Junagadh

Junagadh is a historical city in Gujarat, in the west of India, on the Arabian Sea. The region of Junagadh became a district of Gujarat state in 1960. Junagadh was formerly the state capital and is now a district administrative center. It is also a market for gold and silver embroidery, perfume, and copper and brass vessels. It is the only place where wild Asiatic lions are still found.

History

The city of Junagadh has a history dating back centuries, and the region has known many rulers in its time. The Mauryan Dynasty was one of its earliest kings. King Chandragupta constructed the Uperkot Fort in 319 BCE, and the fort was an integral part of the empire for a while, before being abandoned for over 300 years only to be discovered again in 976 CE. Chandragupta’s grandson, the great King Ashoka, left his mark on the fort as well, by inscribing fourteen edicts on a boulder close by. Between 475 and 767 CE, the Maitraka Dynasty ruled the region. Around 185 BC, the region was governed by the Kalinga Dynasty. \n\nPost-1573, Junagadh became a part of the Mughal empire. The Nawabs took over in 1730, and their descendants continued to rule till 1949. In 1807, Junagadh, under the Nawabs, became a tributary state of the British Empire. As the British had no direct control over Junagadh, they divided the region into 562 princely states. Post independence, these states were afforded the choice to join either India or Pakistan or become an independent entity. Two minor rulers of states that belonged to the larger state of Junagadh opted to join India. This resulted in a hostile takeover of these two states by the Nawab, which angered the rulers of the other minor states, who sent troops to Junagadh. After a further conflict between the two nations, Junagadh finally became a part of India in 1948.

Understand

This city is surrounded by hills, hence an ideal place Fort was built.

Get in

By plane

Rajkot is the nearest airport.One can get regular flights to bombay from rajkot.Junagarh is two and half hr from rajkot by road.

By train

The Junagadh Railway Station is well-connected to all the major cities in India.It is on Ahmedabad - Somnath Route of Broadgauge line.

By car

Route from Ahmedabad to Junagadh Approximate distance 336 km | Drive time about: 6.72 hrs

Route from Rajkot to Junagadh Approximate distance 110 km | Drive time about: 2.2 hrs

Route from Vadodara to Junagadh Approximate distance 400 km | Drive time about: 7 hrs

By bus

State bus service from Porbandar (around 80 min journey), Rajkot and Veraval (around 90 minute journey).

See

• Fort walls surrounding the town

Uperkot Fort wall, Junagadh

• Darbaar Hall, now the Junagadh Museum + This remains closed on wednesdays and 2nd and 4th saturday.
• Zoo +
• Uparkot fort (Free entrance) - Must see. Few good spots like buddhist cave (25 Rs Indians, 300 Rs Foreigners), Adi-Kadi Vav, Jamia masjid are inside this fort. Has a radius of half km. or Vehicle can also reach to all these spots inside fort. May take 2-3 hours to see all these.
• Jami Masjid -go to the top of this masjid to enjoy junagadh beauty.

Jamia Masjid, Junagadh.jpg

• 2nd century Buddhist caves (25 Rs Indians, 300 Rs Foreigners) - inside the Fort area.
• Khapara-Kodia caves
• Tomb of Nuri Shah
• Adi-kadi Vav -must see
• Navghan Kuvo
• The mausoleums of the Nawabs of Junagadh
• Holy hill of Girnar- It takes at least 5-6 hours to reach the top of the hill. Its a rocky and steep; so it is difficult task for people who do not trek much. There are approximately 10 thousand steps which are formed due to pilgrims. If you are lucky enough, you many spot one or many lions during your ascent.

There are various group of temples on the way. After climbing for 4000 steps, you will see Jain temples. These temples have greater importance for Jains. These temples are architecturally beautiful and elegant. After climbing 1200 steps more, you will reach at Amba Ji Mandir. Here there is enough space to rest and freshen up. Then around 400 steps down then 800 steps climb then 1200 steps down then 2300 steps up, here at Dattatraya Mandir there is very limited space hence no rest possible. It is advised that you start climbing at around 4 AM so that you can complete the entire reach upto Dattatray Girnar i.e. 10000 steps till 10 AM, since there is no place to take rest you are require to get down immediately, try to reach the mid top before 12 noon then you can rest here as there is space to rest). If you cannot reach the top of the hill, at least have a look through binocular ( Rs.5 for one view) which available after 50th or 100th step. you can imagine or plan whether you can reach the top.

