Dwarka to Sasan Gir Car Rental Routes Guide and cab Fares
Dwarka to Sasan Gir is a 240-250 km drive — 4.5 to 5.5 hours on the Manavadar and Porbandar Bypass line — and a sedan one-way runs Rs.4,300-6,000. The run leaves Krishna’s city on the Gomti, crosses the Saurashtra interior on clean two-lane highway, and drops at Sinh Sadan, the Sasan Gir reception centre where every safari vehicle boards — the gateway to the only wild home of the Asiatic lion. It is one of the few corridors in Gujarat where a temple itinerary and a safari itinerary share the same taxi, and where the departure hour, not the fare, decides whether the day works.
The catch is the safari clock. Gir’s gates open at 6:30 AM on winter mornings and 6:00 AM in summer, close by 9:30 or 9:00 respectively, and the park shuts completely from 16 June to 15 October. Miss the morning slot and the whole drive down becomes a scenic transit. This guide sets out the three road lines, the current taxi fares by vehicle, the permit costs at the gate, and a departure clock for each slot.
Dwarka to Sasan Gir distance and the three road lines
Ask five dispatchers the distance and you will hear 238, 240, 244, 250 — and occasionally 285. All of them are measuring something real, because there are three genuinely different roads from Dwarka to the Gir gate, and they only share the start and the end. ClearCarRental lists 238 km, EaseMyTrip 244 km with a 4-hour estimate, and the district tourism board puts Junagadh at 60 km and Veraval at 45 km from Sasan — useful reference points once you know which line you are on. Pick the line first; the kilometres follow.
The Manavadar and Porbandar Bypass line — the default 240-250 km
This is the shortest published route and the one most operators quote: Dwarka east on NH51, past Lakhapat and the Porbandar turn, around the Porbandar Bypass instead of through the city, then north-east to Manavadar and south-east onto the forest approach that lands at Sasan. About 240-250 km, 4.5 to 5.5 hours with one tea stop. The road trades coastal traffic for groundnut plains and teak, surface is two-lane highway the whole way, and the last 40 km run through the northern Gir approach with almost no settlements. It is the right line for anyone driving straight to a safari slot with nothing to see en route — and it is the same road our published Gir-to-Dwarka corridor runs in reverse, so the fare bands in both directions stay consistent when you book a round trip.
The coastal NH51 line via Veraval and Talala — 265-275 km
The second line keeps you on the coast the whole way: Dwarka to Porbandar town at 105-108 km, then NH51 south through Madhavpur and Mangrol to Veraval at 220-225 km, and inland 22 km to Talala and the final 12 km to Sasan. Call it 265-275 km, 5.5 to 6.5 hours. It costs roughly 20-30 km more than the Manavadar line, but it is the only line that lets you fold in a Porbandar halt, a Veraval lunch, or the Somnath turn — Somnath sits just 40-45 km from the Gir gate via Veraval and Talala, so a Somnath-then-Sasan day adds barely 15 minutes over the plain coastal run. If the temple comes before the lion, this is your road.
The Keshod and Junagadh interior line — 265-285 km
The third line goes inland early: Dwarka to Khambhalia, on through Bhanvad and Keshod, into Junagadh at 209-224 km depending on the exact start point, then 53-60 km south via Mendarda to the gate. Call it 265-285 km and six hours with a Junagadh stop. It is the longest of the three and the only one worth taking when Junagadh is on the list anyway — the fort, Damodar Kund, the Girnar ropeway base — or when you are continuing east to Rajkot after the safari instead of turning back west. Drivers who know both lines will still default to Manavadar for pure point-to-point; ask for the Junagadh line only if you mean to stop in it.
