Most Popular Wildlife Sanctuaries & National Parks in Gujarat

The princely state of Gujarat has some exotic collections of flora and fauna. The beautiful state is a natural habitat for many rare and endangered species. Further, the National Parks in Gujarat showcase the rich bio-diversity of the entire state in the forms of dry deciduous forests, lush green grasslands, wetlands, and marine ecosystems. It is also home to a sizable population of the Asiatic Lions which are only a few left in India.

So having a unique and rich ecosystem, it is a great destination for the wildlife enthusiast Plain India. Along with wildlife, Gujarat is a popular destination for beach lovers, nature lovers, and spiritual travelers. Here we only discussed the best national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Gujarat for all wildlife lovers.

List of the 7 Famous Wildlife Sanctuaries & National Parks in Gujarat

1. Gir National Park

Gir Forest National Park is famous for its Asiatic Lions which are only a few left in India. Established in the year 1965 with a motive to protect Asiatic Lions, it is popularly known as Sasan Gir. Spread an area of 1412 sq km, it is one of the largest national parks in Gujarat and is also considered a popular wildlife spot in India. Home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, it is also listed as one of the best national parks in India. Apart from Asiatic Lions, some of the popular wildlife animal species that you can spot here such as leopard, chausingha, spotted deer, hyena, sambar deer, and Nilgai.

Further, the national park consists of a wide expanse of thick forest, isolated hills, deep valleys, and lush green grassland. In addition, the park houses 450 species of plants, 32 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, and about 37 species of reptiles. So having such a kind of diverse range of flora and fauna, it is a great place for wildlife enthusiasts in Gujarat. One can also take a jeep safari to explore this park from the closet.

Best Time to Visit: December to April (Closed Mid-June to Mid-October)

2. Marine National Park

Marine National Park in the Gulf of Kutch is one of its kind in India. Established in the year 1982, it is the first marine national park in India and it covers an area of 162 sq km. The park is distributed in 42 scattered islands which is home to different species of aquatic animals such as sponges, sea turtles, finless porpoise, dugong, lobster, dolphin, jelly-fishes, and corals. The Marine National Park was established to protect two major ecosystems namely, mangroves and corals. At present, the park houses around 108 species of algae, 37 species of hard and soft corals, and about 70 species of sponges. It is also home to some endangered species like whale sharks, sea turtles, leatherbacks, and olive ridges. So if you want to observe exotic species of marine life then, it is one of the best national parks in Gujarat.

Best Time to Visit & Entry Fees: October to February, Rs. 150 per person

Must Read: Festivals of Gujarat

3. Barda Hills Wildlife Sanctuary

Located in Porbandar as well as in Jamnagar, Barda Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is known for its exotic range of flora and fauna. Having a wide expanse of dense forests, agriculture fields, wetlands, and medicinal herbs, it is listed as one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in Gujarat. Covering an area of 192 sq km, it is home to rare and endangered species of fauna like Lion, Chinkara, Sambar, crocodile, crested hawk, leopard, hyena, wild boar, wolf, and jackal. The sanctuary lies on the private property of the princely states of Ranavav (Porbandar) and Jamnagar. Further, most of the part of this sanctuary covers a hilly area thus it is an ideal place for trekking.

Best Time to Visit: November to May

4. Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary

Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Great Rann of Kutch in Gujarat about 100 km away from Bhuj. The wildlife sanctuary is spread over an area of 7505.22 sq. km, so it is the largest wildlife sanctuary in India. Encompasses the largest seasonal saline wetland areas, it is one of its kind. Home to a large population of flamingo birds, it is a famous bird watcher paradise in Gujarat. On the other hand, it also has a wide variety of wild animals like hyenas, foxes, wolves, and chinkaras. Some other popular bird species that you can spot here such as Indian porcupine, spiny-tailed lizard, black-necked storks, and Indian cormorant.

Best Time to Visit: October to February

Must Read: Religious Tourism in Gujarat

5. Velavadar National Park

Velavadar National Park also known as Blackbuck National Park is located in the Bhavnagar district of Gujarat. Famous for its sizable population of Blackbucks, it is a popular paradise for birdwatchers. The park also is known for its unique topography which comprises evergreen grasslands to mud flats. Besides that, it is home to some endangered species such as the Indian wolf, Jackal, Indian fox, Jungle cat, Rodents, and wild pigs. Initially, it was declared as a Forest Reserve and later got a status of National Park in the year 1976. Further, the sustained ecological condition of this park makes it a natural habitat for various birds and avifauna species. Moreover, you can’t miss this site in the list of all famous national parks in Gujarat.

