Kankai Mata Temple, Gir — Attraction in Gujarat

Photography inside and outside not allowed. But couldn’t resist clicking the herds of deer greeting us while approaching the temple. Very divine, serene place. Only staffs and pilgrims with night homas/pujas are allowed night stay. Spacious open parking at the front. Beware of langurs. Free unlimited lunch Prasad for devotees. We, the devotees cleaned the utensils ourselves. The adjacent water body has crocodiles and at night lions come there for drinking water. Small souvenirs shop selling photos of mother goddess “Kankai” and light and audio fitted framed photos, audio is of beej mantra of mother. Solar power, generators, toilets, drinking water. The approach road from Sasan has three segments- first 13 km unmetalled road through Sasan Gir forest range, second about 23 km Pucca road through Satladhar road, third 16 km again unmetalled road through Kankai Gir forest range. Free forest permits at entry and exit points marked with time of entry and departure. 50 mins given for crossing the first segment. Diesel vehicles allowed. Vehicles with high ground clearance and good suspension are preferable. I crossed that segment from Sasan in 25 mins only in my Force Gurkha (BS-4). No stopping, honking, feeding of wild animals, taking photos, plastics allowed. The shorter GPS route from Sasan to Kankai through Ravta (about 24 km) is restricted for public vehicles. So we have to take the longer (about 53 km) route : Sasan-Satadhar-Kankai. Return also through same route. Not permitted to move beyond Kankai. 10:30 am started from Sasan forest check post and reached Kankai temple at 12:30 pm. From 15-June to 15-Oct every year entry into reserve forest is prohibited due to monsoon. Sasan check post opens from 7:15 am. Temple closes at 5:00 pm. Saw pilgrims coming by public bus. Temple is situated on a hillock (“peeth” like landscape), away from locality, near north-south aligned small river- ideal tantric...

Situated in deep forest right between the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, Kankai temple is right place to go for having relaxing weekend. The temples main goddess is 'Kankai Mata' one of the various embodiment of 'Mata Parvati'. The temple has built large walls around its campus for protection from wild animals. There a small snack stall situated for quick bites. Temple also provides visitors with food and also has good places for sitting and having good time.

There is a small river flowing nearby the temple. It is advised to stay out of river as crocodiles regularly visit the waters. Peacocks and monkeys regularly come into the temple. Offering food to monkeys may prompt them to follow you and also try to steal more food from you.

Route:- There are two routes leading to the temple. One is from Sattadhar side and other from Dhari. Both route requires permit from the forest department prior to visit, which can be obtained from the gate near the start of route by registration. Both route is closed at night and are opened at morning 8.00 am, closed at 6.00p.m. Visits should be planned accordingly so all vehicles exit before 6.00 p.m. The routes are closed during the monsson season.

It is recommended to visit with cars and roads are really dangerous. Carry enough medicines as there are no doctors nearby. The visit via dhari route is recommended as you could also visit Banej temple nearby when coming through Dhari side. Officials wont allow tou to visit Banej temple when coming from Sattadhar side. Also suvs or 4 wheel drive vehicles are...

Our kuldevi ma kankay...so guys if u wants go there u can go by st bus and also by car but make sure that ur car must take some height from road beacause as u know its jungle roads and temple is also in jungle .. they dont allow u to stay for night u must left temple before 7pm and you must pass two _three checkpost to reach temple ... And i removes one star for badly treated kitchen service ...its too smelly and dirty ... Toilets are as usual not too good nor bad beacause some local people stay there so they clean it ... Temple is cleaned rooms are also cleaned....its long way to reach temple so you must take morning to drive car so that u can ckeckout at evening..from there...for prasad there is deliciouse ' sukhdi'.which u must taste! ... ..another thing is please take kit for ur car or vehicle ..if ur vehical punctured then u will be so stressed bcoz there is no mechanic nearby ..its in gir jungle thats why..donts wear heels 😅....so people thats it i hope u found...