Junagadh
Junagadh offers you to go high to touch the sky and also to go down to earth. Mount Girnar gives you the chance to go high and also along with that you can also see various Hindu and Jain temples. The place also have step wells that were not built but hewn inside a solid rock and takes you to birth giving water.
Places to Visit in Junagadh
- Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary – The Park stretches over 1412 km and is the last refuge of Asiatic Lions in India. The park was established in 1965 to protect and to repopulate the Asiatic lions as their number has sunk to two dozen in 20th century. But now the park is proud of 350 Asiatic lions. The park has 2375 species of fauna with 38 species of mammals, 37 species of reptiles, 300 species of birds and more than 2000 species of insects. Other than Asiatic lion it also has 300 leopards including jungle cat, dessert cat and rusty spotted cat. The park has also released more than 1000 marsh crocodiles into the Kamaleshwar Lake.
- Junagadh Zoo – Built in 1863 by the ruling Nawab of that time it is the oldest Zoo in Gujarat. The main purpose of the zoo was to save Asiatic Lions from extinction. Now there are around 71 species of animals there and it is estimated to have 850 animals. The zoo breeds Asiatic Lions and then frees them in nearby Gir Forest. There are 300 lions there.
- Mount Girnar – The hill is in Girnar, Ahemdabad and is considered very sacred by Jain Community. The hill has a height of 600 m and has 10,000 steps to climb till top. There are many Hindu and Jain temples on this hill. The Amba Mata temple is on the top and is visited by every newlywed couple. The oldest and largest Jain temple is situated just below Amba Mata temple. It is dedicated to Neminath (22nd Jain Tirthankar) and Mallinath (19th Jain Tirthankar) and was built in 12th century. On Kartik Purnima a fair is also held here during November – December. Bhavnath temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is also situated there. Mahashivaratri is celebrated here and is attended by many Hindus and Nagasadhus.
- Mahabat Maqbara – It is a stunning mausoleum built by one of the Nawabs of Junagadh in 1892. With silver doors, intricate architecture and minarets encircled by spiraling stairways the mausoleum is perfect example of Indo- Islamic architecture.
- Uparkot Fort – The fort was built in 319 BC by Chandragupta Maurya but has been rebuilt many times. The entrance gate is formed by ornate triple gateway with gateway like Hindu Toran leading to flat land. Some of the walls there are 70 feet high and the fort also has cannon guns placed on the western wall. Adi Kadi Vav and Navghan Kuvo are the two wells built by Chudasama Rajputs and were main source of drinking water for people in the fort. Adi Kadi Vav is believed to be built in 15th century and Navghan Kuvo in 1026 AD. The fort also has a tomb, a mosque and Buddhist caves belonging to 200 BC to 200 AD.
- Damodar Temple – It is located along the road to Girnar in Junagadh city in the south of Saurashtra. It was renovated by King Skand Gupta in 462 AD. It consists of two parts that is Nij Mandir Shikhar and Saloha Mandir Shikhar. Nij Mandir Shikhar is 65 feet long and Saloha Mandir Shikhar is 30.5 feet long. At the apex of Nij Mandir a flag has been hoisted.
- Darbar Hall Museum – The Museum has the picture gallery, textiles, arms gallery, Kacheri, the hall which was all used by the Nawabs. An interesting collection of weapons, thrones, silver articles, costumes, paintings, tapestries and palanquins are put up on display.
How to Reach Junagadh
Junagarh is 208 km away from Dwarka. There are no direct trains or buses from Dwarka to Junagadh. To travel by train first you can take train from Dwarka to Jamnagar and then a taxi from there to Junagadh. To travel by bus first take a taxi from Dwarka to Porbandar. From Porbandar take Mahasagar Travels till Dhoraji. From Dhoraji take a taxi till Junagadh.
