Gir Somnath: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Somnath temple in Gujarat’s Gir Somnath district on Sunday, offering prayers at the sacred Shiva shrine during his three-day tour of his home state. Modi performed darshan at the temple, which is the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas, after visiting Vantara, an animal rescue and rehabilitation centre in Jamnagar district earlier in the day.
After the temple visit, the Prime Minister travelled to Sasan, the headquarters of the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in Junagadh district, which is home to the Asiatic lions. Officials said that on Monday, Modi will embark on a lion safari and preside over a meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) in Sasan to commemorate World Wildlife Day.
I had decided that after the Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj, I would go to Somnath, which is the first among the 12 Jyotirlingas.
Today, I felt blessed to have prayed at the Somnath Mandir. I prayed for the prosperity and good health of every Indian. This Temple manifests the timeless… pic.twitter.com/oERc1rq9Z8
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 2, 2025
Wildlife conservation initiatives
According to a government statement, Asiatic lions currently inhabit nearly 30,000 square kilometres spread across 53 talukas in nine districts of Gujarat. Furthermore, a National Referral Center for Wildlife is being established in Junagadh’s New Pipalya area, covering over 20.24 hectares, as part of a central initiative. Apart from that, a high-tech monitoring centre for tracking wildlife and a modern hospital have been set up in Sasan to enhance conservation efforts, the release added.
Upon returning to ‘Sinh Sadan,’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over a meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) in his capacity as its ex-officio chairman. The NBWL comprises 47 members, including the Chief of Army Staff, state representatives, officials from various state wildlife departments, and members from NGOs engaged in conservation efforts. After the meeting, Modi is expected to interact with a group of women forest personnel at Sasan, according to officials.