| Route line | Distance | Drive time | Pick it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manavadar + Porbandar Bypass (default) | 240-250 km | 4.5-5.5 hours | Point-to-point, safari deadline, night arrival |
| Coastal NH51 via Porbandar, Veraval, Talala | 265-275 km | 5.5-6.5 hours | Porbandar or Somnath halt, lunch by the sea |
| Interior via Keshod and Junagadh | 265-285 km | 5.5-6.5 hours | Junagadh fort or Girnar stop, onward to Rajkot |
Dwarka to Sasan Gir taxi fare by vehicle
One-way fares from Dwarka start at Rs.4,300-6,000 for a sedan and rise with the size of the car: an Ertiga runs Rs.5,800-7,500, a standard Innova Rs.6,500-8,500, and an Innova Crysta Rs.7,800-10,000. Dwarka-based operators quote these bands openly — Mama Dev Tours lists a sedan at Rs.5,000, an Ertiga at Rs.6,000, an Innova at Rs.7,500 and a Crysta at Rs.8,000 for the run — and EaseMyTrip’s online inventory opens at about Rs.4,513 for the cheapest hatchback-class cab. Fuel, driver and the vehicle are inside every band below; tolls, permits and safari vehicle charges are not.
| Vehicle | One-way fare | Seats and luggage | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan — Dzire, Etios, Amaze | Rs.4,300-6,000 | 4 seats, 2-3 bags | Couples, two seniors, light safari daypacks |
| Ertiga / similar MPV | Rs.5,800-7,500 | 6 seats, 3-4 bags | Small families with cabin luggage |
| Innova (non-Crysta) | Rs.6,500-8,500 | 7 seats, 4 bags | Family of five plus safari gear |
| Innova Crysta | Rs.7,800-10,000 | 7 seats, 4 bags | Comfort-first runs, long waits at the gate |
| Tempo Traveller 12-seater | Rs.11,000-14,000 | 12 seats, 6-8 bags | Joint families and small groups |
| Tempo Traveller 17-seater | Rs.14,000-17,000 | 17 seats, 8-10 bags | Tour groups, wedding parties |
What moves the fare
Every quote on this corridor is built on a minimum billing distance of 250-275 km — close enough to the actual 240-250 km that it rarely changes the total, but it matters the moment you ask for a detour. Beyond the included kilometres, operators add Rs.12-14 per extra kilometre. Tolls on the Manavadar line run Rs.150-350 in total, lower than the coastal line only if the bypass is used. Weekends and the October-to-March season add Rs.500-800 to most sedans; a departure between 10 PM and 6 AM adds a night surcharge of Rs.250-500; a roof carrier with safari bags or a stroller is another Rs.300-400. App and aggregator bookings add 5% GST and driver bata at checkout, so a Rs.4,513 listed fare lands near Rs.5,000-5,300 on the final slip. Ask which of these are inside the quoted number before you confirm — a fare that excludes all four is not comparable to one that includes them.
Round trip, safari waiting and the reverse leg
A same-day round trip with safari waiting is the most expensive way to use this road and the most common: the district tourism board puts an Innova at Rs.9,000-14,000 all-in, depending on how many waiting hours sit between the morning exit and the afternoon return. Sedan round trips without a long gate wait land around Rs.5,500-7,500. Waiting beyond the first free hour is billed at roughly Rs.150-200 per hour, so settle the waiting allowance with the dispatcher the night before, not at the gate.
The reverse leg costs more than this one. Our published Sasan Gir to Dwarka car rental guide puts a sedan at Rs.6,500-7,500 from the Gir side, because Sasan is a small forest town with thin outbound one-way demand and the dispatcher has to price the empty run back into the fare. Dwarka, by contrast, sends cars toward Gir every day, which is why you pay less leaving from here. The fix is simple: if both legs are yours, book a round trip or ask for the combined per-km rate across the circuit instead of paying two separate one-ways — operators running Gir–Somnath–Porbandar–Dwarka packages discount the stitched legs by 10-15% against four standalone bookings.
Best route and where to stop on the way
Every halt on this road costs 30-45 minutes once parking and the walk back to the car are counted, so the route choice is really a choice about how many stops the safari clock can absorb. A morning-slot departure can afford one proper halt; an afternoon-slot run can afford two; a winter 6:30 AM gate report can afford none at all. The stop menu below is organised by line, and the distances are cumulative from Dwarka.
Coastal line: Porbandar, Madhavpur, Veraval and Talala
Porbandar — 105-108 km. The one halt almost every family asks for. Kirti Mandir, Gandhi’s birthplace, sits in the town centre with paid parking a short walk away; the Sudama Temple Porbandar lane is narrower and best entered on foot. Forty-five minutes covers both if you are not staying for lunch. Note that entering Porbandar city off the bypass adds 20-30 minutes of urban driving that the Manavadar line skips entirely.
