World famous Gir sanctuary reopens after four-month vacation

Junagadh, 16 October, 2011

Junagadhs’ famous Gir sanctuary reopened today with completion of four-month long vacation period during which tourists are not allowed to visit the national park area.

Last year one lakh tourists including 1200 foreign tourists visited Gir jungle adding Rs 1.07 crore revenue to forest department. This year at the onset of new season, district collector called a meeting of local hotel and resort managers to instruct them that they should provide good accommodation and service on viable rates and should work for good image of this tourist destination. The meeting was organized in Talala Mamlatdar office and was attended by hotel, resort, farm house owners and managers from Sasan, Bhalchhel, Chitrod, Gir and Bhojade areas of Gir.

Every year during monsoon, the sanctuary is closed for tourists as it tends to be a matting period for this Asiatic lions that are found only in Gir in the world.