Junagadh is sleepy town in Saurashtra with rich ancient history at the foothills of holy Girnar hills. The fortified city is famous for many exotic old buildings. The city is named after the fort that enclosed the old city. The Ashokan edicts from 250 BC at nearby are testament to its earthly age. Junagadh had experienced various phases in its rich historical account. The four religions of India; Hindu, Muslim, Buddhism and Jain had influenced the place. The town witnessed different culture therefore the place represent different hues through its architecture and different tourist monuments.



There are two fortifications that are surrounded the town. The famous one id Uparkot in the west. There are several excursions from Junagadh, the famous are, Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, which is 60km from the town, Prabhas Patan Somnath (79km) and Chorwad, a luring resort on the beach, 72km from the town. Despite of so many tourist attractions, the state is practically void of tourists. The place is also ideal for aimless strolling. The area around the Durbar Hall Museum is dotted with exotic old buildings and crumbling Uperkot fort is properly spooky.

Sights And Activities

Uperkot Fort
This ancient fort is built in around 319 BC by Chandragupta Maurya, and extended by many emperor. The entrance is consist of three gates, which is highly decorated, and in places the walls reach 20m high. It's been besieged 16 times, and legend has it that the fort once withstood, a 12 year siege, it's also said that the fort was abandoned from the 7th to 10th centuries and when rediscovered, was completely overgrown by jungle. There is a mosque inside the fort that made up of demolished Hindu temples. There are other attractions such as the Tomb of Nuri Shah and two fine baolis. The Buddhist caves near by is also a nice place to see.

Mahabat Maqbara
This is a grand mausoleum of Nawab testify one of the best Indo-Islamic architectural examples of India. The doors and minarets are made up of silver encircled by storybook, spiraling stairways. The mausoleum is established in 1892.

Durbar Hall Museum
Durbar Hall preserve some of the rare items of erstwhile Nawabs. The museum showcases weapons, armor, palanquins, chandeliers and howdahs from the days of the nawabs as well as a huge carpet woven in Junagadh's jail. The royal potrait gallery holds photos of different Nawabs.
Ashokan Edicts
On the way to the Girnar Hill temples, you pass a huge boulder on which Emperor Ashoka inscribed 14 edicts in Pali script in about 250 BC instructing people to be kind to women and animals and give to beggars, among other things. The boulder, with its beautiful spidery inscriptions, is curiously enclosed in a small building.

Girnar Hill
The best time to visit Girnar is at dawn. Prepare yourself to climb up 10000 stone steps. It is a magical experience when you witness hordes of pilgrims and porters tramp up the well maintained steps through scrubby teak forest and past tea stalls. The start s about 2km beyond Damodar Kund- the road takes you to around the 3000th step that leaves you only 7000 to the top. As you gain height, the views begin to sweep across wooded hills.

Junagadh Zoo
Junagadh zoo has Gir lions. The nawab set up the zoo in 1863 to save lions from extinction, and now become a good safari park. Those who somehow miss the Sasan Gir Widlife Sanctuary, this is a surprisingly well maintained park where you can see abundance of lions, leopards and tigers in their natural habitat. There is also a good museum that houses paintings, manuscripts, archaeological finds and other exhibits including a natural history section.