Sasan Gir to Porbandar Taxi Fare One-Way & Cab Guide

Porbandar sits 138-140 km northwest of the Sasan Gir safari gate — 2.5 to 3 hours via Manavadar and NH51. A sedan costs Rs.4,200 one way, an Ertiga Rs.5,200, and an Innova Crysta Rs.6,800. The road trades teak forest for groundnut plains, then joins the coastal highway into Gandhi’s birth town. And if you are closing a Sasan Gir National Park safari guide morning slot and aiming for Sudama Temple by lunch, the 9:30 AM exit matters more than the fare.

This is the lions-to-legacy run — Asiatic lions at dawn, Sudama’s white-marble temple and Kirti Mandir by afternoon. Both points sit inside Gujarat, so no border tax. But operators bill a 150 km minimum even for this 138 km sector, CNG boots hold just 2 bags, and Porbandar’s Bypass-to-MG-Road entry confuses first-time drivers. Get waiting and parking in writing.

Route Overview – Sasan Gir to Porbandar by Car

Detail	Information
Distance	~138-140 km via Manavadar (Sasan Gir → Mendarda link 25 km → Manavadar 45 km → Porbandar 65-70 km)
Travel Time	2.5 to 3 hours; 3.5 hours with Bypass truck traffic or monsoon patches
Route	Sasan Gir → Manavadar → NH151 → NH51 → Porbandar Bypass → MG Road
Highway Notes	SH 2-lane to Manavadar, NH151/NH51 4-lane highway belt to Porbandar Bypass
Toll Estimate	Rs.0-100 — mostly toll-free SH/NH stretches. City parking Rs.50-100

The drive starts at Sasan’s safari gate and pushes northwest — away from the Somnath-Veraval pilgrim flow. First 25 km run through Gir fringe. Thinning teak, village crossings, morning milk tankers. Then the road opens past Mendarda link toward Manavadar. Straight farm runs where drivers hold 70-80 kmph. Good surface, but unmarked crossings near every village.

Past Manavadar the route joins NH151, then NH51 toward the coast. Four lanes, Bypass signage, salt-pan air in the last 20 km. Porbandar Bypass skips the truck mandi — stay on it till the Wadia Road cut, then MG Road into town. Outstation drivers often dive early into the old city and get stuck in Bhatia Bazar lanes. So fix the drop upfront — Sudama Temple parking, Kirti Mandir lane, or station. Three different turns.

Condition holds most of the year. NH51 was relaid in long Bypass sections; SH patches wear faster. July-September brings shoulder water near Manavadar culverts. Still motorable — just add 20 minutes and keep headlights ready for spray.

Taxi Fare Breakdown – What You Actually Pay

Below are standard one-way fares for the Sasan Gir to Porbandar drop in 2026. Operators bill a 150 km minimum on this sector (Clear/EaseMyTrip both quote 138-150 km blocks), so the 138 km run is priced as 150 km plus driver return — hence the jump over 50 km routes:

Vehicle Type	Models	Capacity	Luggage	One-Way Fare
Sedan	Swift Dzire, Etios	4 seater AC	2 bags	Rs.4,200
SUV	Ertiga	6 seater AC	2 bags	Rs.5,200
SUV (Premium)	Innova Crysta	6 seater AC	4 bags	Rs.6,800
Tempo Traveller	12 Seater	12 seater AC	10 bags	Rs.9,500
Tempo Traveller	17 Seater	17 seater AC	10 bags	Rs.10,500
Tempo Traveller	26 Seater	26 seater AC	10 bags	Rs.12,000

The CNG Luggage Warning

Dzires and Ertigas on this belt run CNG. Cylinder in the boot. Two medium bags fit — third one rides on the back seat. Porbandar runs with family luggage plus prasad boxes? Tight. An overhead carrier for Ertiga/Innova costs ₹300–₹400 extra — essential for 3+ bags in CNG cars and must be requested upfront at booking, not at the lodge steps. Innova Crysta carries 4 large bags without the frame.

