Junagadh Darbar Hall Museum
The city has acquired an important place in tourist map of Gujarat. Everyday thousands of visitors / tourists visit city for religious, entertainment and educational excursions. Two main festivals celebrated here are “Parikrama” (Held in October-November during the period of five days concluding on the full-moon day of Kartik Month) and “Maha Shivratri” (Held in February-March on the No-Moon-day of Magha Month) every year.
The importance of these festivals is not only up to local level but has also spread over national and international level. NagaBawa’s or Naked Sages (that are generally seen only during Kumbh Mela’s) come to take part in these festivals from all over India. Every year on an average more than one Million people visit Junagadh during these two festivals only.
The city’s history includes various rulers and dynasties as under:
| Maurya Dynasty ruled over Junagadh | in 319 BC |
| Kaling Dynasty ruled over Junagadh | in 185 BC |
| Greek ruled over Junagadh | in 70 – 73BC |
| Shaka ruled over Junagadh | 100 – 275AD |
| Kshatrapa ruled over Junagadh | 276 – 455 AD |
| Gupta ruled over Junagadh | 456 – 770 AD |
| The Chinese Traveller Hu-en-Tsang had visited Junagadh in | 640 AD |
| Chudasama / Chavada ruled over Junagadh | 875 – 1472 AD |
Muslim Rulers Mohammed Begada, Khalil Khan,
Muzaffar, Sikandar, Bahadursha and Ibadatkhan ruled | 1472 – 1572 AD |
| Mughals ruled over Junagadh | 1573 – 1748 AD |
| Nawabs of Babi Dynasty (Yousufzai Pathan) ruled over | 1749 – 1948 AD |
The last Babi Nawab named Mahabatkhanji III, decided to join Pakistan on getting independence from British Rule in 1947. But the majority of population being Hindu, the people resorted to revolt against his decision and finally they, led by Mr. Shamaldas Gandhi in an Army called “Aarzi Hukumat” (Temporary Government), attacked and captured the palace and fort by hoisting Indian Flag. The Nawab had to run away to Pakistan in order to save his life. Since then the city is a part of Gujarat State of Independent India.
Mahabat Khan, Nawab of Junagarh (1837-1882)
Nawab of Junagadh and state officials 1885
Five vignettes of Junagadh Nawab's and state officials 1895
Nawabs of Babi dynasty:
1735 - 1758 : Mohammad Bahadur Khanji I
1758 - 1775 : Mohammad Mahabat Khanji I
1775 - 1811 : Mohammad Hamid Khanji I
1811 - 1840 : Mohammad Bahadur Khanji II
1840 - 1851 : Mohammad Hamid Khanji II
1851 - 1882 : Mohammad Mahabat Khanji II
1882 - 1892 : Mohammad Bahadur Khanji III
1892 - 1911 : Mohammad Rasul Khanji
1911 - 1948 : Mohammad Mahabat Khanji III
Some Coins During Nawabs Rule
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Dokdo Currency Front
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Dokdo Currency Back
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Enjoy Some Rare Photos of Junagadh during British Rule
UPERKOT:- Uperkot is an impressive fort located on a plateau in the middle of town. It was originally built in 319 BC. Visitors enter the fort through a large gate. Some parts of the fort’s walls are 20 m high. If, after entering the gate you turn left, you will come to Jama Masjid. It has 140 pillars supporting its ceiling.
Further down the road are what are believed to be old Buddhist caves, said to be 1,500 years old (dating from before 500 AD). They are carved into the rocky hill and have stone carvings and floral work. There are also the Khapra Kodia caves north of the fort, and the Babupyana caves south of the fort.
There is a huge, fifteen-foot cannon, made in Egypt in 1531. There are also two interesting large step wells (vavs) here. The 11th century Navghan Kuva has a circular stairway that descends over 50 m down into the well. The Adi Chadi Vav descends 170 steps.
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Gate of the Uparkot at Junagadh 1875
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Ancient gateway at Uparkot in Junagadh 1895
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Kadanal Tope in the Uparkot, Junagadh 1895
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Gate to Old Fortress Uparkot 1895
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Nilam Tope at the Uparkot Junagadh 1895
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MAKABARA:- Nawabs were buried here. This is a fine specimen of medieval structure.