Best Time to Visit: November to March

Entry Fees: Rs. 20 for Indians and Rs. 350 for Foreigners

6. Vansda National Park

Situated alongside the Sahyadri mountain ranges in the deciduous forest of Western Ghats, Vansda National Park is one of the most popular wildlife reserves in Gujarat. Spread over an area of 23 sq km, the park boasts a diverse range of flora, fauna, and avifauna species. Further, a beautiful river Ambika also flows throughout the park which offers it a glorious look. Located very close to Waghai town, the park serves as an entry point for the Dang jungles which is a great site for nature lovers.

Apart from that, the surrounding area of this park is inhabited by various local tribes, so you can also get a chance to explore their unique culture and traditions. Apart from wildlife, it is a picture-perfect place for photographers as it is filled up full of natural sightseeing. Popular wildlife species that you can spot at Vansda National Park are Leopard, macaque, wild boar, hyena, spotted deer, Indian porcupine, jungle cat, flying squirrel, etc. Undoubtedly, it is the best tourist destination for wildlife enthusiasts in Gujarat and should not be missed.

Best Time to Visit: November to March

7. Porbandar Bird Sanctuary

Covers an area of 1 sq km, it is the smallest bird sanctuary in Gujarat. Located in the heart of Porbandar around a freshwater lake, the sanctuary attracts lots of migratory birds all around the year. You can see a wide range of local as well as migratory birds here including Flamingoes, whistling teals, gulls, terns, jacanas, ruff, redshanks, pelicans, ducks and geese, avocet, coots, cormorants, herons, etc. With all these species of birds, it is a famous paradise for the birdwatcher in Gujarat. Apart from birdwatching, it is an ideal place for nature lovers and ornithologists.

Best Time to Visit: November to April

These are the most popular wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in Gujarat making it a heaven for the wildlife enthusiast. All these wildlife reserves are famous for their endemic range of flora and fauna. So if you are looking for a perfect wildlife tour in Gujarat then must explore all the above-mentioned sites.

The Sunken City of Dwarka

Founded by Lord Krishna, according to ancient Sanskrit literature, the sunken city of Dwarka holds immense religious and spiritual importance till this date and is also considered to be one of the most important landmarks in the Indian subcontinent. The modern day Dwarka or Dwarika is also one of the ‘Sapta Puri’ making it a prime destination for spirituality and worship allowing people to avail some of the holiday packages to Dwarka. Situated right below the Gulf of Cambay, its historical relevance coincides with the timeline of Mahabharata this holy sunken landscape is also believed to be the very first capital of Gujarat. This underwater site is also one of the best – studied in India and has attracted and garnered a lot of national as well as international attention. The discovery of this holy sunken city has helped immensely in shedding some much needed light on the bygone ‘dark ages’. Not only has these explorations uncovered some helpful secrets but it has also helped the researchers and scientists gather some useful scientific data on the changes in sea levels due to weather change and its adverse effects along with studying the effects on marine life. This entire hidden jewel has been brought to life by skillful marine archeologists, technicians and scientists who pushed their limits to gather this information. The very first archeological excavations at the sunken city of Dwarka were carried out by the Deccan College, Pune and department of archeology in 1963 which revealed numerous ancient artifacts. Ever since then scientists and archeologists have been working tirelessly to acquire more information and details about the sunken city.

These underwater explorations are extremely strenuous and are carried on only during the low tide which also exposes a circular stone structure. The main objective of these excavations and exploration initiatives is to get to know the real age of the site based on the material evidence present in hand. These findings have suggested that Dwarka, during its time it was one of the busiest port centres in India which was confirmed due to the presence of rocks which date back to 9 thousand years. Until recent times the existence of this holy ancient city was considered to be a part of Hindu legend and mythologies however, now, these underwater remains offers some important clues and significant pieces of puzzles in the history of Gujarat.

