Junagadh

Once the capital city of its namesake princely state, Junagadh has at its heart an aesthetically rich history that is reflected in the monumental geniuses adorning this city. Located in the state of Gujarat in Western India, it is known for some of the most renowned forts and palaces for their delicate beauty and intricately carved structures.

Lately, the city of Junagadh has also witnessed a beautiful blend of modernity with history, keeping it well-placed as a cultural centre neatly interspersed with present-day civic development. The city boasts of a handful of places that are worth exploring when in Gujarat and is a haven for culinary exploration with its food culture a stark representation of royal recipes served in new-age style and comforts through various restaurants and eateries. The citys local markets are also some of the best places in Junagadh to explore when here. A pleasant temperature all year round, excluding peak summers and winters, keep various Junagadh places bustling with high tourist footfall throughout.

Junagadh Overview

Best Time to Visit Junagadh

Located close to the Arabian Sea, this city enjoys pleasant weather throughout and can be an ideal place to visit mostly towards the end of the year. As per traveller experiences, the best time to visit Junagadh is said to be during the winter season. Weather in Junagadh is pretty mild between October and March, which makes it a suitable time to plan a trip to the city. Monsoons in the city are pleasant too with the Junagadh temperature during this time keeping low between 12 to 21 degrees on average. It can be smart to avoid visiting the city during peak rainfall durations as many areas here are prone to landslides and thunderstorms. You Can also keep peak summers off your calendar when planning a trip to the city as Junagadh weather is often not favourable during the months of April and May.

How to Reach the Places to Visit in Junagadh

Junagadh is easily accessible from across the country via the railways and roadways and has great intra-city connectivity for travellers to explore the various tourist sites in the city. The city, however, does not have any directly accessible airport for airways travel. The nearest airport you would need to book tickets for to visit the city is located 106 km away at Rajkot.

You can easily book bus or train tickets to reach the heart of this fort city. When travelling by road, booking a bus service can be a convenient option to reach the city. Buses are available from the state operator as well as various private operators and are available at affordable rates varying as per available services. You can also book outstation taxis to reach this city from nearby cities like Rajkot, Ahmedabad, and Surat. The Junagadh railway station is the primary station here and connects the city with locations across India. To travel and explore the various tourist sites in the city, you can simply hire a cab or travel through auto rickshaws.

What are the Things to See and Do in Junagadh?

Junagadh places present a sleek amalgamation of ancient and modern culture reflecting in all its aspects, including the locales, the people here, food, architecture, fashion, style, and so much more. Travellers thus get to explore a host of places and carry out various entertainment activities here hosted in its tourism industry. Visiting the princely forts and palaces is one of the most sought-after activities that visitors come to the city for. The placement of the city in Gujarat also makes it an ideal location for world history enthusiasts to explore. 

Places to Visit in Junagadh

Heres a quick list of places you can visit when travelling to Junagadh Gujarat. Get ready to be mesmerized by the abundance reflected in the citys art and architecture beautifully interspersed with elements of modernity that reflect its present lifestyle.

Mohabbat Maqbara

Eternally the Mausoleum of Bahaduddanbhai Hasainbhai, the structure is known for its unique architectural design and attracts visitors for its sheer beauty of minarets on all four sides.

Uperkot Fort

Another landmark of this city, Uperkot Fort has its origin dating beyond 2300 years. Its height is up to 20 ft and a deep moat inside makes it a unique fort one must visit. The moat was said to house crocodiles for protecting the fort.

Girnar Hills

Girnar Hills is one of the most sought-after tourist sites in the city located just 5 km away from the main city limits. These hills find their mention in the Vedas and are known for their spiritual significance.

Navghan Kuvo and Adi-Kadi Vav

The step wells located inside the Uperkot Fort, are unconventional structures way ahead of their time and remain a primary tourist attraction for their undisputed beauty.

Gir National Park

The only place where you can find the Asiatic lions, Gir National Park is located in this city too and has a wide range of floral and faunal diversity hidden in its chest to explore.

Edicts of Ashoka

On your way to Mount Girnar in the city, you can also explore the 14 edicts from King Ashoka inscribed on a boulder here. It sheds a light on the historic richness of the city and is just 2 km from the Uperkot Fort.

Buddhist Caves

You can also explore a host of Buddhist caves present in the city. These are stone carved rooms that were used as headquarters for monks. Some of the caves located here are as old as dating back to the 3rd Century.

Sarkeshwar Beach

If you are looking to loosen up and relax around a water body when in the city, < a href="https://www.makemytrip.com/tripideas/attractions/sarkeshwar-beach">Sarkeshwar Beach here adds just the right vibes to your tourism goals. It is located around 116 km from the city centre.

Jain Temples

This city is also adorned with a bunch of Jain Temples located in Girnar that are made with interesting and unique architecture.

