Arrive at Ahmedabad and travel 260 km (4 hrs) to Gondal.The picturesque, princely town of Gondal, offers accommodations in two historic homes, that once lodged the guests of the Maharajah of Gondal, still owned and managed by the royal family of Gondal, that ruled this princely state for over 300 years from the mid-17th century to the merger of states into the Indian union in 1947/48. Gondal has few rivals for an insight into the lifestyles of the Maharajahs during the Raj. Stay in huge high ceilinged rooms, with European and antique Indian furniture, see the royal collections of vintage cars, carriages and rail saloons, and experience the architecture and interiors of a more elegant period. Overnight in Riverside or Orchard palace in Gondal.
Day-2: GONDAL- GIR
Lion in GirDrive to Gir (120 km / 3-hours driving time) calling in on the way at Junagadh to see the imposing Uparkot Fort, Buddhist cave-sites, 3rd century BC Ashoka rock edicts, the palace museum filled with Nawabi treasures, the flamboyant royal mausoleum complexes.Arrive lunch-time at Gir Birding Lodge and depart after your meal for a safari in the Gir National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary. This eciduous forest is the last abode of the Asiatic lion and also has a thriving panther (leopard) population. It also has a large population of chital or spotted deer, sambar, blue bull antelope, chinkara gazelle, chousingha (the world's only four-horned antelope), wild boar and other wildlife. A number of
Dinner and o/n at Gir Birding Lodge
Day-3 &4: GIR NATIONAL PARK & WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Morning and evening drives in the Gir forests to look for the two big cats
and to watch other wildlife.Between the drives, visit Somnath to see the shore temple (one of the 12 holy abodes of Shiva), Sun Temple, Ahilya Temple and other monuments.
Dinner and o/n at Gir Birding Lodge.
Day-5: Drive back to Ahmedabad/Rajkot for return flight