Madhavpur and Mangrol — 135-165 km. Madhavpur has a long sea beach with roadside stalls; the surf here is rough and swimming is not advised, so treat it as a leg-stretch and photo stop. Mangrol is a working fishing harbour — tea and a look at the trawler line-up, nothing more.
Veraval — 220-225 km. The natural lunch stop and the last sizeable town before the forest: fish thali restaurants cluster on the highway side, and the harbour gate with its trawlers is a five-minute detour. From here the road runs 22 km inland to Talala — Gujarat’s cashew market town, worth a bag of roadside cashews in season — and then 12 km more to the Sasan approach. If Somnath is on the list, it sits 7 km north of Veraval: adding the darshan and coming back through Veraval costs roughly 14-15 extra kilometres and an hour, and our Somnath temple complete guide covers the parking and shoe-bag rules at the gate.
Interior line: Khambhalia, Keshod, Junagadh and Mendarda
Khambhalia — about 40 km in. District headquarters, the first good fuel pump and a bank ATM on the route. Bhanvad and Keshod follow at roughly 95 km and 140 km — small-town tea stops, nothing scenic, but useful when travelling with children.
Junagadh — 209-224 km. The only stop on this line that justifies the extra distance: the Uparkot fort ramparts, Damodar Kund below the Girnar hills, and the ropeway base for those going up. An hour here is realistic if the safari is a morning slot the next day. From Junagadh it is 53-60 km south via Mendarda to Sasan — the last stretch runs along the forest boundary with no towns, so fill the tank before leaving the city. The Girnar nature safari details are worth reading before deciding whether Junagadh deserves the detour at all.
Bypass, city and where you are actually dropped
Two booking details change the fare on this corridor. First, specify bypass if you do not need a halt in Porbandar or Veraval — a through-route booked as a city drop gets billed with the halt time anyway. Second, give the exact Sasan endpoint when you book: the Sinh Sadan reception centre, the Devalia entry, and the lodge clusters east of Sasan town are all different drop points, and the few kilometres between them are billed at the extra-km rate. Tell the dispatcher which of the three you mean, in writing, before you leave Dwarka.
Choosing the right car for the run
For a couple or two seniors with soft bags, a sedan at Rs.4,300-6,000 is the correct answer and nothing on this road — 240-250 km of two-lane highway — justifies more car. The calculation changes once the boot has to hold safari daypacks, water bottles and a change of clothes on top of family luggage. An Ertiga (Rs.5,800-7,500) takes six people but only if three of them travel light; a standard Innova (Rs.6,500-8,500) is the honest family choice for five travellers with four bags, and the Crysta (Rs.7,800-10,000) buys the seat comfort that matters on the 4.5-5.5 hour leg and the hours of gate waiting on a round trip. One boot caveat: the Dzire and Ertiga classes usually run on CNG, and the cylinder takes half the luggage well — those cars hold about two medium bags, so confirm the boot space at booking if your party is travelling with three.
Joint families and groups of nine or more should take a Tempo Traveller rather than two cabs — Rs.11,000-14,000 for a 12-seater against Rs.8,600-12,000 for a sedan plus an Ertiga, with one driver, one waiting charge and one permit list instead of two. Travelling with elders, check the step height and ask for a Crysta or Ertiga rather than a hatchback; on the interior line the Junagadh approach has more stops and slower town stretches, so a comfortable seat matters more than the Rs.1,000 saved. Roof carriers for the TT and SUV loads run Rs.300-400 and should be agreed at booking — they are not installed on request at the gate.
