Places of interest
Ashoka's Rock Edicts
Fourteen Rock Edicts of the Emperor Ashoka can be seen inscribed on a great
boulder. These ancient inscriptions date back to 250 BC and carry Brahmi
script in Pali language. Late Sanskrit inscription were added around 150 AD
by Rudrakama and in about 450 AD by Skandgupta. The inscriptions were
reported in 1822 by Todd, but really came to light only in 1837 when Rev.Dr
John Wilson copied them and in 1843 when the Royal Asiatic Society published
them in the Bombay branch journal. The 16 principals preach virtues like
matery of the senses, purity of thought, gratitude, devotion, self control,
secular thinking and kindness, while opposing animal sacrifice and greed.
They speak of repentance for death and destruction caused during the wars
waged by Ashoka.
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Girnar Hill
Rising up on the outskirts of Junagadh is Mt Girnar, whose 3660 foot high
summit is crowned by some of the finest and religiously most important
temples. The climb is a steep one and best undertaken in the very early
hours of the morning. The main entrance to the hill is in front of the
Uparkot. On the hill top there are Jain and Hindu temples standing in a
quadrangular courtyard. The main temple, which is surrounded by pillared
cloisters containing 70 cells is dedicated to the 22nd Jain Thirthankara
(God) Neminath. Further up from Neminath Temple, the Amba Temple is where
newly married Hindu prays for a happy marriage.
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Mohabat
Maqbara
Maqbars - the older complex offers some remarkable 18th century
architecture with vertical columns, delicate carved columns, arches,
cornices & domes. The newer complex is a remarkable architectural work
with four minarets & pirouetting spiral staircase, a facade rich in
stone carvings, beautifull silver door & large size domes. A number of
Haveli's are known for their jharokhas & wood carving - specimens of
Gujarat doemstic architecture.
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Darbar Hall Museum
Darbar hall museum dating back to 1870 a.d. offers an insight into the
period of Nawabi rule in Junagadh with silver plated thrones, fine carpets,
huge chandeliers & a red silk carpet with diamonds like stars of a
crimson sky & some carpets lavishly embroidered with gold thread, huge
chandeliers, royal armoury, potraits & paintings.
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Uparkot Fort
Uparkot, an ancient citadel located on the higher level of the town, was a
stronghold of Mauryans and Gupta Empire and is said to have survived 16
sieges in the last 1000 years due to its strategic location and difficult
access. The entrance of Uparkot has a fine specimen of Hindu Toran, leading
of flat land dotted with archeological sites. The major sites are Buddhist
caves, Baba Pyara Caves (2nd century), Adi-Kadi Vav, Navghan Kuvo and Jami
Masjid.
The Buddhist caves are fine examples of rock cut architecture with
ornamented pillars, carved entrances, water cisterns, chaitya hall, monastic
cells for meditation and chaitya windows. Adi-Kadi Vav and Navghan Kuvo were
built by the Chudasama Rajputs and unique water structures among the
numerous step wells of Gujarat. The Adi-Kadi Vav (15th century) has a long
flight of 120 steps leading to water, while the Navghan Kuvo ( 1026 a.d) is
hewn from the soft rock and is 52 meters deep, reached by a circular
staircase winding around the shaft. Another intersting artefact from past is
"Nilam" canon , brought to Diu from Egypt to fight against the
Portuguese and it was manufactured by the order of Suleyman, the
magnificent, King of Turkey.
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Junagadh Museum ( Sakkarbagh Museum )
Located in Sakkarbagh, the museum displays wonderful prehistoric and
protohistoric stone and bone implements, stone sculptures including a
standing vishnu of late 9th century, bronzes, minatures, manuscripts , stone
and copper inscriptions, silverware, glass, porcelain, woodcarving, textiles
and folk art.
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How
to reach
The nearest airport from keshod is 40 km , from Porbander it is 113 km and
from Rajkot 101 km
Climate
The climate of Junagadh is characterized by dry wind and scanty rainfalls
in summers and monsoon, respectively. It is best to explore this city
between the months from October to March
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