A prehistoric city, believed to have been inhabited from the times of Lord Krishna, Junagadh literally means ‘ancient fort’. Indeed the Uperkot fort here is said to have been built by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya around 320 BC and has been continuously inhabited since then. Today Junagadh is a bustling city, proud of its history and in touch with modern times as it offers its rich heritage to be viewed and admired by all who visit it.
Junagadh has been ruled by the Rajputs, Solankis, the Delhi Sultanate and an independent princely state, established by Afghan commander Sher Khan Babi. Through it all, Junagadh has maintained a poignant harmony between people of different faiths. A harmony evident even today by the presence of shrines of all religions on one of Junagadh’s most iconic sites—Mount Girnar. Towering more than 3,300 ft above the surrounding countryside, Mount Girnar consists of five peaks that house Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Muslim shrines on its summits accessed by 9,999 stone hewn steps. At its base, among foothills overgrown with hardy trees and dense bushes lies the Sakkarbaug Zoo. Spread over 490 acres, the zoo is home to various endangered species and known for its pioneering work on captive breeding and conservation efforts for Asiatic lions. A natural history museum displays preserved samples of the local wildlife and is a must-visit attraction for nature buffs.
No other monument pays tribute to Junagadh’s identity quite like its famous fort—Uperkot. Located right in the centre of town, this magnificent example of human engineering and architecture displays superb defenses that would put most modern war command bunkers to shame. Along with unforgettable history lessons, the fort affords breath-taking views of the city and Mount Girnar. Don’t miss the magnificent Jumma Masjid inside the fort, a set of 2000-year-old rock carved Buddhist caves and two exceptional step-wells hewn out of solid rock; the Adi Kadi Vav and the Navghan Kuvo while you’re here.
The Mahabat Maqbara is another example of awe-inspiring architecture that you must simply not miss. Actually a mausoleum of Nawab Mahabat Khan II it was built in the late 19th century and is famous for its intricate structural design with influences of Hindu, Moorish and European architecture. The Gir Sanctuary is also within driving distance from Junagadh and can be covered in a day or over two if you are looking to get within close range of the forest’s inhabitants. Apart from the endangered Asiatic Lions that call Gir home, the forests are full of other animals like spotted chital deer, sambar, nilgai, crocodiles, gazelles, leopards and over 300 species of resident and migratory birds.
Auto-rickshaws, government buses, private vans and motor-cycle powered transport vehicle called 'chakdas' ply within and outside city limits of Junagadh. For longer trips, like those to Gir it is best to hire a jeep or car.
You can reach Junagadh through train.Junagadh Jnis one of the most popular train stations in Junagadh.On an average about 15 trains pass through Junagadh on a daily basis.Rajkot to Junagadh, Jetpur Navagadh to Junagadh, Veraval to Junagadhare some of the most popular routes to Junagadh with 37, 37, 30 trains weekly respectively.
By road Junagadh is surrounded by Dhoraji, Jetpur Navagadh, Bagasra which are 14.25 km, 19.43 km, 32.06 km away respectively. These places are ideal spots for people to plan their short weekend break.
Junagadh has a total of 21 hotels.There are 21 hotels in Junagadh with the popular ones being Lion Safari Camp, The Fern Gir Forest Resort, Gir Jungle Lodge, The Taj Gateway Hotel Gir Forest, Gir Birding Lodge, Hotel Harmony Junagadh etc.