About City
Junagadh
Being the capital of Junagadh Princely State once, the town shines with historical significance with many historical monuments to see.
Junagadh is also very close to the Girnar Hills and the world renowned Gir National Park. Catch a glimpse of the wild in the Sakkabaug Zoo and the Wildlife Museum. Also visit the Girnar Hills and get a feel of the serene yet religious atmosphere. The fort at Uperkot is another tourist magnet.
Places To Visit In Junagadh
1. Mohabbat Maqbara
Also known as Mausoleum of Bahaduddnbhai Hasainbhai, this place is a mausoleum and its unique architecture makes it one of the most important attractions of Junagarh.
2. Uperkot Fort
Over 2300 years old, with walls up to 20m high in some places, there used to be a 300 ft. deep moat inside the walls which reportedly used to be inhabited by crocodiles for the fort's protection.
3. Girnar Hills
Just 5 km from Junagadh town, Girnar Hills are a collection of hills, whose origins can be traced back to the Vedas. It has been considered to be a religious place even as long before in the Mohan-jo-daro period.
4. Adi-kadi Vav and Navghan Kuwo
These are two step wells inside the Uperkot Fort. Usually wells are dug into the ground through layers of soli, stones, etc. and the construction is like that done above the ground.
5. Gir National Park
Being the sole home for Asiatic lions, this place is of course famous for spotting lions. Official count said that there were 411 lions in 2010. Also, there are roughly different 2375 species of fauna here with 38 species of mammals, over 300 species of birds, 37 species of reptiles and over 2000 species of insects.
6. Edicts of Ashoka
A site with an inscription of fourteen Edicts of Emperor Ashoka is found on a large boulder on the way to mount Girnar. It is located within 2 km of Uperkot Fort and is a major tourist attraction.
7. Sarkheswar Beach
Sarkeshwar Beach is one good place to relax and enjoy. Sound of the waves here are very soothing and the shore is lined by tiny and beautiful sea shells.
8. Buddhist Caves
These aren't exactly caves but rooms carved out of stones and were used as monk's headquarters. The oldest, the Khapara Kodia caves belong to 3rd-4th century AD and are plainest of all cave groups.
9. Jain Temples
There is a group of Jain temples in Girnar and are all unique yet similar in architecture and style. The Neminath Temple, built from 1128 AD to 1159 AD, is one of the main attractions.
10. Sakkarbaug Zoological Gardens
Situated on the Junagadh Rajkot Highway, Sakkarbaug Zoological Gardens aka Junagadh Zoo aka Sakkarbaug Zoo is a massive zoological park in Junagadh popular for the purebred Asiatic lions. Besides a variety of birds and animals including wild boar, blue bull, antelope etc.; the park also has an in-house natural history museum and a veterinary hospital.
11. Darbar Hall Museum
The former residencial palace of the rulers of Junagadh was later converted into a 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, palanquins, pictures, photographs and artefacts etc.
12. Madhavpur Beach
Lined with gorgeous coconut trees and boasting of an ethereal landscape, Madhavpur is a stunning beach in Madhavpur. The other side of the beach, across the road, has verdant green grass and vegetation which makes the area look even more pleasant.
13. Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
Located on Jawahar Road in Junagadh, Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is a revered Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan - a Hindu saint, yogi, ascetic and the founder of Swaminarayan Sampraday which is a Hindu religious sect. Lord Swaminarayan built the temple himself and idols of several deities were installed in the temple premises.
14. Dattatreya Temple
Located on the top of the Girnar Mountain in Junagadh in Gujarat, Dattatreya Temple is revered Hindu temple. It is dedicated to the holy trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva collectively known as Dattatreya or Datta.
15. Tulsi Shyam Springs
Located in the premises of Gir Forest National Park, Tulsi Shyam Springs is a group of three hot sulphur streams alongside a Lord Vishnu Temple. The first is warm, the second is slightly hot, and the third stream is boiling hot; it is believed to have curative powers. It is believed to a dip in the springs can cure one of the skin diseases.
