National Bullock Cart Trekking Program in GIR

This is 1st national trek in Gujarat, organized by YHAI.

YHAI its celebrating 100 years of youth hostels internationally & 60 yrs in India.

To promote enviorment conservation it has organized eco-friendly trekking programme.

It would be an amazing experience to be the guest in the only home to the Great Asiatic Lions.

Participants would also experience the culture of rural india & the slow, simple & yet so comfortable life.

Besides Lions, the Gir Sanctuary region is also famous for its vast forest area which is spread over in 1412 sq. kms. 



more information just click the link below :

http://yhaindia.org/files/adv_programs/description/BULLOCKGUJARAT.html

or contact:

on 98254 33144

Gir Santuary reopens - Tourist Season 2008-09

Gir National park is the only natural ebode left for Asiatic Lions. It is situated in a western-most state of India - Gujarat & is just 65 kms away in south-east of the district headquarters - Junagadh. Gir has achieved first position among National Parks & Sanctuaries all over India this year. It gets most of the tourist flow from foreign countries, being on top priorities on anyone's list who visit India.

Every year Gir National Park gets closed for tourists during four month long monsoon period, being it the breeding period for the very few left of the Asiatic Lions. Thus, this gives optimum time for the wildlife to flourish during monsoon & thus, tourists can savour the beauty of the only habitat of Asiatic Lions all over the world, as its gates are reopened.

This year Gir National Park (incl. Devalia Park for Safari) getting opened as per schedule on 16th October 2008, Thursday. However, the issues with roads affected by heavy showers lately this monsoon season is also been under consideration by authorities. Though, these areas are not on the main routes for Safari or forest trips, but still, authorities assured the issues would be settled before the tourist season for year 2008-09 takes pace. They are also aware of the rise in number of tourists right after the festival of Mount Girnar Parikrama (a sacred trek of 35 kms around the mountain) & thus, taking the event as their deadline.

Similar reading : http://girasiaticlion.blogspot.com/2008/10/gir-reopens-for-tourists.html

For more on Asiatic Lions, pl visit : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiatic_Lions

For more on Gir Sanctuary, pl visit : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gir_Forest_National_Park

For more on these in local language, pl read : http://www.sandesh.com/sandesh_article.aspx?newsid=20261

Educational Tourism at Junagadh : JAU

Junagadh Agricultural University (formerly, Agriculture college under GAU - Gujarat Agricultural University) was set up in the year 1972, at Junagadh in the state of Gujarat, India.

JAU is known to offer knowledge, instructions and education in the field of agriculture and allied sciences viz. agriculture, agricultural engineering and fisheries. The Institute recognized by the University Grants Commission, and the courses conducted are also UGC funded.

Teaching infrastructure of the University comprises of four faculties -
Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Fisheries and Post Graduate Studies.

Other Info:-
Graduate programs of JAU enroll 75 students in agriculture, 50 in agricultural engineering and 30 in fisheries faculty.
Post Graduate courses in agriculture science, agricultural engineering & now even in fisheries, are also conducted by the University.
There are 5 Research and 11 Testing Centers within the University for the Development of new varieties/hybrids of crops, vegetables, fruits & marine products like pearl-culture.

JAU motto :- “Education, Research, Extension”

Educational Programs :-
The Junagadh Agricultural University has three colleges under it - Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Fisheries.
Each of these colleges offers graduate and post graduate programs in concerned discipline.
The Institute offers B.Sc and M.Sc in Agriculture, B.Tech and M.Tech in Agriculture Engineering and Fisheries.

Facilities :
The University has a central library serving the students of agriculture with textbooks, referrals and documentation facilities.
The library is connected to the campus LAN for networking, internet browsing and e-mail facilities.

The ideal location of Junagadh in terms of high-quality production of groundnut & Kesar mango helps students to do further research.

Also, the the presence of National level institute like NRCG (National Research Centre for Groundnut) (ICAR) & CBF (Cattle Breeding Farm) gives much more practical exposure & hands-on then any other place.

The University has got its own Research station around Saurashtra peninsula, active for marine project with various research interest from pearl-culture to bio-diversity studies.

The University also has Fisheries college at one of the most active fishing harbors of India, Veraval; which has recently commenced Master's course also.

Kind of University :– State University.

Contact Details:
Address : Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh - 362001, Gujarat, India.
Web Site : http://www.jau.in
Phone Number : +91-285-2671018

Gir prooves itself king of Tourism in Gujarat

The following information is originally an article by the leading newspaper Times of India.

(Article link (courtesy) : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ahmedabad/Gir_is_lion_of_all_sanctuaries/articleshow/3561630.cms)

"...Of four national parks and 22 sanctuaries in Gujarat, Gir in Junagadh and Nal Sarovar in Ahmedabad district top the popularity charts among visitors. The state tourism department seems to have failed to market sanctuaries in other parts.

According to official data, Gir Asiatic lion forest reserve alone has attracted 66 per cent of tourists in Gujarat and over 80 per cent of total foreign tourists visiting the state. Officials said that if the data of Nal Sarovar and Thol bird sanctuaries and Gir are put together, other sanctuaries in the state have just attracted seven per cent of the domestic tourists visiting Gujarat for wildlife tourism.

