About Junagadh
Few places pack so much history into one city: Ashoka's rock edicts from the 3rd century BCE, Buddhist caves and stepwells in Uparkot Fort, and the ornate 19th-century Mahabat Maqbara. Above it all is Girnar, sacred to Hindus and Jains, now reachable by one of Asia's longest ropeways.
Junagadh is about two hours from Rajkot and on the way to Sasan Gir and Somnath, so it works as a day trip or as the first stop on a longer Saurashtra tour.
Places to see
- Girnar ropewayRises to the Ambaji temple peak; the traditional route is a long stairway past the Jain temples.
- Uparkot FortAncient fort with Buddhist caves, the Adi-Kadi Vav and Navghan Kuvo stepwells.
- Mahabat MaqbaraA mausoleum with silver-grey domes and spiral-staircase minarets.
- Ashoka's Rock EdictsAncient inscriptions on a granite boulder on the Girnar road.
- Sakkarbaug ZooOne of India's older zoos, known for its Asiatic lion breeding programme.
- Bhavnath and Damodar KundSacred sites at the foot of Girnar; Bhavnath hosts the Mahashivratri fair.
Best time to visit
October to March. The Girnar Lili Parikrama (Kartik) and Bhavnath Mahashivratri fair are major events with very large crowds.
Getting there from Rajkot
About 100–105 km from Rajkot, roughly 2 hours by taxi via Gondal and Jetpur. Junagadh also has a railway station.
See the full route guide: Rajkot to Junagadh taxi.
Suggested plan
- MorningEarly start for the Girnar ropeway to avoid queues and the heat.
- AfternoonUparkot Fort and its stepwells, Mahabat Maqbara, then Ashoka's edicts or Sakkarbaug Zoo before the drive home.
Travel tips
- The ropeway can pause in strong winds; keep a flexible plan.
- Wear comfortable shoes for Uparkot and the stepwells.
- See our Girnar pilgrimage guide for the climb, temples and parikrama.