Nearest Railway Station to Gir Forest: All Your Options Compared

I am Harsh Rawat, born in Dwarka and a guide on this coast for more than 8 years and I have met thousands of travellers stepping off these trains. Choosing the right railhead for Gir can save you hours and a great deal of hassle, so let me lay out every option honestly. I plan these transfers for the Somnath Dwarka Tour Package team, the wildlife and pilgrimage unit of Experience My India. This guide covers the nearest station, every alternative compared, how to reach the Gir National Park gate from each, the airports and buses and the tips that keep you from missing the best safari of the trip.

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Nearest Railway Station to Gir Forest

The short answer is Veraval Railway Station, the closest major railhead at about 45 km from the Sasan Gir gate, roughly 1 to 1.5 hours by road. There is also a small Sasan Gir station in the town itself, right beside the park, but it has very limited train services, so most travellers arrive at Veraval or Junagadh and drive the last stretch. Which station suits you best depends less on raw distance and more on where you are travelling from and how frequently the trains run, so it is worth comparing them properly before you book your ticket.

Railway Stations Near Gir, Compared

Veraval Railway Station

Veraval is the closest major railhead, roughly 45 km and about 1 to 1.5 hours from the Sasan gate. It is well connected to Ahmedabad, Rajkot and other cities, with regular trains that make it easy to reach from most of Gujarat. Its biggest advantage is that it is also the station for Somnath, only a short drive away, so you can combine the temple town and the lions on a single trip. Taxis and buses wait right outside the station for the onward run to Sasan. For most pilgrims and wildlife lovers travelling within the state, Veraval is the station to aim for.

Junagadh Junction

Junagadh Junction sits about 65 to 80 km from Sasan, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours away and it often has the best train frequency of all the options, with direct services from Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Vadodara and Rajkot. It falls on the Western Railway network and handles a large number of daily trains, so if you cannot find a convenient service to Veraval, Junagadh is usually the smart fallback. It also lets you add Junagadh and the holy mountain of Girnar to your itinerary. Cabs and GSRTC buses run frequently from the station toward Gir.

Rajkot Railway Station

Rajkot is farther out at about 160 km, roughly 3.5 to 4 hours from Sasan, but it is a major junction with the widest long-distance connectivity in the region and its own airport nearby. Travellers coming from other states often find that the easiest through-train or flight lands at Rajkot, from where they continue to Gir by cab or bus. If you are combining Gir with a wider Gujarat trip that includes Rajkot, it can be the most practical entry point despite the longer drive.

Sasan Gir Railway Station

Gir does have its own station, Sasan Gir, right in the town beside the park, which sounds ideal on paper. The catch is that it sees very few trains, on a limited line, so you cannot rely on it for a convenient arrival that fits your schedule. It is always worth checking whether a Sasan Gir train happens to suit you, especially if you are already on the local line, but for planning purposes assume you will arrive at Veraval or Junagadh and drive the final stretch to the gate.

Reaching Gir by Air

• Keshod airport is the nearest to Gir but has very limited flights, so it is rarely practical for most travellers.

• Diu airport is about 110 km away and connects mainly to Mumbai, a scenic coastal option.

• Rajkot airport, about 160 km away, offers better flight frequency and is the usual choice for domestic flyers.

• Ahmedabad airport, about 360 km away, is the largest and best for international and long-distance arrivals, after which you continue by train or road.

Reaching Gir by Road and Bus

Gir is well connected by a good network of national and state highways. GSRTC and private buses run to Sasan Gir from Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Junagadh, Veraval and other towns, making it a genuinely budget-friendly destination. For comfort and flexibility, though, a private cab is the best way to reach the gate in time for an early safari, especially if you are carrying luggage or travelling with family. Somnath to Sasan Gir is a particularly popular short drive, letting you pair the Jyotirlinga with a lion safari over two days.

From the Station to the Gir Gate

Whichever station you choose, the last leg is by road to Sasan, where the safaris begin. The single most important thing to arrange in advance is your gypsy safari permit, booked only through the official Gujarat forest portal, girlion.gujarat.gov.in, since slots are limited and sell out fast in season. Line up your cab or bus for the transfer and time your arrival so you reach Sasan the evening before a morning safari, which is the best drive of the day. These wildlife trips sit at the heart of our wildlife and nature tours and our where to stay options near the gate make that early start easy.

What I Recommend to Travellers

My honest steer is this. If you are coming from within Gujarat, aim for Veraval, because it is closest and lets you fold in Somnath. If you are travelling from another state and cannot find a good Veraval train, get to Junagadh or Rajkot on a well-connected service and drive the rest of the way. The mistake I see most often is people arriving late in the day and missing the morning safari, which is by far the best one; so whatever station you pick, plan to reach Sasan the night before. Line up the cab and the permit ahead of time and the whole thing is effortless. Handling exactly that is what Experience My India does through the Gir tour package, so you step off the train and straight into the trip.

Step off the train and straight into Gir

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