Junagadh
Situated at the base of the temple-studded Girnar Hill,
Junagadh is also the departure point to the Gir forest. The capital of Gujarat under Ashoka
in the 4th century BC, after being briefly ruled by the Hindus Junagadh stayed under Muslim rule until 1947.
At Partition, the
nawab of Junagadh opted to take his tiny state into Pakistan.
However, the inhabitants were predominantly Hindu and the nawab
soon found himself in exile.
Back
Darbar Hall museum
This is another of Junagadh's half-derelict monuments. The museum has the usual
display of weapons and armour from the days of the nawabs, together
with their collections of silver chains and chandeliers,
and a few cushions and gowns. There's a portrait gallery of the
nawabs and petty princes, including photographs of the last nawab
with his numerous dogs.
It is closed on
Wednesday, the second and fourth Saturday of every month and all public
holidays.
Back
Mahabat Maqbara
This incredible mausoleum was built for Muslim rulers in the 19th century.
It has silver doors, intricate architecture, minarets and spiralling
stairways which are generally locked.
In need of prompt maintenance, it remains one of the most beautiful monuments in Saurashtra.
Back
Ashokan Edicts
On the way to the Girnar Hill temples, a granite rock is engraved with 14 Buddhist edicts of Ashoka.
The inscriptions circa 250 BC are in Pali. Sanskrit inscriptions
were added later, around 150 AD. The 14 edicts are moral lectures,
while the other inscriptions refer mainly to recurring floods
destroying the embankments of the lake, which no
longer exists.
Back
Gir Lion sanctuary
The last home of the Asiatic lion is 54
km from Junagadh. The sanctuary spread over 1,400
sq km was set up to protect the lion and its habitat. There are reportedly 304 lions in the sanctuary.
Morning safaris are recommended. Jeeps and mini buses are allowed.
The teak forest also has blue bulls, antelopes and peacocks.
The best time to visit the sanctuary is from December to April.
It is shut from mid-May to mid-October.
You need a permit to enter the sanctuary. Jeeps are
available from the lodge office every day.
Back
Maldhari
The Maldhari community of cattle herders stay inside the forest. Out of the 400 families only 100 have been given permission by the Government of India and the World Wide Fund for Nature to continue living here.
