Things to do in Junagadh
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Junagadh Zoo
If you don’t make it to Sasan, Junagadh’s zoo at Sakar Bagh, 3.5km from the centre, on the Rajkot road, has Gir lions. The nawab set up the zoo in 1863 to save lions from extinction and, though the concrete enclosures at the front rival much of Asia for sheer cruelty, it has a surprisingly good ‘safari’ park, with an abundance of lions, tigers and leopards. There is also a museum at the zoo with paintings, manuscripts, archaeological finds and other exhibits, including a natural-history section. Take bus 6 (Rs. 5) or an autorickshaw (Rs. 25) to get here.
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Uperkot Fort
This ancient fort, on Junagadh’s eastern side, is believed to have been built in 319 BC by Chandragupta (ruler of India in the 3rd century BC), though it has been extended many times. An ornate triple gateway forms the entrance, and in places the walls reach 20m high. It’s been besieged 16 times, and legend has it that the fort once withstood a 12-year siege. It’s also said that the fort was abandoned from the 7th to the 10th centuries and, when rediscovered, was completely overgrown by jungle.
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Ashokan Edicts
On the way to the Girnar Hill temples, you pass a huge boulder on which Emperor Ashoka inscribed 14 edicts in Pali script in about 250 BC instructing people to be kind to women and animals and give to beggars, among other things. Sanskrit inscriptions were added around AD 150 by Emperor Rudradama and in about AD 450 by Skandagupta, the last emperor of the Mauryas, referring mainly to recurring floods destroying the embankments of a nearby lake, the Sudershan, which no longer exists.
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Durbar Hall Museum
This museum displays weapons, armour, palanquins, chandeliers, and howdahs from the days of the nawabs, as well as a huge carpet woven in Junagadh’s jail. There’s a royal portrait gallery, including photos of the last nawab with his numerous beloved dogs.
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Garden Restaurant
Something different: this restaurant has a lovely garden setting near Jyoti Nursery and beneath Girnar Hill, and reasonable Jain, Punjabi and South Indian food – it’s popular with families and is worth the short rickshaw ride.
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Buddhist Caves
Close to the Jama Masjid (which is inside the Uperkot Fort) are 2nd century AD Buddhist caves, an eerie three-storey carved complex – the main hall contains pillars with weathered carvings.
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Geeta Lodge
This place has all-you-can-eat veg Gujarati thalis and an army of waiters. Finish off with sweets, such as fruit salad or pureed mango for Rs. 15.
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Santoor Restaurant
Popular Santoor has quick service, good, fresh vegetarian Punjabi and South Indian, delectable mango shakes, booth seating and dim lighting.
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Jay Ambe Juice Centre
Great for a fresh juice, milkshake or ice cream; this is a perfect retreat.
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