What’s Included vs. What’s Extra

What’s included: Fuel, driver allowance, GST on aggregator bills. What’s extra: Highway toll if routed via tolled NH spur (Rs.0-100), temple-area parking Rs.50-100, night charge Rs.200-300 (10 PM-6 AM), waiting Rs.100 per hour after 60 minutes.

No border tax — intra-Gujarat all the way. The surprise on this route is the leftover-distance billing: one-way quotes show 150 km × Rs.13 plus driver bata Rs.250 plus GST. Ask for the breakup slip. And confirm: “Is Porbandar city parking and Sudama lane entry included?” Old-city attendants collect separately.

Why Are Round Trips Sometimes Cheaper?

One-way Rs.4,200 bakes in empty return — 138 km down, 138 km back empty. Same-day return (276 km total) runs Rs.6,500-7,500 sedan, Rs.8,000-9,000 Ertiga. Per-km drops from Rs.30 to Rs.24. For Porbandar the car waits 4-5 hours across Sudama + Kirti + beach anyway. Round-trip holds the car through that idle stretch and kills the 5 PM scramble when day buses reload. Groups of 6+ do better in one Innova than two sedans — parking for one, waiting for one.

Car Rental Options – How to Book

Online aggregators: EaseMyTrip shows Gir-to-Porbandar hatchback Rs.4,428 and sedan Rs.4,438 for 138 km included, Gozo lists sedan Rs.3,809 and SUV Rs.4,444 for 145 km. Those base fares exclude driver bata and GST at checkout — final sedan lands Rs.4,200-4,800. Useful for cancellation cover (free till 12 hours before) and verified drivers. Prices swing Rs.400-600 by weekend.

Local stands at Sasan Gir: Safari-gate stand, Sasan bus stop and the Mendarda chowk cars cover Porbandar weekly. Inspect AC cooling — 3-hour noon run exposes weak compressors. Note plate, take driver number, get a slip with 150 km billing, waiting and parking lines. Lodge desks add Rs.200-300 but arrange roof carriers faster than apps.

Timing the pickup: Share drop sequence — Sudama first or Kirti first changes parking. Sudama lane jams 11 AM-1 PM with marriage groups; Kirti Mandir is shut midday 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. For a 9:30 AM Sasan exit you hit Sudama at 12:30 PM sharp. Tell the operator if Dwarka extends after — same car to Dwarka (105 km more) saves a second booking.

Continuing to Dwarka? Book One Continuous Cab

Dwarka sits ~105 km north of Porbandar on NH51 — about 2.5 hours on the coastal highway with one fuel halt. If that is the next stop, book the full Sasan Gir → Porbandar → Dwarka run when you leave Sasan. Dropping in Porbandar, paying the round-trip return fee back toward Gir, and starting a second one-way north wastes the empty-leg you already funded and lands you a second 150 km minimum. One continuous cab keeps the driver on kilometres you already negotiated, holds waiting charges on one bill, and puts you on the coastal highway before evening temple queues. Flag “Dwarka same-day” at the safari gate stand so timing, the ₹300–₹400 carrier (if loaded), and hotel drop order stay on the same slip. Operators running Gir–Somnath–Porbandar–Dwarka circuits price the third leg cheaper than a standalone Porbandar–Dwarka hire — ask for the combined per-km rate before you commit.

Best Route via Manavadar & NH51

One sensible road. Sasan Gir → Mendarda link → Manavadar → NH151 → NH51 → Porbandar Bypass. No shortcut through the forest saves time; the Junagadh detour adds 40 km and only helps when Manavadar culverts flood in August. If the driver pitches Junagadh on a dry day, he is stretching km. Hold the Bypass line.