Forest officials say that the only reason why there are not many visitors at other sanctuaries is lack of infrastructure and not many people are aware that these exist.

Besides, the Devalia interpretation zone for Asiatic Lions and Sasan Gir fall in the pilgrim circuit of Somnath and Diu, for those wishing a boozing break. Officials also say that Sasan Gir is a hot favourite among Amdavadis. "Rest of the sanctuaries are isolated and it is only nature lovers from the state who visit these sanctuaries."

Bharat Pathak, conservator of forests (Junagadh) says, "A detailed analysis is required. But the immediate reasons are the popularity and good infrastructure in Sasan Gir. The other attractions are also the large variety of birds found here."

It is notable that the number of tourists to Gir is increasing every year. Which was stupendous 15% hike last year!

Read more in local language :

http://www.sandesh.com/sandesh_article.aspx?newsid=20841

If curious, here is a nice resource on Asiatic Lions & Gir :

http://girforestguide.blogspot.com/

The Girnar parikrama : Exclusive celebration of Junagadh

The importance of GIRNAR PARIKRAMA from the religious point of view is much more. People from all over INDIA come to undertake this tough route, even without bothering about the harsh cold of forest.

Here are the individual distances of places located on the app. 36 KM. long parikrama route:
'Bhavnath' to 'Zina Bava Ni Madhi' = 12 Kms.
'Zina Bava Ni Madhi' to 'Malvela' = 8 Kms
'Malvela' to 'Bordevi' = 8 Kms.
'Bordevi' to 'Bhavnath' = 8 Kms.

Apart from religious point of view, the parikrama is equally important from social point of view because people of different castes and community come together on this pious occasion. They come to know about the different assets of different community. Here each and every person lives with other people without any differences.

The parikrama is organized every year on KARTAK SUD 11 TO 15 according to the Indian moon calander.

The parikrama starts from DUDHESHWAR TEMPLE at BHAVNATH TALETI. Then people pass through dense forest via the INTWA NI GHODI [ghodi is like pass in mountains - a buldge shape in which one has to first climb the elevation and than climb down the elevation].

After they pass this ghodi, they reach ZINA BAVA NI MADHI located very near to the largest dam of JUNAGADH district-HASNAPUR DAM. Pilgrims do a night halt here. A very beautiful temple named CHANDRA-MAULESHWAR is situated here. The probability of lions sighting here is maximum. This place is also known as RANIYO KUVO. But there is an important notice for the pilgrims that, the entry to this place is banned. You have to have the permission from Dept. of Forests to enter this temple.

Then there are two options for the pilgrims from Zina Bava Ni Madhi.

First option is to directly reach MALVELA and the other option is to reach Malvela via SARKHADIYA HANUMAN.

'Sarkhadiya Hanumaan' is the best Hanumaan temple in Junagadh. It is located amidst dense forest. Lion roars are almost common at this place. Chances of being confronted by deers is also maximum. Pilgrims can also visit Suraj-Kund from Sarkhadiya Hanuman.

Pilgrims reach MADVELA from either of the above mentioned routes. A very beautiful temple is located at MADVELA. As pilgrims start moving from MADVELA, the toughest ghodi is about to welcome them. This toughest ghodi is known as NAL-PANI GHODI OR MADVELA NI GHODI. This ghodi is so inclined that the maximum no. of accidents are reported from this place. Many aged pilgrim finds it difficult to cross this ghodi. Once the pilgrims reach the top of the ghodi, there is a forest hut located which counts the no. of pilgrims undertaking the parikrama. Now the pilgrims have to climb down the steep elevation of nalpani ghodi. After they climb it down, they reach BORDEVI.

BORDEVI is a temple of GODDESS. It is surrounded by Mango trees on three sides of the temple. Places like KAALA-GHUNO AND TATANIYO GHUNO are places which carry water all the year round. TATANIYO GHUNO or KHODIYAR GHUNO gives shelter to Crocodiles. Lucky people are able to see a crocodile with the golden earing. People who had lived in the concrete jungle like very much in this natural jungle. Bordevi is surrounded by unleashed nature on all 4 sides.

Pilgrims now start moving towards BHAVNATH TALETI from Bordevi. This is the end of tiresome, yet fruitful GIRNAR PARIKRAMA.

The Sakkar-baug Zoo

The sakkarbaug zoo is ranked 4th all over india. It is one of the zoos throughout India where the ASIATIC LIONS are bred purely, means that pure gene pool of asiatic lions is maintained, Whereas other zoos of the world produces lions with a mix gene pool of african and asian lions.

Apart from LIONS, many more animals are found in the zoo. Tigers, Leopards, Bears, Jungle cats are the mammals found. Reptiles include crocodile, venoumous and nonvenomous snakes, indian monitor lizard etc.

A vide variety of birds are also preserved. 3 species of vultures also found and within 4 monts, a breeding centre will b set up in the zoo for vultures.