In the far west of Indian state of Gujarat is the lost city of Junagadh. Once a thriving city, Junagadh now carries the skeletons of history. The fort walls of Uparkot bind the lost city together. Furthermore, the Asiatic lions at the Gir National Park are the only survivors of their kind.

Junagadh Travel Guide

Towering over the city is Mt. Girnar, a holy site for Hindus and Jains that is climbed by a 9999-step staircase along peaks studded by temples that reach for the sky and look out across the plains. Walking up these stairs in pilgrimage is a unique experience of striving towards the heavens.

The city of Junagadh

Things To Do In Junagadh

Many worthy places await you inside the complex Junagadh Fort. It takes about 3 hours to see all these attractions. The Jamia Masjid, the Khapra Kodia Caves, and the Mausoleums of Mughal Kings are beautiful ruins to explore. Other than the Fort there is the Holy Hill of Girnar; trekking here is a joy.

Mt Girnar

Towering over the city is Mt. Girnar, which is a holy site for Hindus and Jains. It is climbed by a 9999-step staircase along peaks studded by temples that reach for the sky and look out across the plains. Walking up these stairs in pilgrimage is a unique experience of striving towards the heavens.

Mohabbat Maqbara

With its unique architecture, it houses the tombs of Mohabbat khanji and Bahaduddin Hasainbhai.

This monument is a unique example of Indo-Islamic and Gothic architecture with finely designed arches, elaborate stone carvings on the walls and windows, silver-decorated portals, the winding staircases encircling its four tall minarets, the old step-well in the grounds and its onion-shaped dome.

Uperkot Fort

The fort is over 2300 years old and has walls towering up to 20m high in some places. There used to be a 300 ft. deep moat inside the walls which used to be swarmed by crocodiles for the fort’s protection.

Navghan Kuvo

At the base of the mountain, deep in the heart of the oldest quarter of the city, you can walk down into the depths of the earth in a pair of ancient step-wells that were dug out of solid rock.

Spiraling down the staircase of thousand-year-old Navghan Kuvo, plunging 170 feet into the heart of solid rock to find life-giving water at the bottom, is an unparalleled contact with the elements that sustain us.

Edicts of Ashoka

Edicts which are orders issued by royals are present here dating back to 250 BC. There are 14 Edicts of Ashoka inscribed in large granite stones. The edicts, written in Brahmi script preach the ideas of love, peace, and tolerance, and apply to persons of any faith.

The scriptures were carved into stone by an iron pen, and have knowledge of significant historical importance. Today, the rock edicts are enclosed by a modern white building, thus keeping them safe.

Girnar Jain Temples

The Neminath Temple, built from 1128 AD to 1159 AD, is one of the main attractions. The temple complex has quadrangle courtyards, corridors, and other shrines as well, with pillars adorned with intricate carvings of Jain Tirthankars.

The idol of Bhagwan Neminatha here is said to be one of the oldest in the world, approximately 84,785 years old

Darbar Hall Museum

What was once a residential palace of the rulers of Junagadh is now the magnificent Darbar Hall Museum exhibiting the splendid possessions of the 19th century Nawabs. The repository has several galleries exuding with opulence and grandeur, decked with palatial rooms, goods, weapons, palanquin, etc.

Buddhist Caves

These are more like rooms carved out of stones and used as monk’s headquarters. The oldest, the Khapara Kodia caves belong to 3rd-4th century AD and are the simplest of all cave groups.

Temples and Mosques

Jama Masjid

Situated in Uparkot area, Jama Masjid is a trademark monument of the city. Built in yellow sandstone, the mosque has a spacious courtyard covered in white marble and a huge ablution tank in the premises. The inner walls have intricate carvings and the central dome is carved in the shape of a lotus flower.

Goddess Ambe Temple

Situated on the top of the Girnar Hill, Goddess Ambe Temple or Ambe Mata Temple is a famous Hindu temple and an important pilgrimage site for the Hindus. Dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Ambe Ma, the shrine is mostly visited by newlywed couples.

Jatashankar Mahadev Temple

Jatashankar Mahadev Temple is a Hindu temple situated on the rear side of Mountain Girnar. The temple is enshrined by God Shiva in the form of his Shivalinga which is naturally bathed by a stream flowing along and its water falling on the idol itself.

Dattatreya Temple

Located on the top of the Girnar Mountain, Dattatreya Temple is revered Hindu temple dedicated to the holy trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva collectively known as Dattatreya or Datta. But you can only reach it by scaling the mountain height on foot which is a difficult trek.

Shri Damodar Haries Temple

At the base of Ashwatthama Hill in the Girnar Mountain alongside a holy water pond called Damodar Kund is where you can find the temple. The temple is enshrined by Lord Krishna and is surrounded by natural beauty lush greenery. The premises also have a gaushala to tend to cows.

Getting Around

Reaching Junagarh is easy once you reach Rajkot. You can take a flight to Rajkot from any important city. From the airport, you can take a cab to Junagadh. There are also railways all over the country that go to Junagadh Railway Station. Buses also run from Porbandar (the westernmost point of India) to Junagadh.

Best Time to Visit

Visiting Junagadh will force you to deal with the heat as you take a safari, roam the Uparkot Fort and much more. To avoid the sweat and high temperatures winter is a suitable time to visit. Since the heat is low, this is the most popular tourist season.

However, crowds thin during February and March. You can visit during these two months to enjoy the nice temperatures and tourist attractions all to yourself. 

Where to stay

The city has numerous places to stay. It has places to suit all budgets, from 5-star hotels to budget hostels. Airbnb also is a good option in the city. 

Depending on your budget you can check in on online sights like Make my trip or Yatra or Trivago to get the best deal.

December 28, 2017 11:12 pm Published by Staff Writer