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TEMPLE · SHAKTI · IN GIRKankai Mata Temple
A revered goddess shrine set deep within the Gir lion sanctuary — a rare temple where pilgrimage and pure wilderness meet, ringed by forest and big cats.
A goddess in the lions' realm
Deep in the heart of the Gir forest — the realm of the Asiatic lion — stands the temple of Kankai Mata, a revered shrine to the Mother Goddess. Reaching it is an adventure in itself: the road runs right through the lion sanctuary, and pilgrims share the forest with deer, antelope and, sometimes, the great cats themselves.
The temple, ancient and simple, sits in a forest clearing wrapped entirely by wilderness, and has long been served by the Maldhari herders and sadhus who live within Gir. A small annual fair draws devotees who travel through the forest to seek the goddess’s blessings.
The blend is utterly unique — a living goddess temple in the middle of a national park, where the sacred and the wild are inseparable.
A shrine deep in Gir.
A goddess shrine deep inside lion country
A forest goddess temple.
A goddess shrine has been venerated deep within the Gir forest since long before the sanctuary existed.
Forest-dwelling Maldhari herders and resident sadhus have served the temple across the generations.
When Gir became a protected sanctuary, the shrine remained inside it — grandfathered into the lion forest.
The result is a pilgrimage unlike any other in Gujarat, reached through the wild heart of lion country.
Reasons to make the time
Goddess in Gir
The temple stands deep in the forest, kilometres inside the sanctuary boundary.
Lions en route
The only road to it runs through protected Gir, permits required.
Pure wilderness
The shrine sits in a clearing, forest pressing on every side.
Maldhari heritage
The Maldhari herders' devotion has kept the temple alive for generations.
Annual fair
Devotees cross the lion forest for darshan, and always have.
Sacred & wild
Wilderness and worship blend here as almost nowhere else in India.
What to look for inside
THE SHRINEKankai Mata
The forest goddess temple.
THE FORESTWild Gir
Wilderness all around.
How to spend an hour or two
Arrange access
Arrange the forest permits first; entry to Gir's interior requires them.
Travel the forest
Take the forest road through the sanctuary — the journey is the pilgrimage.
Take darshan
Seek Kankai Mata's blessings at the shrine in its clearing.
Watch for wildlife
Watch for deer, antelope and, with luck, lions along the way.
Meet the Maldhari
Meet the Maldhari devotion that has served the temple for generations.
Respect the wild
Keep quiet and disturb nothing; the forest owns this road.
A forest-clearing temple.
A simple shrine in a clearing
Kankai Mata is an unpretentious forest temple — a modest shrine to the goddess set in a clearing deep within Gir, with simple structures and rest facilities for the pilgrims and sadhus who make the journey. There is no grand architecture; the wonder is the setting.
Wrapped entirely by the lion forest, reached only through the sanctuary, it is a place where the boundary between temple and wilderness dissolves — among the most singular sacred sites in all of Gujarat.
See what else is nearby in our guide to Gir Somnath.
Forest-clearing goddess shrine
Deep in the Gir sanctuary
Served by Maldhari & sadhus
Reached through the lion forest
When to go
Winter, November to February, is the season — the forest roads are open and travel is comfortable.
In the monsoon Gir's interior largely closes, and the shrine becomes hard to reach.
Summer is hot but concentrates wildlife near water; travel strictly in daylight.
⏰ Go in winter with the required forest permits and a guide; treat the sanctuary and its wildlife with care.
Timings & entry
- Reached only through the Gir forest
- Forest permits/timings apply
- Go with a guide; respect the wildlife
- Allow a half day with travel
- Temple darshan is free
- Entering Gir requires permits
- Do not disturb the wildlife en route
- Carry water and travel in daylight
Getting there
By Air
Diu and Rajkot are the nearest airports.
By Rail
Junagadh/Veraval, then forest road.
By Road
Deep inside Gir; reached via forest routes with permits.
At the temple
SHRINE & WILD
A goddess temple amid the forest
What to shoot
The shrine in its forest clearing.
Surrounds
The wild Gir forest pressing close.
En route
Wildlife met along the forest road.
Be discreet
Respect both the worship and the wild.
Know before you go
More to see close by
Gita Mandir
A riverside temple near Somnath
QUIETChorwad Beach
A former royal seaside retreat
BEACHSomnath Beach
Golden sands beside the great temple
NATUREHiran River
The lifeline river of the lion forest
SACREDTriveni Sangam
Where three rivers meet the Arabian Sea
WILDLIFEGir National Park
The last wild home of the Asiatic lion
Where to eat near Kankai Mata Temple
Kathiawadi Thali
Rotla, kadhi, shaak and ghee-rich fare.
Ganthiya & fafda
Saurashtra's beloved fried snacks.
Temple-town bites
Sweets and snacks near the temples.
Pure-veg & Kesar
Pilgrim-town veg fare; Gir Kesar mangoes in summer.
Kankai Mata Temple FAQ
What is Kankai Mata Temple?
A goddess shrine set deep inside the Gir lion sanctuary — a living temple in a forest clearing, served for generations by the Maldhari herders and reached only through the protected forest.
How do I reach it?
By road through the Gir forest with the required forest-department permits, in daylight hours, and ideally with a local guide who knows the route and the rules.
Why is it special?
It is a working temple in the middle of a national park — pilgrims take darshan where lions walk the same tracks, a combination found almost nowhere else in India.
Who serves the temple?
The Maldhari forest herders and resident sadhus.
Is there an entry fee?
Darshan is free; entering Gir needs permits.
When should I go?
Winter, with a guide and permits.
Will I see lions?
Possibly — the road runs through lion country, though sightings aren't guaranteed.
What's nearby?
Tulsishyam and the wider Gir National Park.
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Published 24 June 2026 · Updated 24 August 2026