Breeds of Junagadh and the Gir forest
The homeland of the Gir cow in Saurashtra, where Maldhari herders keep cattle inside the last forest of the Asiatic lion.
Breeds of this place
Best time: December to March, when the forest is open and cool.
The Gir forest covers dry hills and teak woodland south of Junagadh in Saurashtra. It is famous as the last home of the Asiatic lion, but it also gave its name to the Gir cow, with its domed forehead, long pendulous ears and curled horns. Maldhari herders have lived inside the forest with their cattle and buffaloes for generations, in small settlements called nes.
The Gir cow
Gir cattle are usually red or speckled red and white, with a bulging forehead and horns that sweep back and then curl. They are dairy animals, hardy in heat and known for a long working life. Gir bulls were taken to Brazil from the late nineteenth century, where the breed, spelled Gyr, became a pillar of tropical dairying. In India, Junagadh's agricultural university keeps a breeding herd.
Herders and lions
The Maldhari keep their animals within the protected area and around its edge. Lions sometimes take cattle, and the herders' long acceptance of this has been part of the story of the lion's survival. Some families have moved out to villages, and the forest department manages grazing inside the park. The town of Junagadh, below the holy mountain of Girnar, is the gateway to the forest.
A trail idea for Junagadh and the Gir forest
- Girnar The holy mountain above Junagadh, climbed by thousands of steps.
- Uparkot fort The old citadel of Junagadh, with ancient stepwells.
- Sasan Gir The village at the park entrance, where lion safaris start.
- A Maldhari nes Herders' settlements at the forest edge, where cattle come home at dusk.
Written by the EveryCow desk with AI assistance. Background: "Gir National Park" on Wikipedia. Fair dates, markets and visiting rules change; check locally before travelling, and keep a respectful distance from working animals. If something is wrong, tell us.
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