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NATURE · GIR RESERVOIRKamleshwar Dam
The great reservoir at the heart of Gir — the 'lifeline of Gir' — where crocodiles bask, lions and deer come to drink, and waterbirds throng the shores.
The water-heart of the forest
Deep inside Gir National Park lies the Kamleshwar Dam, the largest reservoir in the sanctuary and so vital to its ecosystem that it is called the ‘lifeline of Gir’. Its wide waters and marshy shores are a magnet for wildlife: large numbers of marsh crocodiles (muggers) bask along its banks and float in its shallows, while lions, leopards, deer, nilgai and wild boar come down to drink, and pelicans, storks, ducks and other waterbirds crowd the reservoir, especially in winter.
Keep binoculars handy and stay in the vehicle throughout — the crocodiles’ stillness is a hunting posture, not tameness, and the shore that looks empty rarely is. Guides know the reliable basking banks by season and will time the reservoir leg of the route for the morning light when they can.
Kamleshwar is Gir’s waterworks and its crocodile capital at once: the dam raised on the Hiran river in the 1950s backs up the forest’s largest reservoir, and its shores hold one of India’s biggest wild populations of marsh crocodiles — muggers hauled out on the banks in dozens on a winter morning, motionless as driftwood until they aren’t. The water tables the whole sanctuary’s dry-season life, so lions, leopards and the big deer herds all cross the safari tracks that loop toward it.
The reservoir features on standard Gir safari routes from Sasan when zone allocations run that way — the draw is luck-of-the-route, not a bookable stop — and the birdlife alone justifies the detour: pelicans and painted storks working the shallows, ducks rafting mid-water, ospreys overhead. December to March gives the best crocodile basking and the busiest shores; the sanctuary closes mid-June to mid-October for the monsoon.
Glimpsed on a Gir safari, the dam is one of the most rewarding stops in the park — a place where the forest’s drama gathers around the water. Its calm expanse, ringed by wooded hills and teeming with life, is a striking and beautiful counterpoint to the dry forest all around.
The Kamleshwar reservoir at dusk.
The reservoir Gir's wildlife depends on
The reservoir, ringed by Gir.
A dam is raised within the Gir forest to hold water.
Its reservoir becomes vital to the sanctuary's wildlife.
Marsh crocodiles thrive along its shores.
A key wildlife stop on Gir safaris.
Reasons to make the time
Crocodiles
Muggers bask along the banks.
Lifeline of Gir
The forest's vital water.
Animals drinking
Lions and deer at the water.
Waterbirds
Pelicans, storks and ducks.
Scenic reservoir
Calm water ringed by hills.
On safari
A highlight of the route.
What to look for inside
THE RESERVOIRKamleshwar
The lifeline of Gir.
WILDLIFECrocs & birds
Life around the water.
How to spend an hour or two
Reach it on safari
The dam lies on Gir routes.
Watch for crocs
Muggers bask on the banks.
Scan the water
Birds and animals at the edge.
Catch the light
Dusk over the reservoir.
Bring binoculars
For distant wildlife.
Respect the wild
Stay in the vehicle; keep quiet.
A reservoir alive with wildlife.
Water in the dry forest
Kamleshwar is an earthen-and-masonry dam impounding a broad reservoir within the heart of Gir. Its open water and marshy fringes create a habitat quite different from the surrounding dry teak forest, drawing crocodiles, waterbirds and thirsty mammals to its shores.
The ‘structure’ that matters is ecological: by holding water through the dry months, the dam sustains the whole sanctuary — earning its name as the lifeline of Gir — while offering visitors on safari one of the park’s most wildlife-rich and scenic stops.
Our Gir Somnath travel guide maps out the other places worth your time here.
Largest reservoir in Gir
Marsh-crocodile habitat
Waterbird congregations
On the safari routes
When to go
Cool and clear — the best season for Gir and the coast.
Lush, but Gir's core largely closes.
Hot, but the best season for Gir wildlife sightings.
⏰ Visit on a winter safari toward dusk, when crocodiles and animals gather at the water; carry binoculars.
Timings & entry
- Reached only on a Gir safari
- Best in winter, toward dusk
- Stay in the vehicle at all times
- Carry binoculars and a zoom lens
- Access is on a permit-controlled safari
- No independent entry
- Do not disturb the crocodiles or birds
- Follow your guide's instructions
Getting there
By Air
Diu and Rajkot are the nearest airports.
By Rail
Sasan Gir / Junagadh, then safari.
On Safari
Within Gir, reached on the safari circuit from Sasan.
At the dam
WATER & WILD
Crocodiles, birds and a still reservoir
What to shoot
Crocodiles basking on the banks.
Birds
Pelicans and storks on the water.
Best light
Dusk over the reservoir.
Reach
A long lens from the safari vehicle.
Know before you go
More to see close by
WILDLIFEGir National Park
The last wild home of the Asiatic lion
PORTVeraval
One of India’s busiest fishing ports
HERITAGEPrabhas Patan
An ancient holy town with a fine museum
NATUREHiran River
The lifeline river of the lion forest
SACREDTriveni Sangam
Where three rivers meet the Arabian Sea
Tulsishyam
The first Jyotirlinga, rebuilt at the ocean’s edge
Where to eat near Kamleshwar Dam
THALIKathiawadi Thali
Rotla, kadhi, shaak and ghee-rich fare.
SNACKSGanthiya & fafda
Saurashtra's beloved fried snacks.
PRASADTemple-town bites
Sweets and snacks near the temples.
Pure-veg & Kesar
Pilgrim-town veg fare; Gir Kesar mangoes in summer.
Kamleshwar Dam FAQ
What is Kamleshwar Dam?
The largest reservoir inside Gir National Park, called the 'lifeline of Gir'.
Why is it important?
It holds water that sustains the whole sanctuary's wildlife.
What can I see there?
Marsh crocodiles, waterbirds, and animals coming to drink.
How do I visit?
Only on a permit-controlled Gir safari — there's no independent entry.
When is the best time?
Winter, toward dusk.
What should I bring?
Binoculars and a long lens; stay in the vehicle.
Are there really crocodiles?
Yes — large numbers of marsh crocodiles (muggers).
What's nearby?
The Gir core zone and the Devalia safari park.
Related places across Gujarat
Victoria Park
◐ Morning · birdlife
Vyara Mandirs
Town temples at the district heart
SIDHPURBohra Havelis, Sidhpur
Pastel European-style mansions in Sidhpur
ISKCON Jamnagar
A serene Krishna temple & centre
ANCIENTGhumli Ruins
A grand stepwell & temples of a lost capital
DAIRYDudhsagar Dairy
The milk-rich heartland behind Amul
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Published 24 June 2026 · Updated 24 August 2026