Junagarh

Introduction and history: Junagarh is an ancient city situated at the foot of Mount Girnar on the northern fringes of the Gir forest. Junagarh means Old Fort, which is also known as ‘Sorath’, the name of the earlier Muslim-ruled Princely State of Junagadh. Tracing back the history, it was originally held by the Maurya dynasty by Chandragupta in 319 BC. Followed by them the Solanki and Mughal dynasty conquered this place. Junagarh is also a place of pilgrimage and has produced a number of saints in its long histroy, which includes Gujarati poet, Narsimha Mehta. It is also a wonderful nature reserve for various flora and fauna.

What to see and when to go: The main attraction is the Uperkot Fort, which stands on the eastern side of Junagarh. It is believed that the fort was built by Chandragupta in AD 319, it was rebuilt several times in the later centuries. The fort also houses Jami Masjid, Tomb of Nuri Shah, and two baolis (step wells)-Adi Chadi and the Navaghan Kuva. There are some Buddhist caves, which are believed to be 1,500 years old.Mahabat Maqbara,Durbar Hall Museum,Girnar Hill temples, temples of Neminath, Mallinath, Amba Mata, and Damodar are some of the major tourist attractions.October to March is the ideal time to visit Juagarh..
Accommodation: There are not many luxury accommodation options in and around Junagarh. However there are lots of low and middle-budget accommodation options available starting with 350 rupees per day.
Mode of Transport: The nearest airport is Ahmadabad, which is 300 Kilometers from Junagadh. There are regular trains run between Junagarh and Veraval, Ahmedabad. Junagarh is well connected by road with nearby cities Rajkot (100 Kilometers), Porbandar (107 Kilometers) and Jamnagar (184 Kilometers).
Related links:
• Tourist information: http://www.gujarattourism.com/
• Junagarh information : http://www.gujaratplus.com/

See also (nearby places): Somnath temple, Ahmedabad, Porbandar, Gir national park Kamleshwar dam and Keshod are some of the nearby tourist attractions.