Gir safari slots, permits and the departure clock
Everything on this corridor bends around the forest department’s timetable, so fix it before you fix the fare. The slots, the closure and the entry slabs below are the official ones published for the Gir sanctuary, and the full gate-by-gate detail sits in our Sasan Gir National Park safari guide.
| Season | Morning slot | Afternoon slot | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter — 16 Oct to 28/29 Feb | 6:30-9:30 AM | 3:00-6:00 PM | Extra slot 9:00 AM-12:00 PM on some days |
| Summer — 1 Mar to 15 Jun | 6:00-9:00 AM | 4:00-7:00 PM | Heat cuts the morning hour to three |
| Monsoon — 16 Jun to 15 Oct | Park closed | Park closed | No permits issued; roads to Sasan stay open |
Permit and safari vehicle charges
Entry permits are issued online by the forest department, and the gate check is strict about identity: you must present the original physical photo ID whose details were entered during that online booking — a photocopy or a phone photo is turned away. Indian adults pay Rs.800 on weekdays and Rs.1,000 on weekends for a vehicle load of up to six persons, with each extra child entry at Rs.100 and Rs.125 on the two slabs. Foreign nationals pay a sharply higher rate — Rs.7,600 weekday, Rs.9,500 weekend. Everything else is a local add-on, paid at the Sinh Sadan reception centre and excluded from the e-permit: gypsy hire runs Rs.2,500 for a 4-seater, Rs.3,500 for a 6-seater and Rs.4,500 for an 8-seater, and the mandatory eco-guide runs Rs.400-700. Camera charges are collected there too — roughly Rs.200 to bring a DSLR or telephoto kit in for Indian nationals, on a higher dollar slab for foreign visitors, while mobile phone cameras are free. Together with the permit, that is Rs.4,500-5,500 above the taxi fare for a family of four — keep the printed permit and the original ID in the daypack, not in the boot.
Leaving Dwarka for each slot
From the Dwarka town limit, 240-250 km at a realistic 4.5-5.5 hours puts the arithmetic like this. Winter morning slot (6:30): leave by 12:30-1:00 AM and you arrive around 5:30-6:15 — doable, but nobody enjoys loading children into a cab at midnight. The civilised version is to sleep near Sasan the night before (lodges run Rs.1,500-3,500) and drive the 45 km from Veraval after breakfast. There is a third option: the daily Okha–Somnath Express 19252 leaves Dwarka about 8:45 PM and reaches Veraval at 5:15 AM, and a pre-booked taxi covers the 45 km to the gate by 6:00-6:15 — enough for the 6:30 winter slot, not enough for summer’s 6:00 opening.
Summer morning slot (6:00): an overnight near Sasan is mandatory — no road or rail combination leaves Dwarka late enough to work. Afternoon slot: this is where a same-day run becomes real. Winter’s 3:00 PM opening means leaving Dwarka at 8:00-8:30 AM; summer’s 4:00 PM opening moves that to 9:00-9:30 AM. Arrive 90 minutes early, clear the gate report 30 minutes before the slot, and exit at 9:30-10:00 AM (morning) or 6:00-7:00 PM (afternoon). The evening exit lands you in Sasan town by dark with 240-250 km still ahead — most drivers refuse that leg after 8 PM, and the lodge at Rs.1,500-3,500 costs less than the night surcharge.
Same-day or overnight: two plans that work
There are only two shapes of trip on this road, and the difference between them is one night’s lodge bill.
Plan A: Same-day trip via the afternoon slot
Leave Dwarka at 8:00-8:30 AM on the Manavadar line, clear Porbandar Bypass by 10:00, and reach the Sinh Sadan reception centre between 1:00 and 2:00 PM for a winter 3:00 PM slot (summer 4:00 PM, departure moved to 9:00-9:30 AM). The safari runs three hours, you exit by 6:00, and you face the evening: 240-250 km back with a driver who has already done five hours. Most drivers will suggest the lodge at Rs.1,500-3,500 instead — after a Rs.250-500 night surcharge and the driver’s halt, it usually costs the same. A sedan one-way plus permits plus an afternoon entry lands near Rs.7,500-9,000 for two people; the all-in Innova round trip with waiting, per the district board, is Rs.9,000-14,000.
Plan B: Overnight stay near Sasan for the morning slot
Drive down the previous afternoon, sleep within 10-15 km of the gate, and report at 6:00 for the 6:30 winter opening. This is the plan that makes the morning slot honest: no midnight departure, no dependence on the 19252’s 5:15 AM arrival, and a full three-hour drive before the heat. Lodges around Sasan run Rs.1,500-3,500 for a clean double; rooms inside the Sinh Sadan forest campus sell out months ahead on the official portal, so the private lodges along the Sasan–Talala road are the working base for most visitors. Fix the exact gate for the following morning in the same conversation. If the main-slot permits are already gone when you try, the Devalia circuits are the standard fallback — with one hard rule: Devalia Safari Park is closed every Wednesday, so a Wednesday morning needs the main Sinh Sadan slot, not the interpretation zone. The Devalia Safari Park interpretation zone guide explains what the shorter loop actually shows, its own hourly timetable, and when to pivot to it.
