- Girnar Nature Safari is set in the scenic Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary — at the base of Mount Girnar (1,062m), India's tallest peak in Gujarat.
- The safari RECEPTION CENTER is located at Indreshwar Thana, Junagadh (near the Bhavnath Taleti / Girnar Taleti area).
- Open season: 16 October to 15 June. Closed annually during monsoon (June 16 – Oct 15) and during Girnar Parikrama / Mahashivratri Festival.
- Official Gypsy permit fees: ₹800 (weekdays) | ₹1,000 (weekends & festival days). Plus guide (₹400) + Gypsy hire (~₹2,000) payable locally.
- Seasonal timings: WINTER (Oct-Feb): 6:45 AM – 9:45 AM & 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM. SUMMER (Mar-Jun): 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM & 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
- Wildlife: Asiatic Lions, Indian Leopards, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Hyenas, 280+ bird species, and the scenic Girnar mountain backdrop.
📸 The majestic Girnar mountain rising above the wildlife sanctuary — a unique spiritual-natural landscape
1. Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary: Sacred Mountain & Wilderness Together
Girnar Nature Safari Park operates within the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary — a protected forest covering 180+ sq.km around the base and foothills of Mount Girnar (1,062 meters, highest peak in Gujarat). Junagadh district's Girnar is simultaneously a sacred pilgrimage site for Jains, Hindus, and Nath Panthi ascetics — and a crucial wildlife corridor connecting the Gir National Park to the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary protects Asiatic Lions, Indian Leopards, Sambar Deer, Spotted Deer, and rare reptiles, making this safari a rare combination of wildlife adventure and spiritual mountain landscape. The Gujarat Forest Department manages the Girnar Nature Trail safaris with certified Gypsies and naturalist guides.
2. Official Booking Process for Girnar Nature Safari
OFFICIAL BOOKING: https://girlion.gujarat.gov.in (Gujarat State Level Council Secretariat / Forest Department Portal). HOW TO BOOK: (1) Visit girlion.gujarat.gov.in. (2) Select "Girnar Nature Trail" or "Girnar Safari" from the available safaris list. (3) Choose Date, Shift (Morning/Evening), and Number of Passengers. (4) Enter all passenger details with Govt. Photo ID numbers. (5) Complete online payment (UPI/Net Banking/Debit-Credit Card). (6) Download & Print your E-permit. ADVANCE BOOKING: Available up to 90 days in advance. Weekend slots book fast — reserve 2-4 weeks ahead minimum. CARRY ORIGINAL ID: Physical Aadhaar / Passport / Voter ID mandatory for all adults at Indreshwar Thana check-in.
📸 Official Gujarat Forest Department E-permit portal — the only authorized booking channel for Girnar safari
📸 Dawn light over Girnar foothills — the 6:45 AM winter morning shift offers magical wildlife and scenery
3. Girnar Nature Safari Timings 2026-27 (Seasonal)
WINTER (Oct 16 – Feb 28/29): MORNING: 6:45 AM – 9:45 AM. EVENING: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM. SUMMER (Mar 1 – Jun 15): MORNING: 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM. EVENING: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM. REPORTING: Arrive at Indreshwar Thana Reception Center (near Girnar Taleti / Bhavnath Mahadev Temple, Junagadh) at least 30 minutes before your safari shift. ROUTE DURATION: Each safari covers the forest trail in approximately 2.5 to 3 hours. The route traverses the scenic base and lower foothills of Girnar, offering both wildlife sightings and stunning mountain views.
4. Complete Fee Structure — Girnar Nature Safari 2026-27
“SAFARI GYPSY E-PERMIT (per Gypsy/vehicle): Indian Nationals — ₹800 (Mon-Fri) | ₹1,000 (Sat/Sun/Festival Days). Foreign Nationals — ₹7,600 (Weekdays) | ₹9,500 (Weekends). ECO-GUIDE FEE: ~₹400 per trip (paid locally at Indreshwar Thana to certified guide). SAFARI GYPSY HIRE: ~₹2,000 per trip (open gypsies available locally at Indreshwar Thana parking area). TOTAL APPROX. for 6 Indians (Weekday): ₹800 permit + ₹400 guide + ₹2,000 Gypsy = ₹3,200 for full vehicle. CHILDREN: Under 5 years FREE | 5-12 years 50% discount. All E-permits payable online only via official portal.”
📸 Leopard on a rocky Girnar hillside — leopard sighting probability is notably high in Girnar forest
5. Wildlife of Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary
MAMMALS: Asiatic Lion (from Gir corridor population, dispersal zone) | Indian Leopard (significant population along rocky Girnar terrain) | Striped Hyena | Indian Wild Boar | Indian Porcupine | Sambar Deer | Spotted Deer / Chital | Nilgai / Blue Bull | Indian Hare | Four-horned Antelope (Chowsingha). BIRDS: 280+ species including Indian Rock Eagle-Owl | Brown Fish Owl | Egyptian Vulture | Eurasian Griffon Vulture | Bonelli's Eagle | Peregrine Falcon | Yellow-throated Bulbul (Near-threatened). REPTILES: Indian Cobra | Russell's Viper | Monitor Lizard | Indian Rock Python | Chameleon. SPECIAL: The rocky Girnar terrain favors leopard sightings — significantly higher than Sasan Gir core.
