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On inquiry, it was found that all the roads for entering the Gir forests are closed in the monsoon season. Six feet high grass grows on the tracks. There are several streams flowing at all places. Permission is not therefore granted from the check-post.
But it was difficult to explain all these things to my sister who was firm in her vow. However, we started by car at 5.30 a. m. We were ten members - myself, my wife, my two married sisters, two younger nephews, my elder brother-in-law Shri Kanubhai Sheth etc.
On the normal route the Kanakai is at a distance of 167 kms from Rajkot. We were therefore expecting to reach our destination within some three hours. We reached Junagadh in time, took tea, proceeded to Sasan Mendarada. The officer-in-charge advised us that all roads to the forest were closed due to the monsoon season. He also told us that going to Kanakai was not advisable. In the dangerous forest, in open day-light, the lions, the kings of the forest move freely; the way is not traceable. We narrated to him about the firm vow of my sister. He then advised us to proceed by the way from Satadhar. We therefore came back to Mendarada-a distance of 27 kms. From there we reached Satadhar by the Bilkha-Visavadar route. From Satadhar we missed our way in the jungle and came back about 10 kms. We then entered the jungle by the southern side from Satadhar. We proceeded on the right track but again missed our way in the deep forest. In the danger-free forest no human being even could be found with four to five feet grass on both the sides of the track. The car could not go back, it was moving further very very slowly.