The exit plan differs by what comes next. Head straight back and you are in Dwarka by mid-afternoon with the evening darshan window open — the Dwarkadhish Temple darshan timings page carries the current aarti hours. Turn east instead and Somnath is 40-45 km from the gate via Veraval and Talala, a one-hour run that puts you in Somnath before lunch with the afternoon free. Going home via Junagadh or toward Rajkot costs no extra at all if you already chose the interior line going down.
Train, airport and the last mile to the gate
Sasan Gir station (SASG) runs metre-gauge services only, so none of the broad-gauge trains out of Dwarka reach it. The usable railhead is Veraval Junction, 45 km from the gate — and the alignment works better than it looks: the daily Okha–Somnath Express 19252 leaves Dwarka about 8:45 PM and reaches Veraval at 5:15 AM with no change, so a pre-booked station taxi covers the 45 km by 6:00-6:15 and makes the 6:30 winter slot. At the corridor’s Rs.12-14 per km that pickup runs about Rs.550-700. The return 19251 leaves Veraval at 11:05 PM, which suits a plan that ends with an afternoon safari, a leisurely exit and a late train rather than a night drive. Junagadh, 53-60 km north, is the second railhead, useful only if you are arriving from the east; a station pickup there is priced on the same per-km scale. The cheapest stack on paper — GSRTC bus to Veraval plus a 45 km cab — rarely beats the through taxi once both legs are added up.
By air, the distances from the official tourism board table are the ones to trust: Diu 100 km south-east along the coast, Rajkot 160 km north-east, Ahmedabad 370 km for full-service international connections. Two smaller strips sit closer than Rajkot but with thin schedules: Keshod (IXK), 40-45 km via Talala — 1 to 1.25 hours and the closest strip to the gate — with a few weekly Alliance Air links toward Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Diu and Porbandar; and Porbandar (PBD), about 140-150 km on the coastal line. Book the car from the terminal rather than breaking the journey — a Diu arrival at midday connects to the gate by 2:00 and still makes an afternoon slot.
Booking rules, money and the permit checklist
Book at least 24 hours ahead if the trip starts before dawn — a 12:30 AM departure or a 5:15 AM station pickup cannot be arranged at 9 PM the same evening, and operators hold their night drivers on prior commitments. Send the exact drop in writing: Sinh Sadan reception centre, Devalia entry or lodge near Sasan, whichever is the real destination, because the three points sit kilometres apart and each one is billed at the extra-km rate. Ask for the fare broken into included kilometres, toll (Rs.150-350), night surcharge if any, and GST — a number that cannot be itemised is not the final number.
Permits are applied for online by the forest department, but carry the printed e-permit and the original physical photo ID for every adult — the same ID details entered during the online booking, not a photocopy; the gate check happens before the vehicle is allowed to park, and there is no counter that issues a replacement on the spot. Report 30 minutes before the slot. Pay the gypsy hire and the eco-guide in cash at the Sinh Sadan reception centre on the day — that is where the vehicle is assigned and boarding starts. App bookings such as EaseMyTrip normally free-cancel up to 12 hours before pickup; direct WhatsApp bookings usually take a small token advance, so confirm the refund terms before sending it. For Plan B, settle the driver’s night-halt rate in writing at booking — it is separate from your lodge bill. Do not count on app cabs for the return from Sasan: there is no dependable Ola or Uber presence at the gate, and the last taxi to Veraval will be one you arranged yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Dwarka from Sasan Gir by road?
Dwarka to Sasan Gir is 240-250 km via the default Manavadar and Porbandar Bypass line, 265-275 km if you take the coastal NH51 road through Porbandar town, Veraval and Talala, and 265-285 km through Keshod and Junagadh. Published aggregator figures of 238-244 km refer to the shortest line. The forest gate at Sasan, not the town centre, is the endpoint every operator measures to.