The legend of Dwarka also includes that this sunken city was the battle field for Krishna and King Salva who had attacked Krishna’s kingdom through a flying machine; this resulted in ruining of the city of Dwarka. Mahabharata mentions Dwarka on several occasions. It says that Dwarka had almost 900,000 royal palaces which were all constructed with precious metals and gems. The entire city was very well connected with boulevards, market places, temples as well as assembly halls which were evident after several underwater expeditions on the sunken city. It is also largely believed that Lord Krishna had summoned Vishwakarma who was the prime architect of the demigods during that age and had created this city in just one day. Some of these discoveries have helped in re developing the idea and picture of urban civilization on Earth. If this sunken city is 9,500 years old then it is definitely older than Sumerian civilization which has been dated several thousand years later. Considered to be one of the greatest archeological mysteries of all time, there is no evidence as to what had exactly happened or what went down on this site. The most common belief is relied on the Hindu epic Mahabharata where post Kurukshetra war the entire city had been completely flooded and submerged by the rough waters of the Arabian Sea. This had occurred when Krishna had left the Earthly realm for Vaikuntha – which is the place of no hindrance. The mythology owes this submergence due to the curse of Queen Gandhari on Krishna whose 99 sons had lost their lives during the war and she had blamed Krishna for not stopping the slaughter. The final underwater excursion was undertaken during the year of 2007 and it had recorded numerous finds which dates back to 1528 BCE or the later Harappan period, however the entire site has still not been completely explored.

Most Popular Festivals of Gujarat

Gujarat is a colorful and vibrant destination filled and has its own unique personality which sets it apart from the rest of the subcontinent. The vivid colors, traditional way of life and a well preserved heritage are what make Gujarat one of the prime tourist destinations in India. If you are looking to visit this quirky and colorful town then the best time would be during the time of festivals when Gujarat tour and travels organizers bring you some of the best offers.

Here are some of the festivals that are celebrated with immense vigor and pride in this city of colors:

Navratri

When people say Gujarat you immediately think about one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India, Navratri. The traditional dance performances like Dandiya and Garba, colorful traditional dressing (Gagra Choli) coupled up with Gujarati music and mouthwatering traditional food complete with the worship of Goddess Durga makes Navratri one of the most awaited festivals in Gujarat as well as the rest of the sub-continent. Celebrated during the month of October, Navratri spans for duration of 9 days where every day Gujarat and the rest of India is covered in glorious colors.

Ran Utsav

The first week of December witnesses the great white salt plains of Rann covered in vibrant colors of decked up camels, turbans and tents. These are set up with an aim of accommodating the thousands of visitors who make their way to this place in order to be a part of the cultural extravaganza of the Gujarati culture and heritage. This festival is a true explosion of colors with traditional food, music, dances which are the highlights of this three days long celebration. People will also be able to enjoy some fun activities which are immersed in the true spirit of Gujarati culture like, camel cart rides, parasailing, dirt biking, meditation, spa centres, dance / musical performances and gaming zones. All this experiences are even elevated due to the surreal backdrop under the full moon light.

Shamlaji Melo

Also commonly known as Kartik Purnima fair this festival is celebrated with great pomp and show in Shamlaji temple. People gather here from different places in the subcontinent on foot or by riding on came carts while singing devotional songs in a rhythmic manner and dancing simultaneously. Upon arriving at the temple the devotees go further and worship the presiding deity and also take a holy dip in the waters of the sacred River Meshwo. This Mela lasts for a period of three weeks during the month of November where people can also shop for silver ornaments, metalware, cloth and other garments.

Uttarayana – the Kite Festival

The festival of Uttarayana marks the beginning of the harvest season and is celebrated across the state with great joy and extreme enthusiasm. The entire festival is represented with kites and Charkharis and people come up to their rooftops to be a part of this joyous occasion. The time for this festival is between Makar Sankranti and Karka sankranti and people get engulfed in kite fights and kite competitions with their neighboring kites. One can see kites of various colors, sizes and styles while during this day the entire sky is painted in different hues of different colors.

Bhavnath Mahadev Fair

Bhavnath village is located on the foothills of the hills of Girnar which is one of the most holy places in Junagadh. This fair is dedicated to Lord Shiva which is held in the month of Magha (January / February) and is the meeting point of a large number of Lord Shiva devotees who gather here and celebrate for a duration of 5 days. The events that mark this sacred occasion include, folk singing and dance performances, but the prime attraction remains the active participation of Naga Babas. The prayers commence at 12 midnight on the 14^th day of the dark half during the Magha month, and once the rituals are concluded the sages and the Babas proceed towards the temple on top of elephants holding flags. This truly is one of a kind festival.

