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✦ DISTRICT TRAVEL GUIDEAmreli
Lion country on the eastern edge of Gir.
Amreli is one of Gujarat's 33 districts — explore its destinations, culture, food, heritage, wildlife and hidden gems in this complete travel guide.
About Amreli
Amreli is a sun-baked Saurashtra district where the wild Gir forest rolls down to a quiet Arabian Sea coast. It shares the realm of the Asiatic lion — at Tulsishyam, big cats roam near bubbling hot springs and an ancient Krishna temple, while the Ambardi safari park near Dhari offers a thrilling glimpse of the kings of Gir.
Down on the shore, Jafrabad’s old fort guards a fishing coast and the booming Pippavav port, while inland the poet Kalapi once sang from the little town of Lathi. Savarkundla’s craftsmen, Khambha’s temples and rolling farmland complete this off-beat corner.
Amreli’s defining feature is that its lions are not confined to a park. The eastern flank of the Gir landscape runs through the district around Dhari, and prides range across revenue forest, riverbeds and farmland in a shared-landscape coexistence that has become one of India’s more remarkable conservation stories. Ambardi Safari Park near Dhari gives visitors a dependable sighting, with wilder chances on the roads at dawn and dusk.
Beyond the lions, the district carries Tulsishyam’s hot springs and forest temple deep in the Gir country, the Khodiyar Mata shrine at Galdhara on the Shetrunji, and Lathi, the small town whose poet-prince Kalapi holds an outsized place in Gujarati literature. Amreli town is the practical base, with Junagadh and Bhavnagar each within a few hours. December to March is the season.
Fast Facts
Why Visit Amreli?
Lions, sacred springs and a calm coast.
Asiatic Lions
Share Gir's wild domain
Tulsishyam Springs
Hot springs & a Krishna temple
Coastal Forts
Jafrabad by the sea
Pippavav Port
A booming modern harbour
Poet's Lathi
Home of the poet Kalapi
Savarkundla Crafts
Famed for weights & scales
Gir Wilderness
Teak forest & rich wildlife
Seaside Villages
Quiet fishing shores
Top Places to Visit
Lions, springs, forts and the coast.
FORT & COAST
Jafrabad
An old fort guarding a fishing coast
PORT
Pippavav
A major modern private seaport
FOREST
Khambha
A forest-edge town near eastern Gir
TOWN
Savarkundla
Famed for its weights & scales craft
ISLAND
Shiyal Bet
A fishing island off the coast
TOWN
Amreli City
The leafy district headquarters
SANCTUARY
Krishnayan
A vast cow-conservation sanctuary
Hidden Gems
Quiet corners only locals know.
Famous Temples & Spiritual Places
Forest shrines and seaside faith.
Nature & Wildlife
Gir’s forest, springs and a wild coast.
Also: the Ambardi safari park · Shetrunji riverbanks · leopards, deer and rich birdlife of eastern Gir.
Local Food Guide
Bold Kathiawadi cooking & Gir kesar.
Culture & Festivals
Maldhari life and a poet’s legacy.
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.
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.
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.
Living culture: Gir Maldhari pastoral traditions · the poet Kalapi’s literary legacy · Tulsishyam pilgrimage · Savarkundla’s famous scale-making craft.
Shopping & Local Products
Mangoes, ghee and Kathiawadi crafts.
Gir Kesar Mango
The prized saffron mango
Gir Cow Ghee
Pure desi-cow ghee
Savarkundla Scales
Brass weights & balances
Kathiawadi Crafts
Embroidery & mirror-work
Groundnut Products
Roasted nuts & local oil
Penda & Sweets
Rich local milk delicacies
Best Time to Visit
Cool winters for lions and the coast.
Dec – Mar
Oct – Nov
Apr – Jun
How to Reach Amreli
In the heart of southern Saurashtra.
By Air
Rajkot (~105 km) and Diu (~110 km) airports are the nearest.
By Train
Amreli station connects to Rajkot, Bhavnagar and beyond.
By Road
Good state highways link Amreli to Rajkot, Junagadh & the coast.
Sample Itineraries
From a lion safari to a coastal run.
Lion Safari
Ambardi safari park · Dhari & eastern Gir · Forest viewpoints
Forest + Springs
Day 1 — Ambardi lions · Day 2 — Tulsishyam springs · Gir forest temples
Amreli Explorer
Ambardi & Tulsishyam · Jafrabad fort & coast · Lathi & Savarkundla · Amreli town
Sacred Trail
Tulsishyam temple · Nagnath Mahadev · Khodiyar Mata
Sea & Fort
Jafrabad fort · Shiyal Bet island · Pippavav harbour
Town & Verse
Lathi & Kalapi · Savarkundla crafts · Amreli heritage
Photography Spots
Lions, forests, springs and the sea.
Travel Tips
Make the most of your Amreli trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything to plan your Amreli visit.
Can I see lions in Amreli?
Yes — Amreli shares the Gir landscape; the Ambardi safari park near Dhari offers reliable sightings.
What is Tulsishyam?
A revered Krishna temple set amid natural hot springs deep in the Gir forest.
When is Gir open?
Mid-October to mid-June; the forest closes during the monsoon.
What is special about the coast?
Jafrabad's old fort, the fishing island of Shiyal Bet, and the big Pippavav port.
How do I reach Amreli?
Rajkot and Diu airports are each ~105–110 km away; Amreli has its own railway station.
When should I visit?
December to March for the best weather and wildlife; summer for peak sightings.
Related Destinations
More of Saurashtra to discover.
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