How long does the drive take?
Allow 4.5 to 5.5 hours on the Manavadar line for the 240-250 km run, and 5.5 to 6.5 hours on either alternative. With one tea stop and a Porbandar halt, six hours is realistic. Night driving adds time — most drivers on this corridor will not accept a post-8 PM arrival into Sasan on a first booking, which is why the lodge night in Plan B exists.
What does a Dwarka to Sasan Gir taxi cost?
One-way fares: sedan Rs.4,300-6,000, Ertiga Rs.5,800-7,500, Innova Rs.6,500-8,500, Innova Crysta Rs.7,800-10,000, 12-seater Tempo Traveller Rs.11,000-14,000. Quotes include fuel, driver and vehicle; tolls (Rs.150-350), night surcharge and GST are extra. Minimum billing is 250-275 km and extra distance runs Rs.12-14 per kilometre. A same-day Innova round trip with safari waiting is Rs.9,000-14,000 all-in.
Which route should I take from Dwarka to Sasan Gir?
Take the Manavadar and Porbandar Bypass line if you are going point-to-point to a safari slot — it is the shortest and the fastest. Take the coastal NH51 line if you want Porbandar, a Veraval lunch or a Somnath halt on the way. Take the Keshod and Junagadh interior line only if Junagadh’s fort or Girnar is on the list, or if you are continuing east to Rajkot after the safari.
Is there a direct train from Dwarka to Sasan Gir?
Sasan Gir station (SASG) handles only metre-gauge services, so none of the broad-gauge trains out of Dwarka reach it. The practical rail link is the daily Okha–Somnath Express 19252, which leaves Dwarka about 8:45 PM and arrives at broad-gauge Veraval at 5:15 AM without a change; a booked taxi then covers the 45 km to the gate by about 6:15. The return 19251 departs Veraval at 11:05 PM. Junagadh, 53-60 km north, is the only other usable railhead.
When should I leave Dwarka for a morning safari?
For the winter 6:30 AM slot, either drive down the previous afternoon and lodge near Sasan, or leave by 12:30-1:00 AM to arrive by road, or take the 19252 to Veraval at 5:15 AM and connect by taxi — that combination makes 6:30 but cannot make summer’s 6:00 opening. In summer, an overnight near the gate is mandatory. For an afternoon slot, leave at 8:00-8:30 AM (winter 3:00 PM opening) or 9:00-9:30 AM (summer 4:00 PM).
How much does a Gir safari permit cost?
Indian adults: Rs.800 on weekdays, Rs.1,000 on weekends, covering up to six persons per vehicle, with extra child entries at Rs.100 and Rs.125. Foreign nationals: Rs.7,600 weekday and Rs.9,500 weekend. Gypsy hire and the mandatory eco-guide are paid separately at the Sinh Sadan reception centre — Rs.2,500-4,500 for the vehicle by size and Rs.400-700 for the guide — and none of that is included in the e-permit. Bring the original photo ID whose details you entered when booking online.
Is a same-day round trip from Dwarka realistic?
Yes, if it is built around the afternoon slot: leave at 8:00-8:30 AM, enter at 3:00 PM, exit at 6:00, and either drive back or lodge near Sasan. A same-day trip built on the morning slot means leaving Dwarka at midnight and driving 240-250 km home the same evening — doable once, unpleasant twice. Families with children and elders should take the overnight.
Which is the nearest airport to Sasan Gir?
Diu is 100 km south-east of the gate, Rajkot 160 km north-east, and Ahmedabad 370 km for full-service flights. Keshod (IXK) is the closest strip at 40-45 km via Talala, about 1 to 1.25 hours, though it has only a few weekly Alliance Air services; Porbandar is roughly 140-150 km on the coastal road. Book the taxi from the airport terminal — Diu arrivals by midday still connect to an afternoon safari slot.
When is Gir National Park closed?
The park closes for the monsoon from 16 June to 15 October and no safari permits are issued in that window. Roads to Sasan and the lodges stay open, so the drive itself is fine year-round — but a Dwarka to Sasan Gir booking in those months should not be sold or planned as a lion safari. Permits for the 16 October reopening open in advance online and weekend slots sell out first.
