Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected forest area spread across approximately 179 sq km around the Girnar Hills in Junagadh district, Gujarat. The Government of Gujarat officially declared it a wildlife sanctuary in 2008.
It is also part of the larger Gir protected landscape — the only region in the world known as the natural habitat of Asiatic lions, where Asiatic lions still survive in the wild.
The sanctuary draws its name from the Girnar Hills, one of the most sacred pilgrimage destinations in western India for both Hindu and Jain communities. This rare combination of religious heritage and wild forest gives Girnar Sanctuary a character found nowhere else in Indian wildlife tourism.
Ecologically, Girnar shares open forest corridors with Gir National Park, located approximately 60 km to 65 km away. There is no physical boundary between the two protected areas, which means tigers, leopards, and Asiatic lions move freely across both landscapes.
This connectivity makes Girnar a vital part of the regional wildlife corridor and an important buffer zone for lion conservation in Gujarat.
The forest cover is primarily tropical dry deciduous, with teak, acacia, and medicinal plants forming the dominant vegetation. Seasonal streams, rocky outcrops, and open grassland patches create a mosaic of habitats that supports over 300 bird species, large predators, and diverse herbivores throughout the year.
Safari gives wildlife lovers a quieter and more personal alternative to the busier Gir National Park gypsy safari experience.