Religious Tourism in Gujarat – Pilgrimage in Gujarat

Gujarat is one fascinating land that serves as a great crowd puller due to its immense tourism potential. This mesmerizing western Indian state of lions and legends is home to diverse and scenic landscape, endangered wildlife, historical sites, vast uninterrupted coastlines, verdant woods, ancient and highly revered temples and many more. Tour operators offer to tourists various types of tour packages for Gujarat. Packages like Gujarat Temple tour, Gujarat wildlife tour, Gujarat beach tour, Gujarat cultural tour are some of the tour packages of Gujarat that enjoy great popularity in the country’s tourism circuit. If you are a religiously inclined person, opting for a Gujarat pilgrimage tourism package is the best for you. Gujarat pilgrimage tourism takes you on a tour of all the major pilgrimage destinations, temples and shrines of Gujarat. To learn more about Gujarat pilgrimage tourism, read on-

Gujarat pilgrimage tourism encompasses the following types of religious tours of Gujarat-

Jain Temple Tour

Jainism had played a dominant role in Gujarat once upon a time. The state is dotted with several beautiful Jain temples which are not only sacred places but also great specimens of ornate art and architecture. The Jain temple tour of Gujarat will take you on a tour of the Palitana jain temples atop mount Shatrunjaya, Mount Girnar Jain temples near Junagadh, Jamnagar Jain temples in Jamnagar’s Chandi Bazar, Hutheesing Jain Temple in Ahmedabad

Jyotirlingam Tour

Gujarat Jyotirlingam tour takes you on a tour of two of the most revered Jyotirlingam of the country; the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga located in Gujarat’s Dwarka and the Somnath Jyotirlingam located in Gujarat’s shore city, Somnath. At the Nageshwar temple lord Shiva is worshipped as Naganath or ‘Lord of Snakes’. At the temple of Somnath, lord Shiva is worshipped as the ‘Lord of the moon God’

Dwarka Sapta Puri Tour

Dwarka is one of the most holy lands of the country. This pilgrimage destination of Gujarat is counted among the ‘Sapta Puri’ or ‘seven holy lands’ of the Hindus. Also, it is one of the Chardham of the Mahaparikrama Chardham circuit. Dwarka is steeped in religious as well as mythological significance. Dwarka is home to the famous Dwarkadheesh temple or Jagat Mandir that enshrines the image of lord Krishna as the ‘King of Dwarka’. The lord here is all dressed up in his kingly avatar. There are many other holy places to see at Dwarka other than the Dwarkadheesh temple. For instance, you could visit Beyt Dwarka, Rukmani Mandir, Gomti Ghat, Gopi Talav, Gita Mandir, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, Siddheshwar Mahadev Mandir, ISKON Temple, Sudama Setu etc

Other Hindu Temple Tours

Other Hindu temples tour of Gujarat may include Jamnagar’s Bala Hanuman Temple, Ahmedabad’s Swaminarayan temple, Gandhinagar’s Akshardham temple, Modhera’s Sun temple, Porbander’s Bileshwar Mahadev temple and Gop temple in its itinerary.

Islamic Pilgrimage Tour

Gujarat had seen the growth and expansion of Islam in the yesteryears and thus the state is dotted with numerous sacred relics of Islamic religion. The Islamic pilgrimage tour of Gujarat will take you on a tour of some of the most renowned and sacred mosques of Gujarat such as Ahmed Shah’s mosque, Rani Rupmati’s Mosque, Rani Sipri’s mosque, Sidi Saiyad mosque, Sidi Bashir Mosque, Jama Masjid.

Christian Pilgrimage Tour

When it comes to Gujarat Christian pilgrimage tourism we are at once reminded of the quaint and quiet Diu and two of its most famous churches which are indeed a must-visit for any pious Christian. St Thomas Church and St Paul’s Church of Diu are two of the most revered churches of the country. St Thomas church has a simple architecture, is home to the museum of Diu and comes with a spooky collection of ancient catholic statues. St Paul’s Church dates back to 1600 and had been set up by the Jesuits.