Traffic is farm-plus-highway. SH sections carry tractors and school vans till Manavadar; NH51 carries salt trucks and Dwarka pilgrim buses after. Overtake on the 4-lane Bypass, not the 2-lane SH curves. Last 10 km smell of sea and soda ash plants — windows up if dust bothers you.

Outstation drivers — hold the Bypass to Wadia Road: Stay on the Porbandar Bypass until the Wadia Road cut, then drop into town. Diving early toward MG Road pulls you into Bhatia Bazar’s one-car lanes and marriage-season double-parking; the bypass exit costs nothing extra on the meter and saves 20-30 minutes on peak days. Once off at Wadia Road, follow the municipal signs toward the temple belt rather than the bazaar spine — the final 2 km is one-way in reverse during processions. Locals and outstation cabs both use this exit; if your driver proposes the “short” MG Road cut, refuse it and keep the bypass line.

Coastal Madhavpur alternative (not in a hurry): From Porbandar, a scenic detour runs north along the coast via Mangrol and Madhavpur Ghed beach before rejoining the NH51 corridor toward Dwarka. Adds roughly 45-60 minutes and a string of sea turns — skip it on a 9:30 AM safari exit, take it when the day is loose and you want beach air between temples. Madhavpur Ghed is quiet compared with Diu-side beaches: shell sand, a short seawall, and roadside tea stalls; Barda Sanctuary sits inland if you want a wildlife buffer before the highway. In monsoon the coastal stretch takes full spray — keep windows up and hold 40 km/h past the curve sections. Drivers know the halt; ask for “Mangrol–Madhavpur coast road” when you book so the operator does not default to the inland NH line and bill extra kilometres for the detour.

En Route Stops & Waypoints

Stop	Distance from Sasan	What to See / Do
Sasan Gir Gate	0 km	Start — safari reception, ATM, fuel, water
Manavadar	68-72 km	Midpoint — fuel, dhabas, restrooms, CNG top-up
Porbandar Bypass	128-132 km	Stay on Bypass till Wadia Road cut, skip mandi jam
Sudama Temple	138 km	Parking lane, 5 AM-9:30 PM darshan zone
Kirti Mandir	139-140 km	Gandhi birth house lane, 1 km from Sudama

Manavadar is the only break worth taking — halfway, clean washrooms on the highway side, CNG with shorter queues than Sasan. After it, nothing till Bypass dhabas. Porbandar entry via Wadia Road → MG Road avoids Bhatia Bazar tangles. Fort parking near Sudama fills by noon on wedding season weekends; Kirti lane allows only drop, not wait.

What to Do in Porbandar

Porbandar packs temple, Gandhi history and sea into 3 km. Park once near Sudama and walk the middle stretch — old lanes punish U-turns. Keep 4 hours minimum:

Sudama Temple Porbandar (5 AM-9:30 PM): India’s only Sudama shrine — white marble, carved pillars, checkerboard floor, garden plus small stepwell. Built 1902-07 on donations and fundraiser plays. Marriage groups peak 11 AM-1 PM; go before noon for a quiet darshan. The temple lane holds only 6-8 cars — private cabs should use the municipal ground or wait at the lane entrance in marriage season; autos charge Rs.50 from station.
Kirti Mandir (7:30 AM-7 PM; closed 12:00 PM-3:00 PM): Entry to Kirti Mandir and Gandhiji’s ancestral home is 100% free — no ticket, no timed pass. The building shuts midday from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, so do Sudama first and return for the 3 PM block. Memorial to Gandhi and Kasturba with the birth house adjacent — 2 Oct 1869. Shoe stand free. Pair with Nehru Planetarium (3 km) and Shri Hari Mandir (1 km) if kids tag along.
Afternoon heat on the temple belt: The Kirti–Sudama stretch is about 1 km of open lane with almost no shade. In summer afternoons, walking it between darshan slots is the hardest part of the day — keep the car running and do gate drop-offs instead.
Chowpatty + coastal belt: Porbandar Chowpatty for sunset, Madhavpur Beach for a longer halt (day trip), Barda Sanctuary 15 km for wildlife spillover, Jambuvan Caves 18 km for a quick detour. Most Sasan arrivals do Chowpatty 5-6 PM after temples — sea breeze cuts the heat.
Dwarka extension: Porbandar to Dwarka is the natural next leg (105 km, 2.5 hrs via coastal highway). Our Dwarkadhish Temple guide covers aarti slots and the Sudarshan Setu cable-stayed bridge across the Gomti — book one continuous Sasan–Porbandar–Dwarka cab at the start so you do not pay a Porbandar return fee and a second northbound fare.

