After bidding Goodbye to many beautiful places around Gujurat (Read previous blogs for details) So finally at 7 : 30 pm we left for Sasan Gir which was still 150 kms away but more important it was via Junargarh and we had to go through the jungle area.
We quickly set our destination to our pre booked hotel which was just opposite to Sinh Sadan, (were registration takes place and Safari starts from this very location).
As we started moving ahead the vibes around the area was concerning, there was literraly no one and it was dark, no radium as well on the roads to help, hardly any houses nearby and only the headlight of our car. I was feeling hungry but didnt had guts to stop, it was so much a outskirt area. We had whatever mom had packed for us.
As we crossed Junargarh we just had a small stop to call at home and also had some Amul milk shake and moved ahead. And as we headed ahead the roads started to be more and more narrow. We were literraly in the Jungle area where usually wild animals even comes on the roads (had read a lot of news about it).
Finally we reached our Hotel around 11 pm. We were literraly in the middle of the jungle. Lucikily for us there was one restaurant open (which was also about to close). We didnt do checkin but first went ahead to have our dinner.
It was almost closing time so whatever we were ordering from Menu was getting a big No from the waiter. So we had a few chapati and sabzi and back to unload the luggage from car and get rest as next day we had to wake up as early as 5 am. My hair were messesd up and neither I was feeling good to get to bed without bath. So at 1 am I took shower and straight away slept
Next Day morning I woke up as early as 6am all excited (usually I am a lazy guy who has hardly seen Sunrise) for my first Jungle Safari. There are various slots available but I had chosen the first slot (6:45 am as it was Winters and Sun rise was around 7:30 am that day, Usually in Summer the first slot is around 6 am). This slot had the best chance of viewing the Lion.
We got ready with our Camoflauge outfits and came down, where our Receptionist suggested us to join an elder couple so that we share the Safari price. They were from orissa and were very quiet kind. We had our tea and all set to the registration desk to get the permit checked and get assigned the Jeep for our Safari. And like waiting for any results of exam, we were waiting for our results based on earlier days route (Route No 2 was the route everyone wanted). We got route number 9 and we were like ok as the Guide told us it is the longest route and passes through five other including route No . 2. No one are allowed to change route once entered the gate.
We need to Pre Book For Safari Permits online – Rs 800/- (WeekDay Price for Group of one to max six people). And Charges for Jeep Rs 1700/- plus Guide Rs 400/- extra.
There are only 50 Permits Available for a Day.
So entered the main Gate in the Dark and with eyes on both sides just to have glimse of mighty Lion/Lioness. It was dark and we could hardly see any animals out there, before we came across some deers. Only to our surprise the Guide told us that you will see plently of Deers as they give birth thrice a year , Quite Interesting.
As it started to fade away from dawn to morning sun rise the sky had unique colours to it, which I had never seen before. sitting behind a Jeep in the middle of the Jungle and beautiful sky to look up for :).
Interesting Fact as told by Guide : Deer gives birth thrice a year.
As we started moving ahead we could see a lot many deers, a few wild ass and glimse of few Blue bull. But as time was moving ahead with our Jeep our hopes of seeing Lion in its own habitat started fading. We also saw a beautiful way how animals communicate : (The monkeys used to get up at the top of the tree just to help the deers know if any leopard nearby. They started making weird sounds). We waited a long time but since may be due to lot of jeep congeston at place the leopard must have moved away.
We even came across a small village in the middle of the Jungle who do buffalo farming to their living by selling its milk and we also got to know that whenever any wild animal attacks buffalo, Government pays for it. They had pet some peacocks as well.
At around 9 : 45 am we were back to where it all started We were a bit sad but yes it needs a lot of patience and many many tries to get a glimse of Lion. But main part was the experience inside the Gir Jungle was a one that got added in the memory :).
And we started getting to know it was one of such day that all 12 routes couldn’t get a glimse of Lion. So we were like OK , we aren’t the unlucky people. But a group came and mentioned that Route 9 (our) was the luckiest as there was a Lion who had hunted down a deer and was eating it. For some time I was frustated with our guide, he wasn’t even looking it closely. But we also had our eyes open but couldn’t see any.
Lion always eats Fresh meat
We were about to go back to Hotel and checkout and move to our next Destination, but somewhere felt when in Gir a glimse of Lion is a must. SO we tweaked our plan and decided to take Jeep Safari this time to Devaliya. Luckily we got another group and we could share the total Safari amount.
Devaliya Interpretation Zone is in the Gir forest itself. The only difference being there are walls on four sides to make sure the animals can’t move from a specific acres of Land. So here chances of viewing Lions become close to 100%.
And as we Entered the Zone, at first we could see a Jackal moving here and there. Than we had a glimse of Vulture, it was the first time I had seen it. And more and more Deers and blue bull. But we just wanted to see the Asiantic Lion
And Finally we saw the Lion and the Lioness both resting below the tree. It seems Lions hunt down and eat fresh meat around 25-30 kg at one time and than just sleep for next 4-5 days. Size of the Asiantic Lions are a bit smaller than African Lions. Finally the smile was back that may be not an exact habitat but atleast not in zoo.
