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WILDLIFE · EASTERN GIRGir East & Dhari
The wild eastern flank of Gir around Dhari — open forest, farmland and riverbeds where Asiatic lions roam beyond the sanctuary, sharing the land with the people of Amreli.
Where lions share the land
To the south of Amreli, around the town of Dhari, lies the wild eastern flank of the Gir forest — a landscape of open woodland, scrub, river valleys and farmland where the Asiatic lion has reclaimed territory far beyond the boundaries of the core sanctuary.
This is one of the most remarkable wildlife stories in India: lions here live not in a fenced park but across a shared landscape, moving through revenue forest, riverbeds and the fields of Amreli’s farmers in a delicate and largely peaceful coexistence with people.
The Dhari area — with the Ambardi safari park, the Shetrunji river and interpretation facilities — is the gateway to this eastern Gir country. For the traveller it offers not only the thrill of lion territory but a moving lesson in conservation: a place where India’s only wild lions and rural human life share the same sunlit, dusty land. (Booking for safaris is via the official portal.)
An Asiatic lion in eastern Gir.
From a riverside experiment to the road to freedom
Chital in the eastern Gir country.
Gir's lions are protected in the western core.
They expand east into the Amreli countryside.
Lions and farmers share the Dhari landscape.
A living conservation story around Dhari.
Reasons to make the time
Free-ranging lions
Beyond the sanctuary fence.
Coexistence
Lions and rural life.
Eastern Gir
Forest, scrub and rivers.
Dhari gateway
Safari and interpretation.
Conservation
A moving success story.
Wild country
Sunlit, dusty landscapes.
What to look for inside
Asiatic lions
Roaming the eastern range.
Deer & nilgai
The forest's grazers.
How to spend an hour or two
Base at Dhari
Gateway to eastern Gir.
Take a safari
At the Ambardi zone.
Learn coexistence
Lions and farmers.
See the Shetrunji
River country nearby.
Respect the wild
Keep distance; stay safe.
Book officially
Use the forest portal.
The open eastern Gir country.
Forest, farm and riverbed
Eastern Gir is not a fenced park but a living landscape: a mosaic of revenue forest, thorn scrub, the wooded banks of the Shetrunji and other rivers, and the farmland of Amreli’s villages, across which lions and other wildlife range freely.
The Dhari area provides the access points — the Ambardi safari park, interpretation centres and guided routes — but the real spectacle is the shared country itself, where the wild and the rural meet. (Safari access is permit-controlled; book via the official portal.)
Open eastern-Gir country
Free-ranging lion population
Shetrunji river valleys
Dhari access & Ambardi zone
When to go
Cool and clear — the best season across Amreli.
Green country; Gir's core largely closes.
Hot, but the best season for Gir lion sightings.
⏰ Base around Dhari; book safaris officially, travel with guides, and never approach or feed wildlife.
Timings & entry
- Safari zones run in set slots
- Gir's core closes in the monsoon
- Permits and guides are required
- Allow a half to full day
- Book safaris via the official portal
- A guide accompanies each safari
- This is NOT a booking site — book officially
- Respect wildlife and local communities
Getting there
By Air
Rajkot and Diu are the nearest airports.
By Rail
Amreli and Dhari are the nearest stations.
By Road
Around Dhari, ~45 km south of Amreli.
In lion country
WILD & SHARED
The Asiatic lion's eastern range
What to shoot
Lions in the open country.
Coexistence
Forest meeting farmland.
Reach
A long lens on safari.
Etiquette
Quiet, no flash, keep distance.
Know before you go
More to see close by
Tulsishyam Temple
A Krishna shrine amid Gir's hot springs
Kamnath Mahadev
An ancient Shiva temple near Amreli
Krishnayan
A vast cow-conservation sanctuary
Gir Forest Shrines
Quiet Maldhari temples in the woods
Savarkundla
Famed for its weights & scales craft
Jafrabad Fort
Sea-battered ramparts above the harbour
Where to eat around the ashram
Kathiawadi Thali
Rotla, kadhi, shaak and ghee-rich fare.
Ganthiya & fafda
Saurashtra's beloved fried snacks.
Local bites
Bhajiya, chevdo and chaat.
Veg & seafood
Veg fare inland; fresh seafood on the coast.
Gir East & Dhari FAQ
What is special about eastern Gir?
Asiatic lions roam freely here beyond the sanctuary, sharing the land with people.
Where is it?
Around Dhari, south of Amreli town.
How do I see lions?
Via the Ambardi safari park and guided routes — book officially.
Is it safe?
Yes, with guides and sensible distance; never approach wildlife.
When is the best time?
December–March for comfort; summer for sightings.
What's the coexistence story?
Lions and farmers share the Amreli countryside in a largely peaceful balance.
Do I need a permit?
Yes, for the safari zones — book via the official portal.
What's nearby?
The Ambardi park, the Shetrunji reservoir and Dhari town.
Related places across Gujarat
Science Centre
Planetarium, museum & diamond gallery
Maliya & Little Rann
Where Saurashtra meets the Little Rann
Gopnath Mahadev
A clifftop Shiva temple by the sea
Sai Baba Temple
A peaceful seaside shrine at Tithal
Dabhel & Dudhia
Old Parsi coastal settlements
Adivasi Museum
Rathwa art, dress and ritual objects
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