Latest Update : For the upcoming season 2024/25, safari bookings are open for Gir National Park. Always book your safari in advance.
Glimpse into the Regal Past and Explore the Beauty of this Heritage City.
Forming a part of the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, Junagadh is a historic city of India and makes up one of the top tourist destinations in Gujarat. With a rich history, the city has seen the rule of numerous rulers over centuries, glimpses of which can be seen in its culture, architecture, and lifestyle. A beautiful city located near the coasts of the Arabian Sea, Junagadh finds its landscape dotted with elaborate palaces, mighty forts, and divine temples. Being a mighty princely state of India, Junagadh has many stories to tell for itself.
Having served rulers from the Mauryas, the Mughals, to the Nawabs, Junagadh is a mix of different cultures. Apart from being an important piece in the book of history, tourism in Junagadh is a mix of visiting sites of historic as well as religious importance. With the high hills of the city housing some fascinating temples, Junagadh has numerous places for tourists to explore on a visit. Important for the religions of Hinduism, Jainism, Islam, and Buddhism, the city forms a crucial heritage site of the country.
Sitting along the foothills of the mighty Mount Girnar, Junagadh sees the greatest number of visitors who come to the city every year in hopes of spotting the majestic Asiatic Lion at the Gir National Park. A major national park of India, Gir National Park and its forests house the only population of the Asiatic Lions in the world and is most known for reviving their population from being near extinct. A land of the many royals of the past, Junagadh has a repository of rich history for its visitors offering many destinations for the people to explore.
A city that is rich with history and the remnants of the past, Junagadh has seen the rule of various rulers from different kingdoms over the centuries. The earliest of the records mark the rule of the Mauryan Dynasty in 319 BCE, with the prominent of the rulers being Chandragupta, and Ashoka, later followed by the rule of the Kalinga Dynasty in the region in 185 BCE. Maitraka Kingdom is then said to have occupied Junagadh between 475 CE and 767 CE who is known to have reigned over this region of Gujarat. It was even later that the region of Junagadh came under the Mughal Empire in 1573, which was then taken over by the Nawabs around the year 1730.
The Nawab-ruled state of Junagadh then proceeded to become a princely state under the British in the year 1807, which later went on to join the Indian state in 1948, after the country attained independence. On achieving independence, the many princely states that spanned the territory of India had the choice to either join the new state of Pakistan or remain as a part of India.
It was then that the last ruler of Junagadh, Sir Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III Rasul Khanji decided that being a Muslim himself, he would want Junagadh to be the part of Pakistan, which unfortunately did not sit well with his kingdom, majority of whom were Hindus. Not receiving support from the people, the Nawab and his kingdom became unable to join Pakistan, after which on 26th October, 1947, the Nawab along with his family fled to the Muslim-majority country of Pakistan.
Following a series of events that were concerned with accession of Junagadh as well as other princely states to India, Junagadh finally became a part of the country on 1st November, 1956, joining the state of Saurashtra and then the state of Bombay. It was later, in 1960, when the Bombay state separated into the state of Maharashtra and Gujarat that Junagadh became a part of the latter state as it stands today.
Forming the highest point of the city of Junagadh, Girnar Hills are among the top tourist destinations in Gujarat. These hills are home to numerous temples that are important to the religions of Hinduism and Jainism. One of the best things to do while visiting the hills is to reach the summit that can be reached by climbing up 10,000 stone steps, and can be reached by a ropeway overlooking the fascinating landscape of the region. Some of the popular Hindu temples at Girnar Hills are the Dattatreya Temple, Amba Mata Temple, and the Jatashankar Mahadev Mandir, along with the Jain temples of Neminath, and Mallinath.
A fascinating piece of history and architecture, the Uparkot Fort is one of the top tourist sites in Junagadh. Constructed under the rule of the Mauryan Emperor Chandragupta in 319 BCE, the fort has many places for you to explore within its confines. Visiting the fort and exploring its historical structures such as the stepwells of Adi Kadi Vav and Navghan Kuvo, as well as the Buddhist Cave and the Jama Masjid. Having seen the rule of many kingdoms, the fort showcases a variety of architectural structures from different cultures to form one of the interesting parts of a Junagadh sightseeing tour.