Safari-to-Porbandar Same-Day Itinerary

Lions at dawn, sea by dusk — tight but workable with the early slot. The Devalia Safari Park interpretation zone is the fallback when core permits vanish — 1.5 hours, assured lions, back by 9:30 AM:

6:00-9:00 AM: Core safari. Bags packed, room settled, driver at gate by 9:15.
9:30 AM: Depart Sasan via Manavadar. Fuel at Manavadar, no other halt.
12:30 PM: Reach Sudama Temple parking. Darshan 45 min before marriage rush thins.
1:30-3:00 PM: Lunch while Kirti is closed (12:00-3:00 PM). Rest in car shade — do not walk the Sudama–Kirti lane in summer heat.
3:00-4:30 PM: Kirti Mandir + birth house (free entry), Planetarium if time.
5:00-6:00 PM: Chowpatty sunset. Depart for Sasan (3 hrs) or Dwarka (2.5 hrs).

Summer flips the math — 42°C by noon wilts temple walks. Walking between Kirti Mandir and Sudama Temple in the summer afternoon is genuinely hard: open lanes, no shade, 1 km each way between the two gates. Keep the cab; do drop-offs at each gate and meet in car air between stops rather than covering the stretch on foot with children or elders. Start 30 minutes earlier and compress Manavadar to fuel-only. Monsoon reverses it: add 30 minutes for Bypass spray and temple-lane slush. Either way, 5:30 AM lodge wake-up is non-negotiable for the 6 AM safari gate line.

Best Time to Drive & Road Conditions

Early morning (6:00-9:00 AM): Cleanest. Buffer wildlife active, SH empty, Bypass trucks thin. Reach Porbandar before temple crowds. Winter fog Dec-Jan trims visibility to 60 m till 7:30 AM — low beam through the fringe.

Late morning (9:30 AM-12:30 PM): Normal safari-transfer band. Heat builds past 11 AM; AC load high on the 4-lane. Carry 1 litre per head — dhabas gap 40 km between Manavadar and Bypass.

Avoid: Night after 9 PM. Fringe unlit with nilgai, Bypass has parked salt trucks with no reflectors. Monsoon (July-Sept) softens SH shoulders near Manavadar — stay centre-lane. Janmashtami week jams Sudama lane for 500 m; add 1 hour or dateshift.

Return Options – Porbandar to Sasan Gir

Pre-booked round-trip cab: Default. Driver waits at Sudama parking (Rs.50-100) through Kirti block closure. Sedan return Rs.6,500-7,500. No evening car hunt.
Local taxi in Porbandar: Station stand and MG Road rank. Sedan to Sasan Rs.4,500-4,800 — Rs.300 over Sasan rates. Thin after 8 PM; fix price before loading bags.
GSRTC bus: Porbandar to Sasan via Manavadar — 4+ daily, Rs.180-250, 3-3.5 hrs. Last direct around 5:30 PM. Bypass stop is 2 km from temple — auto needed.
Train + cab: Porbandar station on the Rajkot-Porbandar line; nearest Gir link via Junagadh or Maliya Hatina, then cab 30-55 km. Slow (7-8 hrs with change). For coast hopping, flip a Diu to Porbandar car rental in reverse — operators run Porbandar-Sasan-Diu packages. Many stitch it with our Sasan Gir to Somnath car rental loop for Gir-Somnath-Porbandar-Dwarka circuits.

