Junagadh

Junagadh is a big city in India.

It sits near the tall Girnar hills.

The name means "old fort." This is because of the old walls.

There is a very old fort in the town. It has a large rock with writing on it.

People can also see old caves there. These caves have pretty stone carvings. Junagadh is a very special place.

Junagadh is a large city in the state of Gujarat, India.

It sits at the foot of the Girnar hills.

The name Junagadh means "old fort." This refers to ancient walls near the hills.

The city has a very old fort called Uparkot. A ruler named Chandragupta built it a long time ago. Inside the fort, there is a large rock. It has old writing on it called edicts. These carvings are very old.

You can also find old Buddhist caves nearby. These caves have beautiful stone carvings.

Many different groups ruled Junagadh over the years. One group was the Babi family. They started a new state in 1730. Later, the British took control of the area.

In 1947, Junagadh became part of India. Today, it is a busy place with many markets.

It is the seventh largest city in Gujarat.

Junagadh is a large and busy city in Gujarat, India.

It sits right at the foot of the Girnar hills.

The name Junagadh actually means "old fort." This name comes from the ancient walls built near the hills. The city is the seventh largest in the state of Gujarat. It used to be part of Saurashtra and Bombay states. Now, it is a key part of the Gujarat state.

Many old things can be found within the city limits. The Uparkot Fort sits on a high plateau in the middle of town. A ruler named Chandragupta built this fort in 319 BCE. People used the fort for a long time until the 6th century. It was later found again by a ruler named Graharipu in 976 CE. The fort was even attacked sixteen times over a thousand years. One of those battles lasted for twelve whole years.

Inside the fort, you can find very important history on a large rock. This rock has fourteen edicts from Ashoka carved into it. These carvings use a script called Brahmi and date back to 250 BCE.

There is also a Sanskrit inscription on the same rock from 150 CE. This was made by a ruler named Rudradaman I. You can also find old Buddhist caves in the area. These caves have beautiful stone carvings and floral work.

Different groups have ruled Junagadh throughout its long history. The Chudasama dynasty ruled for a long time from this place. Later, the Gujarat Sultanate took control of the city. They even changed the name of the city to Mustafabad.

In 1730, Mohammad Sher Khan Babi started the Babi Dynasty. His family ruled the area for two hundred years. They were originally from Afghanistan. The British also took control of the state in 1807.

Junagadh has many interesting sights to see today. You can look at the old flag from the British period.

There are also beautiful tombs, like the Tomb of Mahabat Khan.

In 1828, a temple called the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir was built. The city has changed many times since the ancient days. In 1947, Junagadh joined the new nation of India. It remains a place where history and modern life meet.

Junagadh is a major city and the headquarters of the Junagadh district in Gujarat, India.

The city's name is derived from the Sanskrit words *jīrṇa*, meaning old, and *garh*, meaning fort. This literally translates to "Old Fort," a name that reflects the ancient fortifications located near Mount Girnar.

Geographically, the city sits at the foot of the Girnar hills. It is located southwest of Ahmedabad and the state capital, Gandhinagar. Junagadh is currently the seventh largest city in the state of Gujarat. Historically, the region was part of the Saurashtra state and later the Bombay state. In 1960, the Maha Gujarat movement led to the creation of the new Gujarat state, which included Junagadh.

The city's history is deeply tied to the Uparkot Fort. This structure sits on a plateau in the center of the town. It was originally constructed in 319 BCE during the Mauryan dynasty by Chandragupta. The fort served various rulers until the 6th century CE. It was eventually abandoned for roughly 300 years. The Chudasama ruler Graharipu rediscovered the fort in 976 CE. Over a period of 1,000 years, the fort was besieged 16 times. One of these unsuccessful sieges lasted for twelve years.

Archaeological finds within the fort provide a timeline of ancient governance. A large boulder contains fourteen Edicts of Ashoka. These inscriptions date to 250 BCE and use the Brahmi script. The text uses a language similar to Pali. Around 150 CE, a later inscription in Sanskrit was added to the same rock. This was created by Mahakshatrap Rudradaman I, a Saka ruler of the Western Kshatrapas dynasty. This text is recognized as the earliest known Sanskrit inscription of significant length. Other inscriptions date to approximately 450 CE and mention the Gupta emperor Skandagupta.

Religious architecture also defines the landscape of Junagadh. The area contains several rock-cut Buddhist caves that date to before 500 CE. These caves feature intricate stone carvings and floral work.

Other notable sites include the Khapra Kodia Caves to the north and the Bava Pyara Caves to the south. The Bava Pyara Caves are significant because they contain artwork representing both Buddhism and Jainism. The Maitraka dynasty also played a role in the region's history. They ruled Gujarat from 475 to 767 CE after the founder, General Bhatarka, established independence from the Gupta Empire.

Successive dynasties fought for control of the city for centuries. The Chudasama dynasty ruled Saurashtra from Junagadh, though many early details are lost to legend. In 1350, Muhammad bin Tughluq conquered the city with help from a Koli chieftain. Later, the Gujarat Sultanate took control. Sultan Mahmud Begada changed the city's name to Mustafabad. He also built new fortifications and a mosque in the Uparkot Fort.

During this time, the city was managed by an official called a *thanadar*. This commander was appointed by Ahmedabad to collect revenue and tribute.

The Mughal Empire eventually exerted influence over the region. In the late 16th century, the Ghori family reigned somewhat independently at Junagadh. However, the Mughal emperor Akbar ordered the conquest of Sorath. After a siege in 1591–92, the Ghori rule ended. Junagadh then became the seat for imperial *faujdars*, or garrison commanders. Notable commanders included Mirzah Isa Tarkhan and Sardarkhan. Sardarkhan was known for building the Sardar Baug palace and excavating the Sardar Talav in 1681.

A new era began in 1730 when Mohammad Sher Khan Babi founded the Babi Dynasty. He declared independence following the invasion of the Maratha Gaekwad dynasty. The Babi Nawabs, who were Pashtuns from Afghanistan, ruled for two centuries. They ruled as tributaries to the Marathas and later under British suzerainty. The British granted the state the honor of a 13-gun salute.

In 1807, Junagadh became a British protectorate. The state remained a princely state until 1947. One notable religious site built during the 19th century is the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, dedicated in 1828.

The transition to modern India occurred during the partition of 1947. At that time, princely states could choose to join either India or Pakistan. Nawab Mohammad Mahabat Khanji III of Junagadh chose to accede to Pakistan. However, Junagadh was located at the southwestern end of Gujarat and had no common border with Pakistan. This decision was met with geographic complications. Ultimately, the city became part of the newly formed Indian state of Gujarat.