Shri Swaminarayan Temple

A revered temple dedicated to the Hindu god Swaminarayan, this mandir is located on this citys Jawahar Road. The temple is known for being a centre of meditation for saints and monks.

Dattatreya Temple

Another religious centre for Hindus, the Dattatreya Temple is dedicated to the holy trinity of gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva and is a major tourist location here.

Some other popular locations to explore when in this city include the Tulsi Shyam Springs, Goddess Ambe Temple, Ahmedpur Mandvi Beach, Darbar Hall Museum, Moti Baug, Jatashankar Mahadev Temple, Damodar Jund Water Reserve, Dataar Hills, Willingdon Dam, and Jama Masjid.

Restaurants in Junagadh

Garden Cafe

A fairly new restaurant as per the citys history, Garden Cafe is known for its multi-culinary specialities served to perfection. The ambience here is great and can be a suitable hangout place for family meals.

Relief Restaurant

The Relief Restaurant, located in this citys Chitta Khana Chowk, serves authentic Gujarati delicacies at reasonable rates that make it affordable too.

Santoor Restaurant

The Santoor Restaurant in Junagadh serves some of the best North and South Indian delicacies in the city and is a must-explore eatery here.

Geeta Lodge

Located on this citys Railway Station Road, Geeta Lodge is a famous eatery here and is one of the oldest in the city. It serves some of the best local specialities worth a try.

Petals

If you wish to explore authentic multi-cuisine meals in style and amidst the right ambience, the Petals restaurant is worth a try.

Garden Cafe

The Garden Cafe is one of the popular restaurants in Junagadh you can check out especially for its Chinese desserts served to perfection. The place is closed on Wednesdays.

Places to Stay in Junagadh

Bellevue Sarovar Portico

An upmarket hotel located near Keshod Airport, Bellevue Sarovar Portico has all the luxury accommodation facilities and great customer service that tourists often enjoy.

Click Hotel

If you are looking for a trendy property to stay in this city with all modern amenities and suitable family accommodation, Click hotel can be your go-to destination.

The Byke Suraj Club

The Byke Suraj Club is a 3-star hotel located in this citys Gandhi Gram and offers both convenient and comfortable accommodations for tourists.

The Fern Leo Resort & Club

The Fern Leo Resort & Club is a hotel located on an expansive property and is fitted with all contemporary facilities to enjoy. The lounge and fitness centre are the best attractions of this resort hotel.

Food to Try in the Places to Visit in Junagadh

Known for its simplistic living and historic roots, this city today has come to accommodate some of the most fine-dining places in and around its various tourist locations. You still cant miss out on trying the lip-smacking local delicacies found on the streets of the city. When in this city, you cant miss out on its authentic Gol Gappes, Aloo Puri, Dahi Vada, and such street foods.

Snack up on Gujarati desserts and fast food like Theplas, Dhoklas, Khandvi, Ghevar, Basundi, and a few others when here.

Things to Buy in the Places to Visit in Junagadh

This citys historic and cultural richness also makes it a centre for local shopping and you can collect souvenirs for your loved ones from its street markets as memorabilia. Some things you can explore include local handicrafts made by housewives associations here. Papad and pickles made in households are also sold in the city and are known for their authentic tastes and flavours. Some of the popular shopping sites in the city include the following:

Junagadh Mandi

In addition to fruits and vegetables, you can also purchase grains at wholesale rates in Junagadh Mandi.

Joshipara Market

Joshipara Market features a wide range of shops including ethnic and contemporary garments that you can purchase for yourself and your loved ones.

The Great Gujri Sunday Market

From slippers and t-shirts to soft toys and flowers, this Sunday market offers all these items. You can also explore the wide range of stalls available on the premises.

But when one does arrive at that fresh frontier, there are ways better than others to begin your journey of discovery. Follow these steps and see the world with a new light.

• Discover a new city through a food tour. Food tour's are the easiest way to take a tour, learn about the local delicacies, and the best of all, get great tips that aren't just "local" tips for tourists, but sometimes, lessons for a lifetime too
• Use Public Transportation. When you are in a new city, you can possibly see places and people that you wouldn't normally see when simply walking to the places that checks your list. Some buses or rails take you to parts of the city you wouldn't get to see otherwise. Whilst using public transportation, just ensure that you are following the local norms and do remember to watch the locals!
• Find a local festival. Go beyond what other tourists might do while visiting a place. Look for the unique things you would want to do. Use social media or the local tourism website to find out what's going on locally. You may have to move out of the center of the city to do some of the less popular but more unique things, so just keep that in mind!

Conclusion

Along with being a historic centre, this city is also a major commercial hub of Gujarat. The city is known for its sleek amalgamation of culture with a new-age lifestyle which is worth exploring and imbibing. Travelling the city is safe for solo travellers, backpackers, families, and all types of tourists. Make sure to explore some of the most prominent historic tourist sites in the city to get a glimpse of its ancient richness and ruins.