Junagadh - The Ancient Fortified City

Junagadh – The Ancient Fortified City, at the foothills of the sacred Girnar hill is resplendent with mythological legends. Its antiquity dates back to pre- Harappan times and was ruled by Mauryas, Kshatrapas, Guptas, Vallabhis, Chudasamas, Gujarat Magbara Sultans, and Babi Nawabs.

Uparkot or Upper Fort: This stronghold of Mauryas and Guptas has survived about 16 sieges in the last 1000 years. The fort wall around the town and the fort made Uparkot virtually inaccessible.

Maqbaras: The mausoleums of the Nawabs of Junagadh are a fine representation of Nawabi architecture.

Ashoka’s Rock Edict: A huge boulder inscribed with 14 edicts of emperor Ashoka (257-56 B.C) lies on the way to Girnar from Uparkot.

Girnar Hill (7 kms.): The sacred hill is an important pilgrim center for Hindus, Jains, and Muslims. The first set of Jain temples are at a height of610 m., and the main temple is dedicated to Lord Neminath. The shrines of Ambaji, Gorakhnath, and Guru Dattatraya are further up on the sacred mount. A shrine of Shiva and a Dargah is perched atop the hill. Millions of pilgrims participate in the fair of Bhavnath Mahadev temple.

Around Junagadh – The Ancient Fortified City

Sasan Gir Sanctuary (54 kms.)

Sasan Gir is the famous home of the Lion, the majestic king of the Jungles. It is the only place where the Asiatic lion can be seen in his natural habitat. Other animals inhabiting the Gir forest are panther, bear, antelope, fox, blackbuck, etc. A rich variety of birdlife can also be seen here.

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