Narara Marine National Park - History, Timings & Entry Fee

At a distance of 56 km from Jamnagar Railway Station, Narara Marine National Park is a marine wildlife sanctuary in the Gulf of Kutch near Jamnagar. Situated next to Vadinar Village, it is the first Marine national park in India, and among the top places of sightseeing in Jamnagar.

The Narara Marine National Park is one of the rare places in the world where one can look at corals without having to dive down into the water. About an area of 458 sq. km from Okha to Jodiya was declared as a Marine Sanctuary in 1980. Later, in 1982, about 163 Sq. km of core area was declared as a Marine National Park under the provisions of the Wildlife Act, 1972 of India.

There are 42 tropical islands on the Jamnagar coast in the Marine National Park, most of them surrounded by reefs. Out of which 33 islands have coral reefs. Some of the best-known islands are Pirotan, Karubhar, Narara, and Poshitra. There are islands with sandy beaches and mangrove swamps. Major ecosystem types available are coral reefs, mangroves, mudflats, creeks, Seagrass, & Seaweeds, estuaries, sandy strands to saline grasslands, marshy areas, and rocky shores. All ecosystems support rich marine life & birdlife in the marine park.

The sanctuary lies in the intertidal zone, so especially in low tide, visitors get to observe the rich diversity of marine life. One has to just walk in the water when the tide ebbs, in about 1 to 2 feet of water to watch this fascinating underwater world of corals. It is a 2 km walk and takes 1.5 - 2 hours. Here one can spot a variety of marine life which includes Octopus, crabs, sponges, pufferfish, sea turtles, lobsters, dolphins, ray fishes, jellyfish, starfish, sea anemones, colorful corals, exotic marine flowering plants, etc. Since it is a protected area, tourists are not allowed to pick things like shells, stones, dead coral, etc., and do not catch or disturb any marine creature.

For access to the Marine National Park, one has to take permission from the Forest Department. In the case of foreign tourists, additional permission from the Police Department is also needed. The park can be accessed only during low tide when the island is abuzz with a variety of marine life. There are four tides in a day - two high tides and two low tides. High tide occurs every 12 hours, and the Coral walk is done between 2 high tides. Generally, it takes 3.5 hours for the tide to reach its highest point at Narara. Make sure you start your visit when the low tide starts, as you cannot enter the park during high tide. So call the forest office at Jamnagar or check online for the details of tidal times before you visit.

Wear good sandals/shoes because some places in the reef are sharp. Also, carry some snacks and water as there is nothing available once you start the walk. If you want to find more interesting sea creatures do hire a guide at the entry gate of the park.

Timings: 9 AM onwards

Entry: Rs. 100 for Indians, Rs. 650 for Foreigners, Rs. 300 for Guide & Rs. 200 for Camera