JUNAGADH

Junagadh is a city in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city is located at the foot of the Girnar hills. Literally translated, Junagadh means “Old Fort”. It is also known as “Sorath”, the name of the earlier Princely State of Junagadh.
 
Junagadh has diverse weather conditions throughout the year. The climate of Junagadh is characterized by very hot summers and chilly winters. The city also enjoys a soothing effect on the weather due to the influence of the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Cambay.
 
It is the center of the religious places in which Mount Girnar is the famous jain pilgrimage. Mitiyala and Pania Wildlife Sanctuaries are captivating according to the tourist interest. Junagadh is famous for Kesar Mangoes(Safaron Mangoes). As name says Kesar mangoes are very sweet and looks like safaron color. 

Girnar Jain temples (Junagadh) : Girnar Jain temples are on the Girnarmountais located at a distance of 5 km from Junagadh. It is is easily accessible by trains and roads and state transport are also available. Mount Girnar is a gigantic five peaked rock formation of volcanic origin, the tallest of these rises to 945 meters (3600 feet) above sea level.The five peaks of Girnar are topped by 866 intricately carved stone temples.
 
There are around 8,000 steps from the trailhead to the highest peak. The five peaks, crowned by sixteen beautifully carved and sculptured marble shrines on the western flank of the mountain forms one of the most beautifully situated group of Jain temples in India. It is a sacred place for Jains, Hindus and also for Muslims. Mt. Girnar is also unique in that both the Digambar and Shwetambar have temples on its hills.

Uparkot (Junagadh) : The oldest part of Junagadh, and the center of any visit to the city, is the upper citadel, known as Uparkot. Over 2300 years old, with walls up to 20 m high in some places, Uparkot is what allowed Junagadh to withstand a 12-year siege at one point. It is believed that these caves belong to 1st-4th Century AD and are gilded with beautiful pillars and entrances, water cisterns, horseshoe shaped chatiya windows, an assembly hall and cell for meditation.
 
There is also a 300 ft.-deep moat inside the walls, that reportedly used to be inhabited by crocodiles, so that if any attacker managed to surmount the high fortifications, they would then either be exposed on the upper battlements or fall into the crocodile-infested trench.
 
Just inside the entrance are the insignia of some of Uparkot’s former rulers and temples to Ganesh, Hanuman and Shakti. Closeby are two medieval cannons named Neelam and Manek, forged in Cairo and brought by the Turks who sailed to Saurashtra to aid in defending Diu against the Portuguese.

Address: Mullawada, Junagadh district, Gujarat 362001
Timing: 08:00 am to 06:00 pm
Fees: Payable Extra

Ashok Shilalekh (Junagadh) : About 2 km east of Junagadh and 3 km from the foot of Girnar Hill, between the two places, is an edict of Emperor Ashoka inscribed on a rock dating from the third century BC. The Ashokan edicts impart moral instructions on dharma, harmony, tolerance, and peace. An uneven rock, with a circumference of seven metres and a height of ten metres, bears insciptions in Brahmi script etched with an iron pen.

Timing: 08:00 am to 06:00 pm
Closed on: everyday open
Fees: Payable Extra

Mahabat Maqbara (Junagadh) : A fusion of Indo-Islamic architecture coupled with Gothic art form, the Mahabat Maqbara, Junagadh, emits the sense of secularism going beyond petty religious egos and reaching new heights of equality and exchange of respective cultures. On one side of the mausoleum is the Jami Masjid and the Vazir’smaqbara on the other. The Mahabat Maqbara, Junagadh is generally kept under lock and key, but can be glimpsed into by obtaining the keys from the mosque situated beside the mausoleum.

Buddhist Caves (Junagadh) : The so-called ?Buddhist Caves” around Uparkot are not actually caves, but three separate sites of rooms carved out of stone to be used as monks’ quarters, hence the name. They are all a little over 2000 years old, give or take a couple of centuries.

Across Uparkot from KhaparaKodia are the caves of Baba Pyara. Baba Pyara caves are lying close to the Modhimath, which has four caves in its northern group. The next set of south group caves has a unified plan with a spacious court and a chaitya hall. The art tradition of Satavahanas period has influence over these cave pillars and door jambs of the caves.

Address: Mullawada, Junagadh, Gujarat 362001

Timing: 08:00 Am To 6:00 Pm

Fees: Payable Extra

Damodar Kund (Junagadh) : Damodar Kund is a sacred bathing tank located at the foot of Girnar Hill, in Gujarat. Situated near the Revati Kund, the tank marks the ascent to the numerous beautifully carved ancient Jain temples of Girnar. Damodar Kund is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati’s garment fell during a cruise.
 
The size of Damodar Kund is 40 feet high, 56 feet broad and 5 feet deep. By bathing in this river people get rid off their sins. The Pilgrims who take bath here by having fasts in the month of Kartak especially on Agyaras and Baras goes divinely at the feet of ShriHari.

 
Adi-kadi ni Vav ( Junagadh) : Adi-kadi Vav, built in the 15th century, is carved entirely out of hard rock. A narrow flight of 120 stairs cuts down through the stone to meet the well shaft deep in the stone. Two different legends claim to explain the name of the well. One says that the king ordered a step-well to be built and workers excavated down into this hard stone, but no water was found. The royal priest said that water would only be found if two unmarried girls were sacrificed.
 
Adi and Kadi were the unlucky ones chosen for this and after their sacrifice, water was found. The other story, less fantastic but probably more likely, claims that Adi and Kadi were the names of the royal servant girls who fetched water from the well every day. Either way, people still hang cloth and bangles on a tree nearby in their memory.

Timing: 8 Am To 6 Pm
Closed on: NA
Fees: Free

Durbar Hall Museum (Junagadh) :  The Durbar Hall Museum, Junagadh provides the tourists an opportunity to have a glimpse at the glory and grandeur of the Nawabs and sultans who have ruled there. The museum was initially a courthouse where cases were heard and was later converted into a museum.
 
The Durbar Hall Museum is one of the two museums housed in Junagadh. Most of the items exhibited at this museum bear a close resemblance to the lives of the Nawabs. Silver thrones, beautifully designed carpets, sparkling chandeliers and paintings speak of the delectable taste of the rulers. The oil painting of the Nawab with his dogs is one of the main attractions of this museum.
 
The Durbar Hall Museum in Junagadh also showcases the different arms and weapons used during the times of the Nawab. Sabers, Kukris from Nepal, daggers of various shapes and sizes, shields made of turtle shells are some of the items on display at the museum.
 
The Durbar Hall Museum, Junagadh is a must visit destination while on a trip to this historic city of Gujarat.

Address: Diwan Chowk, Junagadh, Gujarat 362001
Timing: 10am-1.15pm & 2.45-6pm Thu-Tue,
Closed on: closed 2nd & 4th Sat of the month
Fees: Payable Extra

Sakkar-baug Zoo (Junagadh) : Sakkarbaug Zoo also known as “Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden” or “Junagadh Zoo” at Junagadh. It is famous worldwide for providing purebreed Asiatic Lions for the Indian and the international Endangered species captive breeding program for the critically endangered Asiatic Lions.
 
Currently, the zoo is home to over 900 wild animals, including 42 lions and 48 leopards. Over eight lakh people visit it every year. Cheetah is said to have been last seen in the Saurashtra region over six decades ago. The animal assumes significance for the city as there is place named ‘Cheetah KhanaChowk’ located in the heart of the Junagadh city.

Timing: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Closed on: Weddness
Fees: Payable Extra