We backpacked and left for Gir a day brfore Diwali this year. It was a trip in pursuit of seeing a lioness and her cubs spotted near Devaliya. We stayed in tents at a farm and enjoyed the forest air. For the three days that we were there, all of us cozied upto warm bon fires in the night listening to forest noises and watching starlit skies. We were also fortunate to watch the local Siddi tribal dance.
Although we pursued the Asiatic patiently through the forests, our efforts were in vain. Nonetheless, it has made us more determined to go back. We did see pug marks and lot of deer. Apart from that, peacocks were aplenty. We also managed to catch a glimse of a lounging marsh crocodile and a wild cat alongwith a few sambar.
Travelling by road, we felt that the govt. ought to look in to providing proper food arrangements along highways. This could be done in lieu with the locals of intermittent villages so that even they are profitted by this and travellers dont face a lack of local cuisine.
It is a pity to resort to highway hotels and stale bhajiyas when travel needs to be liberating.
Well Gir, look out for us! We'll be back!!
