Home › Junagadh Festivals › Lion Country
WILD · ASIATIC LIONS · GIRLion Country
Junagadh is the old gateway to lion country — the princely city whose Nawab first shielded the last Asiatic lions, and the doorstep to the Gir forest where they still roam.
The old gateway to the lions
Long before Gir was a national park, it was the private hunting forest of the Nawabs of Junagadh — and it was a Nawab of Junagadh who, seeing the Asiatic lion pushed to the brink, first moved to protect it. That early guardianship helped the species survive. Today Junagadh remains the historic gateway to lion country, home to the venerable Sakkarbaug Zoo, whose lion-breeding work has supported Gir for generations.
Junagadh’s claim on the lion story is proprietary: it was the Nawabs’ preserve that held the last wild Asiatic lions when the rest of Asia had lost them, and it was a Nawab’s hunting ban — issued when perhaps a few dozen animals survived — that turned Gir from a trophy ground into a refuge. Every lion in Gir today, and every Asiatic lion in any zoo on earth, descends from the animals that ban protected.
For the visitor the story splits into two easy halves: Sakkarbaug Zoo in town, where the world’s Asiatic-lion studbook is managed and the cats can be watched at close range, and Sasan Gir an hour south, where permits put you in an open Gypsy among the wild prides. December to March gives the kindest weather for both; the sanctuary closes for the monsoon from mid-June to mid-October.
The Nawab who saved a species
The Nawabs of Junagadh kept Gir as their private hunting preserve for generations.
By around 1900 the Asiatic lion had been shot down to a few dozen animals.
Nawab Rasul Khanji banned lion hunting in his forest, saving the species outright.
Protection held through the century and today the population runs to several hundred.
Why come
Asiatic lions
Gir is the only place on earth the Asiatic lion survives in the wild.
Royal story
A princely hunting ban became one of conservation's great rescues.
Sakkarbaug
Sakkarbaug Zoo has bred the lions for their insurance population since 1863.
Gir on the door
Girnar's slopes carry the forest right to Junagadh's edge.
Safari base
Safaris into Gir run from Sasan, about an hour's drive away.
Conservation
From near-extinction to several hundred lions — the numbers tell the story.
What to see
THE LIONPanthera leo
Asiatic subspecies.
THE GATEWAYJunagadh
City of the Nawabs.
How to experience it
Base in Junagadh
Gateway to Gir.
Visit Sakkarbaug
The historic zoo.
Book a Gir safari
Permits ahead.
Go at dawn
Lions move early.
Learn the story
The Nawab's role.
Respect the wild
Keep your distance.
A city bound to its lions
Junagadh wears its lion heritage with pride: the animal features in its lore, its zoo, and the identity of a city that sits at the foot of Girnar and the edge of Gir. The tale of the Nawab’s protection is a reminder that the Asiatic lion’s survival is as much a human story — of foresight and stewardship — as a natural one.
The rest of the district is covered in our Junagadh travel guide.
Timing
Fine for safaris.
Best sightings.
Gir park closed.
⏰ Sakkarbaug Zoo is open year-round; the Gir park itself closes through the monsoon (mid-Jun to mid-Oct).
Getting there
By Air
Rajkot / Keshod.
By Rail
Junagadh Junction.
By Road
Gir ~60 km away.
More in Junagadh
MAHA SHIVRATRI
Bhavnath Mela
Sadhus, naga ascetics and all-night bhajans at Girnar’s foot. Explore →
KARTIK
Girnar Parikrama
Once a year in Kartik, tens of thousands walk the Lili Parikrama — a 36-kilometre circuit through the forests around Mount Girnar, a moving river of pilgrims, fires and folk devotion. Explore →
FOLK
Music & Dandiya
Junagadh keeps the folk beat of Saurashtra alive — dandiya-raas and garba, the soulful dayro of Kathiyawadi singers, and dhol-driven nights where whole towns dance in ring after spinning ring. Explore →
SUMMER
Kesar Season
Each summer the orchards around Junagadh and Talala turn golden with Gir Kesar — the saffron-hued “queen of mangoes,” a GI-tagged fruit whose fragrance defines the season. Explore →
What to eat
THALIKathiyawadi Thali
Rustic and spicy.
GHEEGir Ghee
From Gir cows.
ROTLOBajra Rotlo
With white butter.
CHAASChaas
Spiced buttermilk.
Lion Country FAQ
Why is Junagadh called lion country?
It is the historic gateway to the Gir forest — the only wild home of the Asiatic lion — and the city whose Nawab first protected the species.
How did the Nawab help?
Seeing the lion near extinction, the Nawab of Junagadh moved to protect it, aiding its survival and recovery.
What is Sakkarbaug?
A historic zoo in Junagadh known for Asiatic lion breeding that supports conservation in Gir.
Can I see wild lions from Junagadh?
Yes — Gir and its safaris are about 60 km away, with Junagadh a common base.
When is best to visit?
December to March for comfortable safaris; the Gir park closes through the monsoon.
Is this the same as Gir in Gir Somnath?
The Gir forest spans districts; Junagadh is its northern, historic gateway, with the coastal side reached from Gir Somnath.
Across Gujarat
WILDLIFEAsiatic Lions
Amreli shares Gir, the lion’s last natural home
Bhadreshwar Jain Temple
Seaside temple in the old port town
RIVERGhela River
Sacred ghats flowing past Gadhada
ICONICStatue of Unity
The world’s tallest statue — 182 m of Sardar Patel
NATURENavghan Kuvo
Birdlife and still water below the massif
PALACEWankaner
A hilltop fantasy of Indo-European design
WHERE TO STAY
Find your stay in Gujarat
Compare live prices across the big booking sites and reserve in a few taps. Booking happens securely on the partner's site — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Book directly on our partner sites — tap a provider to see live Gujarat hotels & prices:
SHOP THE REGION
Bring home Gujarat — & travel essentials
Hand-picked crafts and trip gear, available on Amazon.
Published 24 June 2026 · Updated 3 July 2026