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Junagadh

Junagadh

city · Gujarat

Resting right at the base of the sacred, volcanic Girnar hills, Junagadh is an ancient city whose name means 'Old Fort'.

State
Gujarat
Type
City
Best season
Winter
Things to do
3+

Resting right at the base of the sacred, volcanic Girnar hills, Junagadh is an ancient city whose name means 'Old Fort'. It features a diverse mix of ancient Buddhist rock edicts, medieval fort structures, and flamboyant 19th-century royal mausoleums, capturing a unique historical footprint within Saurashtra.

When to go

November to February is the perfect winter window for trekking up the steep mountain paths of Girnar comfortably.

Why visit

To ascend the sacred mountain stairs of Mount Girnar, explore the ancient stone ramparts of Uparkot Fort, and marvel at the striking Gothic-Islamic architecture of Mahabat Maqbara.

Cultural notes

Sufi saints, Hindu ascetics (Naga Sadhus) and Jain pilgrims all meet in Junagadh, and the annual Girnar Parikrama fair is where that comes together.

How to reach

By Train: Junagadh Railway Station (JND) has connections across the state rail network. By Air: Rajkot Airport is about 100 km north. By Road: National highways and regular GSRTC buses serve the town.

Junagadh in 2 days

See the full itinerary

2 days in Junagadh

Take the whole plan, or add any single stop.

Uparkot FortDay 1

Day 1

Uparkot Fort

An ancient hilltop citadel believed to have been founded originally around 319 BCE, featuring deep stepwells, rock-cut Buddhist caves, and massive old battle cannons.

Mahabat Maqbara Complex

Day 1

Mahabat Maqbara Complex

Two mausoleums side by side, finished in 1892 and 1896: one for Mahabat Khan II, Nawab of Junagadh, the other for his minister Bahauddin Hussain Bhar. What makes them worth the detour is the mix — Indo-Islamic domes and arches carrying Gothic windows, silver doors, and four minarets with staircases winding up the outside of them, which is close to unique in India. They have been poorly maintained for years and are often locked; the exterior is the visit, and it is enough. Late afternoon light suits the stonework better than midday.

Day 1

Ashoka's Rock Edicts

Ashoka's Rock Edicts

Day 1

Sakkarbaug Zoo

Sakkarbaug Zoo

Girnar (Jain Temples)Day 2

Day 2

Girnar (Jain Temples)

Girnar, a sacred volcanic massif near Junagadh, is a major pilgrimage for both Jains and Hindus. The arduous climb of roughly 10,000 steps passes a walled cluster of medieval Jain temples partway up, before continuing to Hindu shrines at the higher summits — a full day's climb, and one of the hardest pilgrimages in Gujarat.

Ambaji Temple (Gabbar Hill)

Day 2

Ambaji Temple (Gabbar Hill)

Ambaji Temple (Gabbar Hill) in Ambaji, Banaskantha, Gujarat is one of the Shakti Peethas, the sacred shrines of the Divine Mother in the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. According to tradition, this is where the heart of Goddess Sati fell when Lord Vishnu's Sudarshana Chakra divided her body. Here the Goddess is worshipped as Amba (Ambika), and her guardian Bhairava (a form of Shiva) as Batuk Bhairava. Shakti Peethas are among the holiest pilgrimage sites for devotees of the Goddess, drawing pilgrims especially during Navratri and Durga Puja. Each is tied to the legend of Sati, whose body parts fell across the Indian subcontinent and beyond, sanctifying the ground where they landed.

Day 2

Damodar Kund

Damodar Kund

Food & cuisine

Signature dishes and local flavours to look for in Junagadh.

Full food guide →
Kathiyawadi Thali

Kathiyawadi Thali

Rustic, spicy Saurashtra thali

Ganthiya

Ganthiya

Gujarati farsan

Ghughra

Ghughra

Gujarati farsan

Bajra Rotla

Bajra Rotla

Local vegetable dishes

Sev Tameta

Sev Tameta

Local vegetable dishes

Gir Kesar mango (seasonal)

Gir Kesar mango (seasonal)

The region's famous mango

jalebi

jalebi

Buttermilk and sweets

Chaas

Chaas

Buttermilk and sweets

Junagadh guide & itineraries

Junagadh is perfect for

heritagespiritualadventure

Nearby getaways

Sasan Gir

Sasan Gir

~1 hr

Rajkot

~2 hrs

Shopping

Famous for high-quality Ayurvedic medicines, traditional Saurashtra footwear, ethnic embroidery items, and sweet Kesar mangoes available during peak summer months.

Things to do

How to spend your time in Junagadh.

Girnar Hill climb

Girnar Hill climb

Thousands of steps to Jain and Hindu temples

Popular attractions

The places in Junagadh most people come for.

Uparkot Fort

Uparkot Fort

Attraction2 hrsmorning

Mahabat Maqbara Complex

Mahabat Maqbara Complex

Attraction45 minafternoon

See all attractions

Frequently asked questions

Is there a ropeway available for Mount Girnar?

Yes, a modern passenger ropeway operates regularly, taking visitors up to the main temple points on the mountain within minutes, bypassing thousands of steep steps.

What is Junagadh known for?

Uparkot Fort, the sacred Girnar Hill climb, the Mahabat Maqbara and Ashoka's rock edicts - and it's a gateway to Gir's lions.

How many steps is the Girnar climb?

Around 9,000+ steps to the summit temples; a ropeway now reaches the Ambaji temple level.

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