There are only 523 Lions left as per last survey and this year 2020 another survey is about to happen.
Interesting Story : Very long decades ago, few Lions were brought to India from Africa, but most of the Kings used to love Hunting and because of their pride they used to Hunt Lions. Only for people from Junargarh telling their King not to do and King keeping the words of his Kingdom didnt hunt and rather decided to Protect and thats the only reason why in the Entire Asian continent today we can see Lions only in Gir in their natural habitat.
We had glimse of Cheetah (was a bit far so couldn’t take photo) and more and more Deer. With all happy faces we came out but by now we were damn hungry as from morning 6 am we were out and it was almost 12 noon. So we had tea and Pohe from the Canteen inside the Interpretation Zone. We didnt explore the musuem as we were already late with our further travel, so without wasting much time got back to Sinh Sadan.
All the way we had fun with Mumbai guys who had joined us. We just settled our bills and we moved towoards our Hotel to check out.
We checked out from Hotel at exact 12 :30 pm. It had already messed our time line and to add on we had skipped Somnath temple the earlier Day (Refer previous blog) to be adjusted today . Coming so far and skipping was a big NO so decided to make our way to the Temple.
We didnt stop for lunch but had some minute maid and amul cool and rushed ourselves to another Jyotirling Temple – Somnath.
We reached the Temple premise at around 3 pm. The location where the temple is located is just picturesque. It is just along the coast of the sea and with sound of wind breeze and water just gives a relaxing feel. Photographs are not allowed inside the Temple area and also any kind of Electronic devices. We kept our belongings in samaan ghar and went ahead for Darshan.
There is a small temple outside the compond and it seems this is the first place where it was located and now they have shifted to this new huge beautiful temple.
We took blessings of Lord Shiva and let me tell you out of 5 which I had seen so far (Total there are 12) this one is the biggest statue of Lord I had seen. We sat down for few minutes , before we moved out, the weather was way too hot , but outside the temple it is well constructed to have shades all around and place to sit where people can view the never ending sea on one side and a beautiful structure on the other.
There are also beautiful structure made of all the 12 jyotirlings depicting its respective stories. We just sat there and roamed a bit, before it was time to bid a Bye to this place.
There is a light show which occurs at night over here. And now it was around 4 pm and getting Lunch at this time was hardly possible, but lucky for us where we had parked our car, there was a restaurant open. We quikly hoped in some Rice Daal and mutter masala
It was 4 :30 pm and we had to reach Ahmedabad that Day itself.
We already had an exhausting day right from waking up at 6 am in the morning to have two Safaris to have darshan of Lord Somnath, but it was never Ending as I had to cover 418 kms from here to reach Ahmedabad. When I did put it on Maps it showed will reach by 12 :30 am without break.
Without wasting any time, set my foot over accelerator and decided to reach as early as we could. I dont remember the roads as my only eyes were on time and distance to cover. We crossed Junargarh aroung 5:30- 6 pm approx where due to Sun set time I started feeling a bit dizzy and thought of taking break, but couldn’t find any good tapris to have tea but definately got a spot to click a few snaps . (Heard about famous Trek to Girnar over here)
We didnt take a break but with every mile I was getting tired, It started to be darker and was around 7:30 pm we reached Rajkot. This area seemed to be a very busy area, we came across a lot of traffic. Based on the traffic and rush I am assuming this one is one of the bussiness/economical hub of Gujurat.
It was around 8 :30 pm I was completely tired and also we had to re fuel the car. So took a stop at one of the pump and very next to it was a very decent posh dhaba.
We quickly had some chinese cuisine and called at home. Post that we noted down a few places which was safer to stay from security point where we could stay for the night if we fail to reach to Ahmedabad.
And as usual started .This was the worst drive I should point out in this entire trip. as firstly high beam lights of trucks from opposite side and lots of trucks moving around and some squid driving by few idiots .And add to it I was completely tired.
At around 10:30 pm I almost gave up untill which I had hardly maintaned a speed of 80 km/hr. we took a stop at one of the outlet of Honest (There are many outlets of Honest you can see and right from day one we had planned to take a snack break at this place). We had khaman dhokla, Fafda and dont remember the number of cups of tea I had.
We decided to stay at this place itself next to highway but it seemed a bit shady so decided to get it completed and booked hotel from Oyo (First time with Oyo), but maintaining speed was around 60 km/hr . The speed never went up offcource the stereo sound of our car did just to keep us active.
Never Drive when Sleepy.
Once we Entered Ahmedabad it was around 1:30 am in the night, the streets were completely empty and this peaceful city with the street lights all along has its own beauty.We reached Hotel location at around 2:30 am, only to notice my mobile battery had only 2% left. I called the hotelier 2 time before it was dead, I literraly did hit the glass door several times but no one responded.It was locked.
Finally which I always used to say sarcastically before the start of the trip, we were so tired that we decided to sleep in the car itself.
To know what happened next read through next blog. Untill than signing off 🙂
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