• Gir National Park ++

Pl. ask for the local people to guide to reach the Jeep tour at Sasan Gir which is apart from the Gir Sanctury regular bus service tour. The jeep tour cost in March 2013 was Rs. 2000/- including driver and guide with around 6 person capacity, it is allowed to move around the forest for 2 hours, there are morning 6 AM, 9 AM and 3 PM tours allowed by the jeep and for the petrol vehicles of ur own a permit needs to be taken then you can take ur vehicle with the help of guide in the forest. In case,you are planning to visit Sasan in advance,do go for online booking of permit,else one has go through the local touts,who initiate the queue,early in the morning and overcharge the visitors for permits. Also to be noted,the best time to take the forest tour is 3-6 PM,as the lions go for hunting during that time,and there is maximum probability to see lions. The second best time is morning 6-9 AM,when the lions go for morning hunting but the worst time is 9-12,when most of the lions are taking rest and you'll be lucky,in case you get to see a lion.

+: Darbaar Hall and the zoo remain closed for public on Wednesdays.

++: If you're staying in Junagadh, make it to Saasan early to go on the morning safari. There is no mid-day batch. So, if you are a late riser, chances are you will have to wait long hours for the evening batch. Check the latest timings with residents a day in advance.

• Jatashankar Mahadev Mandir, 500 steps from Girnar Taleti (Left side steps from the Main Girnar steps). Jatashankar Mahadev temple can be reached by walking towards Girnar steps. There is a left turn in a street before Girnar steps where there is another way to go upwards. To reach Jatashankar Mahadev, there are two ways: one through steps and other through the jungle. One needs to climb 500 steps and a trekking path from the jungle at the right side after climbing 500 steps. A direction board is placed after 500 steps towards Jatashankar. In monsoon season, after trekking to some distance behind the Temple, one can enjoy tiny waterfalls and have a bath in fresh water collection between big rocks. Complete silence can be enjoyed here with only sounds of birds, monkeys and others.

Do

• Girnar
• Ashok Shilalek
• Sakkarbaug Zoo
• Wild Museum
• Makabara
• Jain Deresar
• Narsinh Mehta no Choro
• Upper Kot
• Darbar Hall Museum
• Gayatri Mandir and Vagheshwari Mandir
• Sonapur
• Damodar Kund
• Damodarji Temple
• Dataar Hills
• Science Museum
• Wellington Dam
• Moti Baug
• Mujkund Caves
• Ayurvedic Museum
• Narsinh Maheta Lake
• Bahauddin College
• Kesar Keri (Mangoes)
• Shri Swaminarayana Mandir
• Swami Vivekananda Vinay Mandir
• Swaminarayan Akshardham Mandir (Aksharvadi)

Buy

one sealed tin of 900 grams Kesar Keri (Mango Pulp)(The Queen Of Fruits) costs around Rs.100/-

Eat

• If you are pani puri/golgapaa fan then you must try eating near SBI regional business branch where you can taste 7 types of pani puri water.
• Swati Restaurant, Jayshree Road ,Junagadh
• Garden Cafe,Junagadh
• Dahi vada at Nav Jeevan Sweets, Kalwa Chowk
• Shri Chamunda Lachchhi Shop, 1.5 km from Junagadh Railway Station.
• Dal Puri and Aaloo Puri available in various stalls near Junagadh museum.
• sagar Restaurant, Jayshree Road, Near Kalwa Chock, Junagadh
• Leo Resort ,Bhavnath Taleti Road ,Junagadh
• Santoor Restaurant, M.G. Road , Junagadh
• Geeta Lodge, Good Kathiawad Thali, on Station Road.

Budget

Many small hotels near ST stand are very economical but be ware of hygine issue

Mid-range (Eat)

• Patel and Swaminarayan thali near ST stand (Rs. 100/- Thali in March 2013)
• Swad (Punjabi, Chinese) near Talav darwaja (Avg. Rs.100/- per dish)

Drink

Kashmiri Lime Soda Mango Pulp

Sleep

Most important thing to know for solo travelers that no Dharamshalas gives accommodation to single travelers. No proper food and accommodation at the base of Girnar mountain. Best way stay in Junagadh city.

Budget

Hotel Gautham Guest House: Kalwa Chowk, Junagadh. Price: Rs.300 to 500. Phone: 0285-2626432.

Murlidhar Lodge and Guest Hour: Kalwa Chowk, Junagadh. Price: around Rs.300 to 500.

Sarada Lodge: Near Bus Station, Junagadh. Price: around Rs.300 to 500.

Midrange

• Hotel Shikhar Palace, Shikhar Complex, Kalwa Chowk. Range Rs.700-Rs.1300 Phone : 02852626596 , 09898155796

• Lotus Hotel, Station Road, Junagadh. Range: around Rs.1200.

Get out

• Somnath
• Gir
• Dwarka
• Rajkot.

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