ADVENTURE
The winter was slowly approaching, as was my anxiety to escape and treat myself to a refreshing holiday. The daily work-related deadlines had begun taxing me, and my soul was begging to seek some solace, away from the hustle-bustle of city life. My birthday weekend was just around the corner, and almost by a stroke of luck, I stumbled upon MakeMyTrip’s Lion Safari package. I booked it immediately, and packed my bags for an eventful weekend.
Come Gujarat, and I could not wait to set foot on the grounds of the legendary Gir National Park. Set up in the year 1965 to protect the dwindling population of the Asiatic Lion, the Gir National Park till this day stands in glimmering glory. Upon arrival, I was whisked away to a Jeep and soon, we were off to catch a glimpse of the mighty Asiatic Lion.
While wandering through the semi-arid greens, I kept my camera ready and spotted the rare pangolin. Lucky as I felt, my heart almost skipped a beat when we came across a leopard, sauntering in the wild. After a meandering through the forest for a couple of hours, the moment I had been waiting for finally arrived. We came unbelievably close to an entire family of lions—some 5 of them—basking in the sun, possibly after a heavy meal. The adults didn’t seem too keen to move, but the mischievous cubs frolicked all over the place. On this safari, I also spotted a sloth bear and a wild boar engaged in a tête-à-tête with nature.
Meeting the Maldhari tribesmen and seeing their settlement known as ‘nesses’ was another culturally enriching experience.
Read more: Wildlife Sanctuaries in India that You Can Visit Even in the Monsoons
Apart from the magical hues of the Gir, the other tourist attractions in the area came as quite a surprise. Whether it was a visit to the Sinh Sadan Crocodile Centre, the cascading Jamjir Waterfalls or the Gir Interpretation Zone, this trip made my birthday weekend an absolute delight.
I also shopped for some handicraft souvenirs, like the Patola Silk Saree for mommy dear and the elegant Ghagra-Choli for my little sister.
MakeMyTrip Package I booked: Glorious Gir with Handpicked Hotels - Wildlife (Online)
Price Paid: INR 27,331*
Explore Gir Forest Package Today
*Prices may vary
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Golden Shers | on 08 October 2018
The Asian lions in Gir must be saved by translocation of few to a new sanctuary in Barda or Kuno forest within 30 days. No safari / tourists should be allowed in Barda for at least 5 years. Single habitat of Gir forest is not safe for endangered lions!