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GIR FOREST · HOT SPRINGS · FAIRTulsishyam Mela
A fair where forest, springs and faith meet — the Tulsishyam Mela gathers pilgrims at the sacred hot springs and Krishna temple deep in the Gir forest, a vivid coming-together of devotion and Saurashtra folk life.
A pilgrimage fair in the Gir forest
The Tulsishyam Mela is a pilgrimage fair held at Tulsishyam, the sacred site of hot springs and an ancient Krishna temple set deep within the Gir forest of Amreli district. Tulsishyam is venerated for its perennial hot springs and its temple to Lord Krishna (worshipped here as Tulsishyam), wrapped in local legend. On fair days and auspicious occasions, pilgrims gather here from across the region, and the forest site fills with the colour and energy of a Saurashtra mela — devotion at the temple, bathing at the sacred springs, and the gathering of people in a remarkable natural setting.
The fair brings together the threads that make Tulsishyam special: the sacred springs, the forest-temple, the Ramayana and Krishna lore of the place, and the communal life of a Saurashtra pilgrimage. Set amid the wild Gir landscape, it is an atmospheric blend of faith and folk culture.
For the visitor, the Tulsishyam Mela offers a vivid glimpse of Saurashtra’s living pilgrimage tradition — best experienced with respect for the temple and the forest setting. (A pilgrimage fair at Tulsishyam in the Gir forest; sacred springs and temple; best in the cooler months; basic facilities.)
The place carries a braid of stories: the hot springs are held to have risen where Tapta Muni’s austerities heated the rock, the temple’s black Krishna image is linked in local telling to the Rukmini story — her temple stands on the hill above, reached by a stair pilgrims climb after the springs — and the name itself joins tulsi, the sacred basil, to Shyam, the dark lord. Bathing in the kunds before darshan is the pilgrimage’s fixed order, and the water’s heat is genuine — the first kund scalds the unwary toe.
Reaching Tulsishyam means driving the forest road from Una or Dhari sides — gates close by evening, since this is core lion country, and overnight stays are limited to the temple’s own basic dharamshala arrangements. Fair days and Purnimas bring the crowds and the colour; ordinary weekdays give the springs and shrine in forest silence, with peacocks for congregation. October to March is the season; carry cash, fuel and water, since the forest sells nothing.
Tulsishyam, Gir. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Faith in the forest
Tulsishyam. Wikimedia Commons.
The springs run hot from the rock in the forest's heart.
The Krishna temple's traditions reach back many centuries.
Fair days fill the forest clearing with pilgrims and stalls.
Lions' country surrounds the whole gathering.
Why come
Hot springs
Three kunds hold the sulphur springs at different heats.
Krishna temple
Krishna as Tulsishyam presides over the forest shrine.
Gir forest
The temple sits deep in eastern Gir's protected forest.
Pilgrimage
Bhajan mandalis and prasad lines run through fair nights.
Mela
Saurashtra's rural devotion arrives in full colour.
Legend
Legend ties the site to Rukmini and the tulsi plant.
What to see
THE SHRINETulsishyam
Hot springs and Krishna's forest temple.
THE FORESTGir
Lion country.
How it's celebrated
Visit the temple
Worship Tulsishyam.
See the hot springs
Sacred waters.
Join the fair
Saurashtra colour.
Take in the forest
Deep in Gir.
Learn the legend
Krishna lore.
Visit in winter
The cooler months.
Tulsishyam. Wikimedia Commons.
A forest pilgrimage fair
The Tulsishyam Mela gathers pilgrims at the sacred hot springs and ancient Krishna temple set deep in the Gir forest — a vivid Saurashtra fair blending devotion, bathing at the springs, and folk life in a wild natural setting, wrapped in Krishna and local legend. (A pilgrimage fair at Tulsishyam in the Gir forest; sacred springs and temple; best in the cooler months; basic facilities.)
Planning more of the area? Our Amreli guide covers the whole district.
A pilgrimage fair at sacred Tulsishyam
Hot springs and an ancient Krishna temple
Set deep within the Gir forest
A blend of devotion and Saurashtra folk life
Timing
Cool and clear — ideal.
Fairs & melas.
Hot; go early.
⏰ Best in the cooler months; check local fair dates before travelling.
Getting there
By Air
Rajkot / Diu.
By Rail
Amreli / Savarkundla.
By Road
From Rajkot / Bhavnagar.
More in Amreli
LITERARY
Kalapi Legacy
The poet-prince of Lathi — Amreli’s town of Lathi was home to Kalapi, one of the best-loved poets in the Gujarati language, whose romantic verse still echoes through the region’s literary life. Explore →
PASTORAL
Maldhari Life
Herders who live beside lions — the Maldharis of the Gir forest follow a centuries-old pastoral way of life, sharing the wild landscape with Asiatic lions in one of the world’s most remarkable human-wildlife bonds. Explore →
AUG
Janmashtami
Krishna’s birth, Dwarka Explore →
CRAFT
Savarkundla Scales
The town that weighs India — Savarkundla in Amreli is famed across the country as a great centre for making weighing scales and balances, a remarkable craft-industry heritage. Explore →
What to eat
GANTHIAGanthia
Amreli's famed snack.
ROTLABajra Rotla
With ghee & jaggery.
THALIKathiyawadi Thali
Spicy & rustic.
CHAASChaas
Spiced buttermilk.
Tulsishyam Mela FAQ
What is the Tulsishyam Mela?
A pilgrimage fair at the hot springs and Krishna temple in the Gir forest.
Where is it?
At Tulsishyam, deep in the Gir forest of Amreli district.
What is special about the site?
Its sacred hot springs and ancient Krishna temple.
Best time to visit?
The cooler months; check local fair dates.
What can I do?
Worship at the temple, see the springs, and join the fair.
Is it in the lion forest?
Yes — within the Gir landscape.
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Published 24 June 2026 · Updated 3 July 2026