6. Location: Indreshwar Thana Reception Center, Junagadh
RECEPTION CENTER: Indreshwar Thana, Girnar Taleti, Bhavnath, Junagadh, Gujarat — 362001. FROM JUNAGADH CITY: 5 km (10 minutes by auto/taxi). Near Bhavnath Mahadev Temple and Girnar Ropeway base station. FROM SASAN GIR: 70 km (1.5 hours). FROM VERAVAL: 80 km (1.5-2 hours). FROM AHMEDABAD: 330 km (4.5 hours). FROM RAJKOT: 100 km (2 hours). BY TRAIN: Junagadh Junction Railway Station (5 km from Indreshwar Thana). BY AIR: Rajkot Airport (100 km) or Diu Airport (110 km). Local autos and taxis available from Junagadh city to Girnar Taleti.
📸 Indreshwar Thana Forest Reception Center — the check-in point for Girnar Nature Trail safaris
📸 Girnar Parikrama pilgrimage — the annual event causes temporary safari closure in Junagadh
7. When is Girnar Nature Safari CLOSED?
ANNUAL MONSOON CLOSURE: June 16 to October 15 every year (core forest protection during breeding season). FESTIVAL CLOSURES (dates vary yearly): Girnar Parikrama (5-day annual pilgrimage, typically Nov/Dec) — safari suspended as thousands of pilgrims walk forest trails. Mahashivratri Festival (Feb/Mar) — temporary closure as lakhs visit Bhavnath Mahadev Temple and Girnar foothills. DAILY OPERATION: No weekly closure day (unlike Devalia which closes Wednesdays). Open 7 days a week during open season (Oct 16 – Jun 15). CHECK OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Always verify current opening status at girlion.gujarat.gov.in before planning your visit, especially during festival seasons.
8. Combine Girnar Safari with Ropeway & Pilgrimage Circuit
“PERFECT 1-DAY JUNAGADH ITINERARY: 6:45 AM: Girnar Nature Safari (morning shift, 3 hours). 10:00 AM: Breakfast at Bhavnath Taleti dhabas. 11:00 AM: Girnar Udan Khatola (Ropeway) — book at udankhatola.com. Round trip ₹700 per person. Visit Amba Mata Temple (1000+ steps saved by ropeway). 2:00 PM: Junagadh city exploration — Mahabat Maqbara, Junagadh Fort (Uparkot), Darbar Hall Museum. 3:30 PM: Girnar Nature Safari Evening Shift (optional). 7:00 PM: Dinner at Junagadh — local Kathiyawadi thali. This gives you the COMPLETE Girnar experience: wildlife, spirituality, and heritage in one day!”
Girnar Nature Safari Quick Reference:
Official Booking: https://girlion.gujarat.gov.in → "Girnar Nature Trail" Reception Center: Indreshwar Thana, Girnar Taleti, Bhavnath, Junagadh — 362001
Key Facts:
IMPORTANT: Also closed during Girnar Parikrama & Mahashivratri festival periods
Related Experiences & Sasan Gir Stays
Frequently Asked Questions
The Girnar Nature Trail safari booking and reception center is located at Indreshwar Thana, near Girnar Taleti (Bhavnath area), Junagadh, Gujarat — 362001. It is approximately 5 km from Junagadh city center, right at the base of Mount Girnar near the famous Bhavnath Mahadev Temple.
Official E-permit fee for Girnar Nature Trail safari Gypsy: ₹800 per Gypsy for Indian nationals on weekdays (Monday-Friday) and ₹1,000 per Gypsy on weekends/festival days. Additional costs: ₹400 eco-guide fee and approximately ₹2,000 Gypsy hire (paid locally at Indreshwar Thana). Foreign nationals: ₹7,600 (weekdays) / ₹9,500 (weekends).
Yes — in addition to the annual monsoon closure (June 16 to October 15), Girnar Nature Safari is temporarily closed during the Girnar Parikrama festival (5-day annual pilgrimage, usually in Nov/Dec) and Mahashivratri festival (Feb/Mar). These closures are mandatory for safety as thousands of pilgrims walk through the forest areas. Always check girlion.gujarat.gov.in for current operational status before visiting.
Absolutely! The Girnar Nature Safari reception center (Indreshwar Thana) is located near the Girnar Ropeway base station (Girnar Taleti). A perfect day plan: Morning safari (6:45 AM – 9:45 AM) → Breakfast at Bhavnath dhabas → Girnar Ropeway (11 AM – 1 PM) → Afternoon rest → Optional evening safari (3 PM – 6 PM). This gives you both the wildlife and the spiritual mountain experience in a single day.
Girnar Nature Safari is distinct in several ways: (1) The terrain is rocky mountain foothills (vs the dry deciduous plains of Gir), making it significantly better for Leopard sightings. (2) The backdrop of Mount Girnar (1,062m) makes it visually unique. (3) Girnar is a crucial wildlife corridor connecting Gir National Park to Barda Wildlife Sanctuary. (4) The safari is set next to one of India's most sacred pilgrimage mountains, offering a rare wildlife-spirituality combination. Both safaris use similar open Gypsies and are bookable via the same official portal.
Dr. Nikhil Solanki
Wildlife Biologist & Girnar Forest Division Officer (Retd.)
Dedicated wildlife naturalist providing safari regulations, Asiatic lion tracking advice, and verified Gujarat travel coordination.