India's Asiatic lions are nothing like their reclusive tiger cousins. These cats don't slink through shadows or vanish into dense undergrowth. They sprawl across roads, nap under trees in full daylight, and move through the landscape with the kind of confidence that comes from knowing they're apex predators. Gujarat is the only place on earth where they exist in the wild (nearly 900 of them now), and they've started treating the entire region like their personal territory, wandering into villages and coastal towns as if they own the place. Which, in a way, they do. But what happens when you build a luxury lodge at the edge of their kingdom, where the real draw isn't just spotting wildlife but living alongside it?
Arrival at the Edge of the Wild
At Aramness Gir, arrival is quieter, more elemental. My flight from Mumbai to Diu (110 kilometres away) was followed by a winding 2.5-hour drive through scenic views dotted with tonnes of windmills, gradually giving way to teak forests as we neared the property, where the only greeting comes from birdcalls, the rustle of leaves, and, if you're lucky, the wildlife too.
Aramness sits at the edge of Gujarat's Gir forest, where 891 Asiatic lions now roam, a significant leap from the 674 counted by the Gujarat Forest Department in 2020. And the minute you reach the property, the entire Aramness team awaits, ready to welcome you with the warmth and hospitality that Gujarat is known for. Each guest is assigned a private butler who attends to every need, from arranging early morning tea before safaris to coordinating meals in your courtyard.
The property, sitting at the edge of Gujarat's legendary lion territory, owes its existence to the vision of Jimmy Patel, who couldn't stop thinking about the forest. An Ahmedabad-based real estate developer whose real passion was always wildlife. A photographer happiest tracking pangolins, grey wolves, Asiatic lions, and Bengal tigers through a viewfinder. He opened Aramness Gir in 2021, proving that luxury and wilderness could coexist.
As you enter, the main Haveli comes into view with its ramparts lined with jali screens on either side—lattice work inspired by the natural perforations found in dried sal and teak leaves from the forest—a contemporary take on local architecture that announces your arrival at Aramness Gir. On either side, brass lions keep silent watch, a proud nod to the Asiatic lions roaming Gir National Park just beyond.
Step through, and a courtyard greets you with the soft sound of water trickling from its feature. This is the main guest area, the focal point of the property, surrounded by the dining room, sitting room, and library—spaces designed for both relaxation and gathering. Curated antiques, brass sculptures, and hand-carved wooden furniture fill the interiors, blending local culture with luxury. The library, set behind an original wooden lattice screen, overlooks the gardens. From here, the village street runs through the heart of the lodge, leading to the individual guest villas scattered beyond.
Kothis That Belong to the Forest
Spread across the property, eighteen double-storey kothis, taking their character directly from the nearby villages, sit scattered across the grounds, reimagined as luxury suites. Three are configured for families, and the rest for couples or those travelling solo.
Step inside, and every corner whispers of stories straight from history. Each kothi opens with a hand-carved haveli door, bought from local families, with a character of its own. Featuring a bathtub, an outdoor shower, a shaded courtyard below, and a first-floor verandah above that looks straight into the trees, along with its own private plunge pool inspired by India's step-wells, each villa is built from stone and reclaimed wood sourced from nearby villages to create an aesthetic that's tactile and grounded, reminiscent of Africa's bush camps. A larger communal swimming pool, also inspired by step-well design, anchors the property near the haveli.
The Food
Like any Gujarati host, Aramness places food at the centre of the experience. The menu rotates daily—Indian one day, Italian the next, perhaps Mexican after that—depending on what's fresh and seasonal. Much of the produce is sourced from the property’s own edible garden and nearby farms, keeping the experience truly rooted in a farm-to-table ethos. Guests can dine whenever and wherever they choose: intimate indoor spaces, courtyards, terraces, or the organic gardens themselves.
At Haveli Dining, Gujarati thali is served on a bronze plate, becoming a journey through the region, each bite tracing centuries of tradition. Jungle Barbeque offers live cooking under the stars, the night sky ablaze with constellations, whilst Village Dinner unfolds beneath a mango orchard on low naga tables with cushions in traditional Gujarati embroidery and mirror work, the setting lit by lanterns.
Into the Forest
The Asiatic lion is the main draw, but Gir's ecosystem extends far beyond its apex predator. During our afternoon safari with Aramness’s in-house naturalist Kamakshi, who also leads the pottery workshops, we eased into the forest and found ourselves spotting the wildlife, including chital, Indian peafowl, and the elusive Tickell’s blue flycatcher, ticking off sightings like a checklist. The lions, though, stayed hidden. I'd resigned myself to missing them entirely when, on our way back, two emerged from the trees—unhurried, crossing the trail before stopping right beside our jeep. Close enough to see the texture of their manes, to hear the low rumble of their breath. They stood there for what felt like minutes but was probably seconds, barely registering our presence, as if we were just part of the scenery.
Gir's flora proved just as captivating as its predators. Kamakshi pointed out the ghost tree, its pale bark catching early morning light like something out of a dream, then the flame of the forest—Khakhro or Dhak, she called it—blazing orange against the green. Indian frankincense, known locally as Saledi, released its resinous scent when touched. The forest isn't just a habitat; it's a living library, each tree holding stories older than memory.
Beyond safaris, there are other ways to understand this place. Guests can visit Maldhari families, semi-nomadic herders who've shared this land with Asiatic lions for generations, tending buffaloes, cows, goats, and sheep. Over chai, they'll tell you what coexistence looks like, built on pragmatism, respect, and occasional loss. Pottery workshops let you work with clay pulled from the same earth the lions walk on.
Wellness Rooted in Ayurveda and Nature
Aramness Gir has always had a spa, but recently it's sharpened its focus towards wellness, including Ayurveda, yoga, and multi-day programmes built around specific needs.
Programmes begin with an InBody scan that lays bare your body composition in uncomfortable detail: muscle mass, fat percentage, cellular water, protein deficiencies. Dr Rafeek interprets the data after a few piercing questions and a pulse check, reveals your dosha, and ties it back to those numbers.
The spa unfolds with treatment rooms opening onto forest views, steam rising in sauna chambers, changing rooms adorned with Lippan Kaam—traditional mirror and clay work that catches light like scattered stars. Treatments pull from centuries of tradition: warm Abhyanga oil massages that work into tired muscles, Shirodhara where oil streams steadily onto your forehead, sound healing that hums through your bones, acupuncture, and cupping that draw on practices older than memory.
The yoga pavilion perches above the teak forest, hosting twice-daily sessions where the wind through leaves becomes your only accompaniment. An infinity pool melts into restored meadows beyond, offering the kind of stillness that's like a cherry on top of a cake. Multi-day programmes include Wilderness Awakening, Wilderness Purification, and Ayurvedic Renaissance.
Wellness cuisine emphasises organic produce pulled fresh from the lodge's garden—food that heals and satisfies in equal measure, tasting virtuous without feeling like punishment.