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Bahadur Khan in the Makbara, Junagadh 1895
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High School at Junagadh 1895
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Bara Sayad, Maji Najubibi Saheb's Mukbara 1900
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Bazaar at Junagadh 1895
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Bazaar Gate and Aiyena Mahal, Junagadh 1895
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Chitakhana Masjid at Junagadh 1895
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DAMODARJI TEMPLE:- Near Aswatthama Hill, which is north of Damodara Kund, is the Damodarji Temple, said to have been built by Vajranabha, Lord Krishna’s great-grandson.
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Damodar Kund bridge with Damodarji's Temple 1900
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Damodar temple, outside Junagadh 1895
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Bridge by the Damodar temple, outside Junagadh 1895
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Ghat at Damodar temple, Junagadh 1895
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DATAAR HILLS:- 2,779 feet (847 m) high stepway is built for going up shrine of Jamiyalshah Datar.
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Datar Dargah at Mount Girnar 1895
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Dargah at Mount Girnar near Junagadh 1895
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Datar Hill Junagadh 1895
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DARBAR HALL (Now MUSEUM):- Picture gallery, textiles, arms gallery, the kacheri, the hall which was used by Nawabs of Junagadh to hold their darbar. The Durbar Hall and Museum has an interesting collection of weapons, thrones, silver articles, costumes, paintings, tapestries, and palanquins on display. It is not far from the entrance to the fort.
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Durbar Hall Junagadh 1900
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Reception Hall Kacheri in the Durbar Palace, Junagad 1895
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English, Urdu & Gujarati School 1895
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Gate to Sakar Bag, Junagadh 1895
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Gateway into the Sardar Bag, Junagadh 1895
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Hamid Khan in the Makbara, Junagadh 1895
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House in the Sakar Bagh at Junagadh 1895
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Interior of a house in the Sakar Bag 1895
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Jami Masjid at Junagadh 1895
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Junagadh Palace 1900
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Mahabat Circle in Junagadh with clock tower 1895
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Maija Najubie Sahiba's Tomb at Junagadh 1895
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Maija Najubie Sahiba's Tomb at Junagadh 1895
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Main entrance to the Central Jail at Junagadh 1895
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View of the Central Jail, Junagadh 1895
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Majwadi Darwarza or Gate at Junagadh 1895
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Mausoleum of Maiji Sahiba, Junagadh 1869
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Nagar - Khana and Ayna Mahal 1900
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Bazaar at Junagadh in Gujarat 1895
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New Guest House Junagadh 1895
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Palace courtyard, Junagadh 1895
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Panoramic view of Junagadh from the Mota - Jalao 1895
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Panoramic view of Junagadh from the old fortress 1895
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view of Junagadh from Girnar 1895
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Junagadh from the old fortress 1895
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Prince Albert Victor Leper Asylum 1900
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Railway Station at Junagadh 1895
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Railway Station, Junagadh, from Rear Gate 1895
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Royal Tombs of the Junagadh Nawabs 1869
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Sakar Bag, Junagadh 1900
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Shakar Bag Bungalow and Garden 1900
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The Bahauddin College at Junagadh 1900
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The Jumma Masjid Junagadh upparkot 1900
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The Reay Gate clock tower, Junagadh 1895
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The Sardar Bag, interior with lion cage 1900
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Vazier Bah'unddin bhai makbara 1895
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The tallest of the mountains rises to 1031 meters (3382 feet), the highest peak in Gujarat. A sturdy stone path — a pilgrimage route - climbs from peak to peak. It is claimed that there are exactly 9,999 steps from the trailhead to the last temple on the highest peak, but the actual number is roughly 8,000. On the ways towards the peak of Girnar, there are temples and places; namely, `Bharathari Gufa(cave)', `Mali Parab', `Ramchandra Temple', and `Hathi Pashan'. Every year, a race is held, running from the base of the mountain to the peak and back. The locals in nearby Junagadh insist that the fastest-ever time was 42.36 minute.
The first peak of Girnar has a collection of beautifully carved Jain temples. Higher up, there are temples of `Jatashanker Mahadev' and `Gaumukhi Ganga'. Famous places like `Sheshavan', `Bharanvan' and `Hanumandhara' are nearer to the temple of `Gaumukhi Ganga'. The original way to climb Girnar from western side was from `Hanumandhara'. One can reach `Ambaji' temple after climbing ~5,000 steps. Right at the entry to the Ambaji Temple there is a marker on the steps that indicates 4868 steps from the start. This temple was constructed during `Gupt' dynasty and reference to this temple are found in the books written in seventh century. In the southern direction from `Ambaji' temple, there is another peak known as `Guru Gorakhnath' peak. `Oghad' peak is the next peak and followed by water tank known as `Kamandal kund'. There are steep steps to climb the peak of `Dattatreya' temple. To reach the peak of `Kalka' temple, one has to get down and climb another hill. The last two temples do not have steps on the way and you have to climb the mountain.
