Devalia Safari Park Gir: Timings, Ticket Prices and Booking Guide

For visitors to Gir who want an almost certain lion sighting or who could not get a main safari permit, Devalia Safari Park is the perfect answer. This guide, from the team behind Somnath Dwarka Tour Package, a unit of Experience My India, covers Devalia Safari Park, its timings, ticket prices, the bus and gypsy options and how to book online.

What is Devalia Safari Park?

Devalia Safari Park, officially the Gir Interpretation Zone, is a fenced wildlife sanctuary located at Devalia, in Talala, about 13 km from the main Sasan Gir entry gate. It was created as a smaller, enclosed slice of the Gir ecosystem, home to Asiatic lions, leopards, deer, antelope, nilgai and other wildlife, in a simulated natural habitat. Because the area is fenced and the animals are contained within it, Devalia offers near-guaranteed sightings of the Asiatic lion and often the leopard, which the open main safari, wonderful as it is, can never promise. This makes Devalia ideal for those with limited time, for families with children and for anyone who could not secure a permit for the main Gir safari but still wishes to see the king of Gir up close. It is not quite the wild thrill of the open jungle, but it is the surest way to see the lions.

Devalia Safari Park at a glance

Devalia Safari Park timings

Devalia Safari Park operates in 55-minute time slots during a morning and an evening window and the exact times change with the season. The park is strictly closed every Wednesday for maintenance and animal rest, so plan around that. The seasonal timings are:

Like the main park, Devalia usually closes during the monsoon, roughly mid-June to mid-October, when the forest is given over to the breeding season, so a visit must be planned in the open season. The early morning slot is often the best for activity and sightings, when the animals are most active in the cool of the day. Timings can change, so confirm the current schedule when you book and note that the main Gir safari follows its own separate timings.

Devalia Safari Park ticket prices

Visitors to Devalia can choose between an economical mini bus safari and a private gypsy or jeep, safari. The official forest department base fees depend on the vehicle type and the day of the week, with weekends and holidays costing more. The tariff is as follows:

The mini bus safari is the most economical option, with no vehicle or guide charges to add, which is why it is popular with families and groups. The gypsy safari, which carries up to 6 adults and 1 child per permit, has mandatory on-site costs on top of the permit fee: a guide fee of about Rs 400 and gypsy vehicle hire of around Rs 1,600 for an older model to Rs 2,500 for a newer one. So a gypsy safari works out dearer per group but gives a more flexible, open-vehicle experience. Fees are set by the forest department and can change, so confirm the current tariff when you book.

Bus safari or gypsy safari at Devalia?

The mini bus safari is the budget choice, at about Rs 150 per person on weekdays, with no extra vehicle or guide fees. You share a larger vehicle with other visitors on a set route. It is comfortable, economical and perfectly good for seeing the lions and the easiest option for large families and groups.

The gypsy safari is a private open jeep for up to 6 adults and 1 child, which gives a more intimate, open-air experience closer to a real safari, with your own guide. It costs more once the permit, the guide fee and the vehicle hire are added, but many prefer it for the photography and the atmosphere. For most families wanting a sure lion sighting on a budget, the bus is ideal; for those wanting the open-jeep thrill and better photos, the gypsy is worth the extra.

How to book Devalia Safari Park online

Permits for Devalia must be booked in advance through the official government portal to secure your slot, as places are limited. The process is straightforward:

• Secure the permit: visit the official Gir Online Permit Booking System run by the Gujarat forest department.

• Enter details: select Devalia Park, along with your preferred date, time slot and vehicle type, bus or gypsy.

• Add your group: provide the full names and valid photo ID details, such as Aadhaar, Voter ID, driving licence or passport, for all members.

• Download the e-permit: print your confirmed online e-permit to carry on the day.

• On the day: for a gypsy safari, present the permit at the Sinh Sadan reception counter about 30 minutes before your slot to be allotted your guide, vehicle and route.

Book as early as you can, especially for weekends, holidays and the peak winter season, as the limited slots fill up. A tour operator can also handle the booking and the logistics for you as part of a wider trip, which many visitors prefer.

Devalia versus the main Gir safari

It is worth understanding how Devalia differs from the main Gir National Park safari, as the two offer quite different experiences. The main Gir safari takes you deep into the open, wild forest in search of lions that roam free, a thrilling but never guaranteed experience, with its own permits and costs, as covered in our Gir safari ticket price guide. Devalia, by contrast, is a smaller, fenced zone where the animals are contained, so sightings are near-guaranteed but the sense of the wild is gentler. Many visitors do both: the main safari for the wild thrill and Devalia to be sure of a good, close lion sighting. If you can only do one and seeing the lion matters most, Devalia is the safer bet; if the wild experience matters more, choose the main park.

How to reach Devalia Safari Park

Devalia Safari Park is at Devalia, in Talala, about 13 km from the main Sasan Gir entry gate, easily reached by road from Sasan Gir or Junagadh. It is well connected by road and rail via Junagadh or Sasan Gir and the nearest major airports are Rajkot and Ahmedabad, with Diu and Keshod also within reach. From the Somnath temple it is about 60 km and our Somnath to Gir distance guide covers that drive. A Somnath Dwarka taxi service can bring you to Devalia and Sasan Gir as part of a wider Saurashtra tour and the how to reach Gir guide covers the wider access.

Tips for visiting Devalia Safari Park

A few pointers make your visit better:

• Book your Devalia permit online well in advance, especially for weekends, holidays and peak winter season.

• Remember the park is closed every Wednesday, so plan your Gir days around that.

• Choose the morning slot for the best wildlife activity and the most comfortable temperatures.

• Pick the mini bus for an economical, sure sighting or the gypsy for an open-jeep experience and better photos.

• For a gypsy safari, reach the Sinh Sadan counter about 30 minutes before your slot with your e-permit and ID.

• Combine Devalia with the main Gir safari to enjoy both the guaranteed sighting and the wild forest.

Plan your Gir trip

Experience My India can plan a Gir trip that includes Devalia Safari Park and the main safari along with the temples and the coast. Combine Devalia with a Gir safari, the Somnath temple and Dwarka, book Somnath Dwarka hotels and let the Experience My India Somnath Dwarka tour packages or the wider Gujarat tour packages include Gir and the region in your itinerary, with the safari booking handled for you.

Related guides

To plan the rest of your Gir and Saurashtra trip, these related guides help:

Plan your visit

Experience My India can arrange your Gir and Devalia safari trip. Browse more travel guides, message us on WhatsApp or call +91 73006 20809.