New Delhi, June 2 (IANS): Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a pride of lions in Gir sanctuary, where he is shooting for a campaign to promote Gujarat tourism.

"A 5 a.m. call and what a call...into the forest and within a few hours, a miracle, eight to nine of them, an entire pride of lions! Unbelievable," an excited Amitabh, who has been appointed brand ambassador of the state, posted on his Twitter page.

"The lions walked past me... just five feet away! Amazing! Male, female and cubs, walked straight up to me, looked and went by."

Amitabh has been exploring Gujarat for some time and can't stop raving about the culture and beauty of India.

"What a magnificent country we own. And it is only when you visit these places yourself do you realise that it's not just the greatness of the domain that makes this land so wonderful and blessed, it is the man on the street, the commoner that gives this nation its strength and its glory," he posted on his blog www.bigb.bigadda.com.

He will now head to the Somnath Temple to shoot for the campaign.