In the Hindu religion, the legend is that climbing Girnar barefooted earns one a place in Heaven. The nearby Gir Forest serves as sanctuary for the last remaining Asiatic Lions. It is also famous for the Kathiawadi culture in the adjacent region.
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The Girnar Hills viewed from the foot 1900
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View of the Girnar Hills 1895
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Mount Girnar from the Uparkot 1895
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ASHOK SHILALEKH:- About 2 km east of Junagadh and 3 km from the foot of Girnar Hill, between the two places, is an edict of Emperor Ashoka inscribed on a rock dating from the third century BC. The Ashokan edicts impart moral instructions on dharma, harmony, tolerance, and peace. An uneven rock, with a circumference of seven metres and a height of ten metres, bears inscriptions in Brāhmī script etched with an iron pen.
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Ashoka Inscription on Rock 1869
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The Ashoka rock inscription Junagadh 1900
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Entrance to the Buddhist Caves 1895
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Rock-Cut Hall in Uparkot 1874
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Rock Palace or Khengar's Mahal, Junagadh 1874
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The Shri Swaminarayan Mandir:- Junagadh was constructed on the land presented by Jinabhai (Hemantsingh) Darbar of Panchala, and dedicated on Friday, 1 May 1828 A.D.
The temple has a circumference on 278 feet and is in the centre of the town.Invocation ceremony of the Gods lasted for two full days with the festivities of the auspicious events. On May 1, 1828 A.D., Swaminarayan himself installed Shri Ranchhodrai and Trikamrai in the seat of the principal Gods of the temple. In the eastern temple he installed Radharaman Dev and Harikrishna Maharaj and in the western side he installed Siddheswar Mahadev, Parvatiji, Ganapatiji and Nandishwar. The Mughal Subba Bahadur Khan paid a personal visit to the place and Swaminarayan. Swaminarayan blessed the provincial head of the Mughal empire and honoured the king Hemantsinh for his gift of the land for the temple.
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Swami Narayan Temple At 1895
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Veraval:- Was founded in 13th or 14th by Rao Veravalji Vadher, a Rajput. Veraval was once a fortified port town of the royal family of Junagadh. It used to be a part of the Kingdom of Junagadh till 1953 when Junagadh was merged with India. The city still bears some remains of the old Nawabi heritage, the beautiful Nawabi summer palace being one of them. There are ruins of the old Nawabi fort and Nawabi Gates in and around the place. The old walls of the port are now ruined, but the impressive Junagadh gate and the Patan gate are still seen, but are in a very bad state.
The Nawabi Palace with gothic features which is one of the main attractions. It is popularly known as Somnath College (the palace was converted into a college after it was abandoned by the nawab).At present it is the building of a Sanskrit university. The town is often known as the gateway to the magnificent temple of Somnath and the pilgrimage centres of Prabhas Patan and Bhalkha. Veraval is also the nearest town to the Gir National Park (42 km away).
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Harbour at Veraval with the town beyond 1895
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Lighthouse at Veraval 1895
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Lighthouse and port view at Veraval 1895
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Veraval tone and sea port 1895
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Veraval tone and sea port 1895
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Veraval. Dock Estate line 1895
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Somnath
Somnath is situated at Prabhaspatan in Junagadh District; 79 km away from Junagadh City and is the most sacred of the twelve Jyotirlings (lingas of light) of the God Shiva. Somnath means "The Protector of Moon God". The Somnath Temple is known as 'the Shrine Eternal', as although the temple has been destroyed six times it has been rebuilt every single time. On the last time, it was built after a plan was mooted by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in November 1947, when he visited the area for Indian Integration of Junagadh, and later after his death carried out by K.M. Munshi, also a Minister in Government of India.
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City gate, Somnath 1895
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Dehotsarga at Prabhas Patan 1900
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Inside Dome of Somnath in 1869
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Ruins Somnath Temple 1869
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Temple of the Sun, at Somnath 1895
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View of the Temple of Somanatha 1895
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Somnath Temple 1947
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Lord Shiva in Somnath Temple
Somnath Temple 2015
Lord Shiva in Somnath Temple 2015
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