Junagadh, a place situated in the foothills of mount Girnar, 330 km by road from Ahmedabad
MohabbatMaqbara (Tomb of BahaduddinbhaiHasainbhai). An Indo Islamic culture photo as on 05th Sept. 2021
Background of this article –
On 4th of September 2021, I decided to travel to Junagadh. After a long time, after being affected by the covid-19 and its post complications I felt fatigued during the first 6months of 2021. The covid-19 too influenced my mental health. So I decided to overcome my fatigue and travelled by road which took almost 7hours and 30mnts from Ahmedabad. A tiring journey. Prior to this, I never stayed in Junagadh though I have passed through this town several times on the way to the wild life destinationsSasanGir and the Famous Somnathtemple.I stayed in a star hotel which overlooks the hills, a beautiful location to spend few days. I decided to go around and see the culture, food habits, the historical places and the natural beauty of Junagadh. Here I have tried to describe my experience of the two days briefly.
Palace of Nawab. Photo as on 5th Sept. 2021
About Junagadh
Junagadh, a place situated in the foothills of mount Girnar, close to the Arabian sea. 330 km by road from Ahmedabad is located in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat state. Two rivers flow close to Junagadh are Kalwo&Sonrakh. The nearest airports are Jamnagar andRajkot. As per the historian this city has all the characters of the Indo-Islamic culture and heritage buildings. As per the history Junagarh was also known in several names as such asKarankubj, Revant, Manipur, Girinagar, Narendrapur etc. Later the place was popularly known as Junagadh. The famous Chinese traveller too visited Junagadh in 640 AD. It was a part of the Saurashtra state and the Bombay state before being included in the state of Gujarat in 1960. Junagadh was invaded and ruled by several foreign rulers in past.
Nawab's Entertainment Auditorium Photos on Sept. 2021 Palace of the Begum. Photo on 05th Sept. 2021
Museum (Darbar Hall) Photo on 5th Sept 2021
Bahauddin College Junagadh Est. in the Year 1897. Photo as on 5th Sept. 2021.Built with an expenditure of RS 2,50,000/
Uparkot fort under restoration works. Photo on 5th sept 2021.
Photos of the caves as on 5th Sept. 2021
Buddhists caves (Khapra and Kodiya) -
These caves are of ancient times and as old as 3rd-4th century BCE. Probably built during the time of the Emperor Ashok the great. These caves were built by the Buddhist monks. Later the caves were deserted due to the natural damage to the caves. The caves were later used by the antisocial elements for storing their stolen wealth. The caves had even accommodated the horses of the anti-social elements. The names of the anti-social elements were Khapra and Kodiya. Subsequently the caves probably became famous as Khapra and Kodiya caves.The caves are in very bad shapes.Though the ASI has takenover for its restoration but it requires lot of attention from the authorities.The approach road to this site is very narrow and dirty. It requires parking area for the visitors.
The Buddhists caves(Khapra & Khodiya)
Photos of the caves as on 5th Sept. 2021
Traditional foods of Junagadh
The most common foods of Junagadh are Rotla(thick rotis) made from the Bajraflour (Pearl millet flour), Bhakri (made from Atta), Thepla, RinganBataka nu sabzi,Ringanbhurta(Brinjalbhurta)SevTomatar nu sabzi,LasanBataka nu sabzi, Lasankichutney(Garlic chutney)and Chhas(Butter milk).The vegetable preparation are spicy and hot. The people like to go out for meals in the local food joints. The foods from other states have the influenced the traditional food habits of the Junagadh local people. I decided to visit a local traditional food joint to taste Gujarati food. That food joint was in the centre of the Junagadh town. It was nice to know that a local family was running the Gujarati food joint. It was an ordinary food joint, but it had the warmth of hospitality. I ordered for theRotla, Ringanbataka nu sak, Moong dal and the chhas(butter-milk). I requested their permission to shoot video of the Rotla preparation specially as the lady cook of the food joint prepared in hand. The preparation reminded us about the cooking methods of (1960-70) in wood fired chulla. The video of the Live cooking of Rotla is too enclosed whose link is given here. Rotla preparation, authentic way in a Junagadh food joint
The image of the Ambaji Temple-source-(Gujarat History).
Girnar - The Religious Mountain
This is a mountainsituated close to Junagadh. Itsheight is approximately 1100m. Historians say that it was an extinct volcano. The mountain has many Famous Jain temples and Hindu temples and Buddhist caves too. The Jain temples are beautifully carved. The Jain deity Neminath on the Girnar Mountain is widely followed and respected by the Jain community. The festivals mainly like Paryushana, MahavirJanmaKalyanak are sincerely celebrated among the Jains here. The Girnarmountain toohas the Lord Dattatraya whois located at the highest peak.Maa Kali (Amba) is temple on it. The devotees have to climb almost04 to 05 hours to reach the temple and have theDarshan of the deities and again climb down the same number of hours on return before sunset.
Recently the ropeway car/system has been installed for the devotees to have the Darshan of Ambaji. It takes the visitors swiftly to the top and brings back quickly. On an average there are 03to 04 thousands visitors on daily basis. On certain festival the number of visitors increases to 05 thousand. Few standard hotels have come up too for the accommodation of the outside visitors. Bhavnath shiv temple is too famous among the Hindus.During the month of January and February the famous Bhavnathmela is celebrated in the BhavnathMahadev temple in the Girnartaleti (Base area of themountain)) in which many Naga Sadhus attend the Mela. 
Look of the Ambaji temple in a misty morning Look of the mountain from the ropeway photo on 05th Sept. 2021
Recommendations for Junagadh tourism promotion
There are many steps to be taken to place Junagadh in the national and international tourism map.
- • The Gujarat schools should introduce tourism as a subject in primary and secondary education with special information about Junagadh.
- • Each school should have few information kiosks regarding the worth seeingtourism places in Gujarat including Junagadh.
- • The signage of Junagadh Tourism must be installed effectively and strategically on the connecting roads from Rajkot and Jamnagar, Dwaraka ,Sasan-Gir etc.
- • The signage in Junagadh town for different tourists site must be effectively placed.
- • The tourists guide in Junagadh must be well informed and trained properly regarding the history of Junagadh.
- • The hygiene and sanitation around the tourist’s places need to be improved.
- • The food safety and hygiene in local food joints should be improved through training.
- • A guided tour by an efficient agency should be engaged for the visitors.
- • Few entrepreneurs should be encouraged to set up standard hotels at Junagadh.
- • The Junagadh tourism features should be displayed at the other tourism sites of Saurashtra area.
- • Authentic Junagadh food stalls need to be set up by the local authorities of Junagadh.
