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Junagadh, an ancient fortified city rich in
myth and legend is situated in erstwhile Saurashtra, at the foot of Mount
Girnar on the northern fringes of the
Gir forest
. Through various phases of history, Junagadh is described with equal
importance and for many centuries it was the capital of the western region
ruled by several dynasties of rulers such as Mauryas, Greeks, Kshtrapas
and Guptas.
Stippled with hills, the medieval city of Junagadh derives its name from
an old fort called by the same name. Apart from being a place of
pilgrimage, it is a wonderful nature
reserve for various flora and fauna. It is also one of the few places
where lions still roam free as, it is the abode of the majestic Asiatic
Lion. Junagadh is a place of pilgrimage and has produced a number of
saints in its long histroy. The most famous being the Gujarati saint-poet,
Narsimha Mehta.
Junagadh is a veritable treasure trove of ancient
temples, museums,
palaces and
caves. Every monument
will remind you of the grandeur of the Nawabs who once ruled Junagadh. The
famous rock edicts of Ashoka and the Girnar Temples are popular
attractions. 
PRIME ATTRACTIONS
Ashokan Rock
Edicts: On the way to Girnar, there is a huge boulder, housed in a
small roadside building, on which are fourteen Rock Edicts inscribed by
Emperor Ashoka. The inscriptions are written in Brahmi script in Pali
language and date back to 250 B.C. The fourteen edicts of Emperor Ashoka
are actually moral lectures.
Somnath: Somnath
holds one of the twelve most holy temples in India, the shrines being
dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is situated at around 80 km from Junagadh.
Uparkot Fort: Famous
in the bygone times for its virtual inaccessibility, the Upar Kot or the
Upper Fort is girdled by a wall that is in some places, over 200 metres
high. An ornate entrance gateway leads to the ruins. A mosque still stands
in a state of preservation.
Buddhist
Caves: The Buddhist Caves form an important rock-cut group of
the caves of Junagadh. The caves, scooped in three tiers, are situated on
the descent from the Jami Masjid. The central section of the lowest storey
has a main hall that is open to the sky. The base, shaft and capital of
the carved pillars carry unique designs.
Mahabat Maqbara: is mausoleum of one of the nawabs of Junagadh
dazzles with silver doors and intricate architecture, including minarets
encircled by spiralling stairways.
Gondal: Prettily situated on the bank of the Gondli River, this
seat of erstwhile State of Gondal, is famous for its Naulakha Palace and
the Riverside Palace of the erstwhile Maharaja, which have now been made
into Heritage Hotels.
Durbar Hall Museum: The museum displays weapons and armour from
the days of the Nawabs and many other curios and artifacts. A quick foray
into the museum will reveal silver chains, chandeliers, settees, thrones,
palanquins, howdahs, cushions, gowns and a large carpet that was woven in
the Junagadh jail.
Sakkarbaug Zoo: The zoo of Junagadh, the oldest zoo in Gujarat,
is home to the famous Gir lions, tigers and leopards. This zoo was set up
in 1863 AD by the Nawab, to save the Asiatic lion from extinction. Besides
lions, there are also tigers, leopards, bears, jackals, wild ass, snakes
and birds. An open zoo has also been developed over 500 acres of land.
EXCURSIONS
Mount
Girnar: It is a steep-sided extinct volcano, 4 kms away from Nagadh at
the height of over 1,100 m. It is a major pilgrimage centre for both Jains
and Hindus and has been considered sacred since before the 3rd century BC.
Buses leave from Junagadh's local depot hourly, dropping passengers at the
mountain base, from where five thousand irregular steps lead to the
summit.
Chorwad Beach: 66 kilometres
from Junagadh and 23 kilometres from the fishing centre of Veraval,
Chorwad is a delightful resort on the sunny coast of Gujarat.
An excellent road connects to Junagadh, Girnar, the Gir Forest sanctuary
and the famous temple of Somnath.
Gir
Wildlife Sanctuary : Sprawling in an area of 1424 sq. kms, Gir with
its dry deciduous forest is a luxuriantly rich ecosystem- endowed with
floral and faunal plentitude. Thirty species of mammals, twenty species of
reptiles, several species of insects and birds are found here.
The forest is the only place in the world, outside Africa, where the lion
can be seen in its natural habitat. Gir, the last refuge of the king of
the jungle, is one of the largest and most important wildlife sanctuaries
in India.
TRAVEL INFORMATION:
How To Get There
Air: Nearest airport Keshod 37 kms & Rajkot 99 kms.
Rajkot is connected to
Mumbai by Indian
Airlines flights.
Rail: Junagadh is connected by train to
Ahmedabad .
Road: G.S.R.T.C. bus services connect Junagadh with
Bhavnagar,
Ahmedabad ,
Gir, Rajkot, Bhuj,
Dwarka,
Somnath,
Palitana, Surat,
Vadodara, Porbandar.
Local Transport: Taxis, Auto-rickshaws, Tongas & City Bus
services available.
For travel
Agents & Tour Operators in Gujarat - Click here
WHERE TO STAY
There are not too many options in accommodation around Junagarh. Some
low-budget and middle-budget accommodation options are available in the
city.
NEAR BY CITIES
Rajkot: 99 kms
Sasangir
: 58 kms
Somnath: 92 kms
Porbandar: 107 kms
Palitana: 213 kms
Jamnagar: 184 kms.
Click Here for District Map Of
Junagarh City
Click Here for Road Map Of
Junagarh City
Click Here for Railway
Network Map Of Junagarh City