16. Goddess Ambe Temple
Situated on the top of the Girnar Hill in Junagadh, Gujarat, Goddess Ambe Temple or Ambe Mata Temple is a revered Hindu temple and an important pilgrimage site for the Hindus. Dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Ambe Ma, the shrine is mostly visited by newly wed couples. The temple also provides a picturesque view of the town below.
17. Ahmedpur Mandvi Beach
Ahmedpur Mandvi Beach is a 6 kms long pristine coastline kissed by the sparkling waters of the Arabian Sea. Situated on the junction of Diu and Gujarat, the beach is dotted with windmills and boasts of soft white sands. The beach is ideal of swimming, water sports and dolphin spotting and is visited by a large number of tourists throughout the year.
18. Moti Baug
Situated inside the premises of Junagadh Agricultural University, Moti Baug is a botanical park. Established in memory of a pet dog by Nawab Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III, the park is popular for its rich greenery and colourful flora. Besides offering a refreshing space for walks and jogs, the park also sites a pond amid a line of banyan and other dense trees.
19. Jatashankar Mahadev Temple
Jatashankar Mahadev Temple is a Hindu temple situated on the rear side of Mountain Girnar in Junagadh, Gujarat. 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. The place is also the origin of river Sonrekh and is covered in ethereal beauty.
21. Shri Damodar Haries Temple
At the base of Ashwatthama Hill in the Girnar Mountain range in Junagadh, Gujarat, there is a sacred Hindu temple called Shri Damodar Temple alongside a holy water pond called Damodar Kund. 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.
22. Damodar Kund Water Reserve
Damodar Kund Water Reserve is situated at the foothills of Mountain Girnar and is considered holy by the Hindus pertaining to certain myths and legends. The ghat at the lake is used to cremate dead bodies and the water is believed to have properties to dissolve bones. The lake also has a temple and many poojas are performed at the site.
23. Dataar Hills
Dataar Hills is a holy site in Junagadh, Gujarat, popular for housing the shrine of Jamiyal Shah Datar at the top of the mountain peak. The shrine is worshipped by Hindus and Muslims alike. The shrine also offers a spectacular panoramic view of the town below and is a famous tourist spot. Urs festival is celebrated with great pomp and show.
24. Willingdon Dam
Wellington Dam in built over the Kalwa river at the foothills of Mountain Girnar in Junagadh and is a beautiful tourist spot. The water from Wellington Dam is used for commercial and domestic places in Junagadh and adjoining villages. The dam is best visited during monsoon when the rains increase the water level and you can watch he enchanting waterfalls.
25. Jama Masjid
Located in Uparkot area of Junagadh in Gujarat, Jama Masjid is a trademark monument of the city. Built in yellow sandstone, the mosque boasts of 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.
Best time to visit Junagadh
Winter season (October - March) is the best time for a visit to Junagadh. The months when Junagadh is ideal for a trip for the October - March. Monsoons are also nice for a visit to the same, although the heavy rainfall and frequent thunderstorms and landslides might ruin your plans. The summers, though, are the least advisable time for a visit, owing to the scorching heat.
Food of Junagadh
Junagadh might not have any lavish or fine dining restaurants but it does have quiet some options for some lip-smacking street food and good quality Indian and local Gujarati cuisine. Do try out the popular Gol-Gappe, Dahi Vada, Aloo Puri as well as delicacies of Punjabi and Chinese cuisine. Some Gujarati snacks and sweets that you might find here are Dhokla, Khandvi, Thepala, Ghevar, Basundi and probably a few more.
How to Reach
Junagadh is well connected by rail and road. Regular rail and bus services ply to and fro the fort city of Junagadh. There is no direct flight connectivity, however, to Junagadh. The nearest airport is in Rajkot, approximately 106.3 km away from Junagadh.