Highway Safety & Practical Tips

Wildlife protocol: First 25 km fringe active 5:30-7 AM. Lion on road — stop, low beam, wait. No honk, no close pass.
Fuel: Fill at Sasan or Manavadar. Bypass pumps cost more and queue with trucks. CNG at Manavadar only — top up night before; Porbandar CNG lines run 30 min at noon.
Cash + network: UPI at Manavadar and Bypass dhabas, patchy in fringe. Keep Rs.1,500 cash for return toll/parking/prasad. Jio/Airtel steady; Vi thins past Manavadar.
Documents: Safari permit apart from temple slips. Photo the odometer at Sasan — settles 150 km minimum-billing rows on this 138 km run.
Old-city driving: Bhatia Bazar lanes near Sudama fit one car. Let driver park at the lane mouth and walk 300 m. Challans common for double-parking during marriage season.
Sudama parking: Lane capacity is 6-8 cars only. In marriage season (and Janmashtami week) park at the municipal ground or leave the cab at the lane entrance and walk the last 100 m.
Kirti free entry: No ticket at Kirti Mandir or the ancestral home — arrive inside the 3 PM-7 PM window; the 12:00 PM-3:00 PM midday closure is fixed.
Luggage check: Count bags at lodge steps. Overhead carriers on CNG cars cost ₹300–₹400 and must be requested when you book — not at pickup. Carrier nuts shake loose on SH rumble strips — re-torque at Manavadar halt.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the distance from Sasan Gir to Porbandar?

138-140 km by road via Manavadar and NH51. Sasan to Manavadar is about 70 km on SH, Manavadar to Porbandar is about 68 km on NH151/NH51 via the Bypass.

How much does a taxi from Sasan Gir to Porbandar cost?

Sedan Rs.4,200 one way, Ertiga Rs.5,200, Innova Crysta Rs.6,800. Tempo 12-seater Rs.9,500. Same-day return Rs.6,500-7,500 sedan. Parking Rs.50-100 extra.

How long does it take to reach Porbandar from Sasan Gir?

3 hours gate-to-temple is the safe budget; a clear nonstop run is only about 2.5 hours.

What is the best route from Sasan Gir to Porbandar?

Sasan Gir to Manavadar to NH151 to NH51 to Porbandar Bypass to MG Road. SH 2-lane till Manavadar, then 4-lane highway. Junagadh detour adds 40 km — only for August floods.

Can I do a morning safari and Porbandar the same day?

Yes — take the 6-9 AM core slot, leave by 9:30, and keep a waiting round-trip cab. Sudama by 12:30, Kirti after 3 PM, beach at 5 PM.

How much luggage fits in the cab?

Dzire/Ertiga on CNG take 2 medium bags. Innova takes 4 large bags. For 3+ suitcases get a roof carrier at ₹300–₹400 — ask at booking.

What are Sudama Temple timings?

Open daily 5 AM-9:30 PM in Porbandar centre. Go before 11 AM to dodge marriage-group rush. Temple lane holds 6-8 cars — use the municipal ground in marriage season.

What are Kirti Mandir timings and entry fee?

Entry is 100% free — Kirti Mandir and Gandhiji’s ancestral home both. Open 7:30 AM-7 PM but closed midday 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Shoe stand free; birth house sits adjacent.

Is night driving safe to Porbandar?

Avoid after 9 PM. Fringe is unlit with wildlife, Bypass has unlit parked trucks. If you must, stay on NH51 with headlights high-beam toggled.

Are there buses or trains back to Sasan Gir?

Yes. GSRTC buses Porbandar-Sasan via Manavadar (Rs.180-250, 3-3.5 hrs, last around 5:30 PM). Trains go via Junagadh with a cab link (7-8 hrs total). Cabs stay fastest at 3 hrs door-to-door.

Sasan Gir to Porbandar Car Rental