Junagadh
The soul of Saurashtra

For generations, Mt Girnar has been a crucial pilgrimage site within the state of Gujarat. Older than the Himalayas, it houses variety of Jain and Hindu temples that are cover five different summits.
Visitors can reach the summit via a flight of steps that begin at Damodar Kund. Embarking on this trek may be a memorable experience as you get spectacular views of the environment . because the pilgrims ascend the stone path, which links the five summits, they cross variety of ancient temples belonging to different sects of Hinduism. Then, they are available across a posh of Jain temples on a plateau that’s equally fascinating. it’s said that at one among these places, the 22nd tirthankar (saint) of Jainism died after 700 years of ascetic meditation. Most visitors arrive here during the Girnar Parikrama festival and Mahashivaratri festival, which see grand celebrations.

An interesting excursion from Junagadh, about 64 km away, Gondal has many tourist attractions. The 17th century Naulakha Palace is especially beautiful, with stone carvings, a pillared courtyard, magnificent jharokhas (balconies), carved arches, a spiral staircase, a grand durbar hall and gilt wooden furniture. A step away lies the majestic Riverside Palace, situated on the banks of River Gondali. Set amidst gardens and lawns, the palace boasts a marvellous front room that exudes colonial charm with antique wooden furniture, British-style chandeliers and sofas. The Indian room may be a must-visit because the decorations of brassware, paintings and beadwork are quite enchanting. 

There are many pretty sit-outs on the terrace, from where tourists can get spectacular views of the river and gardens. The Riverside Palace was built by Maharajah Bhagwat Sinhji, of the princely Gonda state, for his son Yuvraj Bhojraji in 1875 AD. A museum housed within the palace gives an account of the fantastic days gone through exhibits just like the silver caskets that carried gifts and messages for Maharajah Bhagwat Sinhji, etc.
The Orchard Palace is another attraction that's set during a huge complex of lawns and gardens and sweet-smelling fruit orchards. it's a wing of this royal residence of the Huzoor Palace. Tourists should see the enchanting room of miniatures, a living room boasting a fine collection of brass, antique furniture and miniature paintings.
Next on the list is that the vintage Royal Garages that host an in depth collection of classic cars like 1935 Packard two-door convertible, a Delage and a Daimler from the 1920s, 1955 Cadillac limousine, 1941 and 1947 Cadillac, four-wheel drive vehicles from the planet War II etc. a number of these still carry the first Gondal state plates. Other attractions include the Bhuvaneshwari Ayurvedic Pharmacy, Bhuvaneshwari farm , Swaminarayan Temple and Sangram Sinhji highschool , which is modelled after Eton, in England.

Built in 1892, the fabulous mausoleum of Mahabat Maqbara may be a fine example of Indo-Islamic architecture interspersed with Gothic influences. Currently, one among the landmarks of Junagadh, its construction began in 1878 by Mahabat Khanji, one among the Junagadh nawabs. it had been completed in 1892 by his successor Bahadur Kanji. Its vertical pillars, windows, intricately carved stone walls and nicely designed arches are noteworthy. the foremost striking feature of the structure is that the staircase encircling the minarets and domes of varied sizes. The mausoleum is yellow-coloured and has an onion-shaped dome. The premises are generally locked but one can gain entry with permission from the authorities of the Jama Masjid lying adjacent thereto . The mosque also has an exquisite architecture that’s a sight to behold.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Somnath Temple is one among the foremost important spiritual sites within the Hindu circuit. Believed to be the primary of the 12 jyotirlingas (devotional shrines of Lord Shiva) within the country, the temple sees an outsized footfall per annum . Skirted by the Arabian Sea , the temple commands a spectacular view of the Saurashtra peninsula. Boasting an imposing architecture of the Chalukyan style, the Somnath Temple with its striking shikhara (spire) is 50 m tall. 

Silver doors, intricate carvings, a shivling and a Nandi idol (bull god) increase the splendour of the building. the large courtyard of the temple has an equally large mandapa (hall) and therefore the main shrine, whose arches tower over the entire temple complex. After paying obeisance, devotees can slip through a side entrance to seek out an ethereal view of sunlight tripping over the ocean waves.
Located about 94 km from Junagadh, the Somnath Temple is claimed to possess been originally built by the moon god with gold. Later, it had been razed to the bottom and rebuilt by Ravana with silver. Later, Lord Krishna made it in wood then an edifice of stone was erected by one among the Pandava brothers, Bhima. within the month of November, the Kartik Purnima fair organised here attracts an outsized number of pilgrims.