Junagadh

Resting at the foot of Girnar range, the historic pilgrimage city of Junagadh is located in the West India state of Gujarat. It was once the capital of the Nawabs of Junagadh and houses elaborate mansions and gothic archways. It is a place of interesting mix of mosques, Buddhist monuments along with Hindu and Jain temples. Pilgrims flock to this region throughout the year to visit the nearby Somnath temple. The temple portrays a vivid history, as its immense wealth attracted many invaders. Major tourist attractions include Girnar mountain ranges, Uperkot Fort, Sakkarbaug Zoo and wildlife museum located in the vicinity.

The history of the city dates back to the Maurya Dynasty followed by Chalukya reign and then Mughal rule. Chandragupta Maurya erected the fort of Uperkot in the year 319 BC. The fort was besieged 16 times in the period of 800 years. One such blockade lasted for twelve years. The Nawabs of Junagadh erected several beautiful structures, including Mahabat Maqbara and Bahauddin Maqbara, the ruins of which still stand. The city was ruled by the Babi Nawabs from the year 1748 AD until India became independent. Summers in the city are extremely hot and dry.

October to March

Attractions of Junagadh include mountains, museums, fort, temples and wildlife:

Junagadh is the land of authentic Gujarati food. The restaurants in the city regularly serve predominantly vegetarian food. The fast food joints and restaurants also serve continental and South Indian cuisines. There are very few non-vegetarian restaurants in the city near the National Highway 151 and the State Highway 97, which dish up authentic Mughlai cuisine.

The bustling city is rich in traditions and heritage lends a thrilling and exciting experience for shoppers. The market place is filled with makeshift stores selling traditional stuff at bargained prices. You can check bandhani saris, devotional items, toys made of cloth, embroidered and decorated dress materials, silk saris, footwear, herbal medicines and fragrance oil.

Junagadh boasts of good connectivity by rail and road. The nearest airports are at Keshod, (about 40 km.away) and Rajkot (about 104 km. away). The city is well linked by rail via Junagadh Railway Station to the various cities of Gujarat . Buses to the city of Junagadh are available from all popular destinations in and around Gujarat. Auto rickshaws and city buses are cheap modes for sightseeing in Junagadh. One can also hire a taxi.

Other attractions include Swami Vivekananda Vinay Mandi, Junagadh Museum, Wellington Dam, Jain Derasar, Tulsi Shyam Springs, Vagheshwari Mandir and Mujkund Caves.

Gondal (about 64 km.): Top attractions include Riverside Palace, royal vintage car collection, Navlakha Palace along with religious places like Akshar Mandir, Sureshwar Temple and Dhareshwar Mahadev Temple. Gir National Park (about 100 km.) : The dense wildlife park and the sanctuary vests in the forested hilly terrain. It is flocked by visitors, for watching the wild Asiatic lion that are conserved here from extinction. It is inhabited by various other wild animals including jackals, leopards, antelope, deer and crocodiles. Somnath Temple (about 90 km.) : One of the most sacred spots of Hindu pilgrimage, it is one of the twelve jyothirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva. The other holy places include the Sun Temple, Bhalka Tirtha and Dehotsarg Tirth. Chorwad (about 71 km.) : The small fishing hamlet is also popular for the summer palace of the Nawabs called Daria Mahal. Rajkot (about 102 km.) : Former capital city of state of Saurashtra, it houses the historic remains from the British era. Porbandar (about 105 km.) : The ancient port city on the coast of Kathiabar is the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. Attractions here include a bird sanctuary, Miyani Beach, Barda Hills and Kirti Mandir.

With the best of tourist information, travellers can end up exploring many additional nearby tourist places like Jamnagar, Wankaner, Morbi , Bhavnagar and Dwarka.