Buddhist Caves of Junagadh form some of the must visit places in Junagadh, making up an important historic site of the city. These caves are spread across 3 different sites of the city and have been made at different periods of time. Although these sites are referred to as caves, they are rooms cut out of large boulders and rocks. Once functioned as residential quarters of monks, Buddhist Caves at Junagadh include the Baba Pyare Caves, Khapra Kodiya Caves, and the Buddhist Caves at the Uparkot Fort. Visiting these Buddhist Caves is one of the top things to do here that attracts numerous tourists and forms one of the top tourist places to visit in Junagadh.
A fine structure that once belonged to the Nawabs of Junagadh, that once formed their place of residence, today stands as a mausoleum. One of the must visit places in Junagadh, Mahabat Maqbara is an architectural marvel displaying a mix of Indo-Islamic and European Gothic style of architecture. With its walls, gates, and minarets covered in intricate carvings throughout, Mahabat Maqbara is a mausoleum that contains within itself the tombs of Nawab Mahabat Khan II, and Bahaduddinbhai Hasainbhai. Standing as one of the landmarks of Junagadh tourism, Mahabat Maqbara is a monument that you must explore on a sightseeing tour of Junagadh.
Another marvelous structure that once belonged to the Nawabs of Junagadh, the Darbar Hall Museum is among the top sites to explore when visiting Junagadh. Although the place functions as a museum today, it once functioned as a courtroom of the Nawabs. The museum displays an exquisite collection of art, paintings, photographs, royal palanquins, textiles, weaponry, and furniture of the once prevalent rulers of the region. Apart from the precious artifacts that the museum showcases, the Darbar Hall Museum also has a room that offers a glimpse into what the royal courtroom must have looked like in the time gone by.
Ashoka's Edicts in Junagadh are a popular place to visit for tourists visiting the city. The edict is as old as 250 BCE and displays the fourteen edicts of Emperor Ashoka in the Pali language following the Brahmi script. These edicts are moral codes that cover different topics concerning the concept of Dhamma according to Buddhism and revolve around non-violence, filial piety, and being tolerant of differences. Ashoka's Edicts in Junagadh are located near Mount Girnar and form an important part of Junagadh's heritage. A crucial part of not just Junagadh's but also India's history, Ashoka's Edicts are one of the top tourist places in the city.
Lying in close proximity to the city of Junagadh, Gir National Park or Sasan Gir forms one of the top tourist places in Gujarat. Housing a sizable population of the Asiatic Lion, the national park sees tourists from all over the world for being the only place other than Africa where lions can be found. One of the best things to do while at the national park is to explore its forest through a jungle safari. With a jungle safari you can get a closer look at the wildlife of the park and may even get a chance to spot the majestic Asiatic Lion on your visit.
Reaching Junagadh in Gujarat is very easy, as the destination is well connected by all means of transportation.
The nearest airport to Junagadh is the Rajkot International Airport at a distance of 130.3 km, from where you can take a private cab to reach the city.
Well connected to different parts of Gujarat, you can take one of the many state-run buses that run through the nearby cities. The nearest cities to Junagadh are Amreli at 96.2 km, Rajkot at 103 km, and Jamnagar at 148.6 km.
The nearest railway station to Junagadh is the Junagadh Junction Railway Station that operates frequent trains from the nearby stations of Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Mumbai, Pune, Ratlam, Ujjain, and Bhopal.
The best time to visit Junagadh is during the months of October to March since the weather is pleasant and it is comfortable to travel. Here is how Junagadh looks like during different times of the year:
Summer Season : Junagadh experiences the season of summer between the months of March to May when it faces an average temperature of 28°C and can experience extreme heat with the temperatures even reaching past 39°C.
Monsoon Season : Between the months of June to September the city experiences the season of monsoon and witnesses an average temperature of 26°C with heavy rains and extreme humidity, making it an unpleasant experience to travel to the city during this time.
Winter Season : In the months of October to February, Junagadh experiences the season of winter with an average temperature of 24°C with minimal rainfall, forming the most ideal season to visit the city.
Some FAQ's about Junagadh Tourism
Get In TouchJunagadh in Gujarat has plenty of places to visit for tourists to explore which range from places of historical importance to some fascinating religious sites. Along with preserving pieces of history, Junagadh is also home to one of the important national parks of the country as well. Here are some of the top places that you must visit while in Junagadh.
The best time to visit Junagadh is during the months of October to March since the weather is pleasant and it is comfortable to travel.
Top historical places to explore in Junagadh include:
Top temples and religious sites to visit in Junagadh include:
The historically rich city of Junagadh, although can be explored in 2 days, it is recommended to spend at least 3 days in the city to experience the best of Junagadh tourism.
