.