Junagarh Fort : Uparkot Fort or Junagarh Fort is located in Junagarh district of Gujarat. Junagarh Fort, approximately 2,300 years old, is one of the oldest forts in India. Juna means old and Garh means fort, because it is thousands of years old, this fort is called Junagarh Fort. Junagarh Fort is considered to be the oldest place in Saurashtra. Junagarh city is also situated in this fort.
Junagarh Fort or Uparkot Fort is situated at a height of about 150 feet from the present Junagarh city, that is why it is called Uparkot Fort. Junagarh Fort has been a huge structure of great ancient history of India. This ancient fort tells the story of a glorious glorious history. Although Junagarh Fort is thousands of years old, it still stands firm as a carrier of a powerful heritage.
जूनागढ़ किला गुजरात ऊपरकोट किला | Junagarh Kila in Hindi
Construction – Junagarh Fort
Historians believe that Junagarh Fort was built during the time of Chandragupta Maurya. The history of this fort is about 2300 years old. Junagarh Fort was built in 319 BC. Junagarh Fort was built at the foothills of Girnar Hill during the Maurya rule. After the Maurya period, this fort was used as a major fort even during the Gupta period. Girnar Mountain is also mentioned in our Vedas and Puranas. Many Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic monuments are located in Junagarh Fort.
Lord Krishn and Junagarh Fort
Some people believe that Junagarh Fort is also related to Lord Krishna. There are many legends about this. According to a popular story, it is believed that this huge fort was built by Lord Shri Krishna’s maternal grandfather who was the father of Krishna’s maternal uncle Kansa. At that time it was known as Rewat Nagar.
History – Junagarh Fort
The 2300 year old Junagarh Fort has been under the control of many dynasties during this period. Junagarh Fort is situated on the banks of Girnar Mountain and Somrekh River.
It has been the authority of kings from Chandragupta Maurya to Emperor Ashoka, Ra Navaghan etc. The vastness and grandeur of the fort was worth seeing during the reign of Ra Navghan and Ra Khingaar kings. Later this fort also remained under the control of the kings of Shaka and Gupta dynasty. During the rule of the Maitraka dynasty, the capital was shifted from Junagarh to Vallabhi and since then the political and strategic importance of this fort declined.
In the seventh century, both the city and the fort of Junagarh had become almost unimportant but during the rule of the Chudasam dynasty, the fort regained its lost importance. Chudasam dynasty ruled here for a long time and historians believe that this rule period lasted for about 700 years. Of these, Ra Navghan and Ra Khingaar were very influential and powerful kings.
It is believed that Junagarh was rejuvenated in the tenth century. According to a popular story, a woodcutter was finding his way through the forest when he came across a stone wall and its gate. When asked by the woodcutter, a saint sitting there told him the name of that place was Juna. That woodcutter had informed the then king Griharipu of Chudasam dynasty about this ancient place. After this information, this fort was rebuilt by cutting the forests. The Chura Sama kings ruled the region until the 15th century.
The last ruler of the Chudasam dynasty to occupy the Junagarh fort, Mandal III, was defeated in the battle by Mahmud Begada of the Gujarat Sultanate and took control of this area. At that time Mahmood Begada had also changed the name of Junagarh to Mustafabad but later the name of this place was again changed to Junagarh. The prominent Muslim rulers who ruled over Junagarh Fort were the Begada, Tughlaq, Mughal and Bavi empires. The Junagarh princely state was taken over by the East India Company by 1818 and later handed over to the Bowi rulers.
Bowi ruler Mahavat Khan ruled the country until its independence. During the partition of India and Pakistan, Mahavat Khan tried to merge Junagarh with Pakistan but the people of Junagarh accepted the merger with India. One year after independence, in 1948, the princely state of Junagarh merged with India and after that Mahavat Khan himself went to Pakistan.
Architecture – Junagarh Fort
Junagarh Fort has three entrance gates. Stone sculptures along with arches can be seen in these gateways which are architecturally a unique example of the Hindu Torana style. The wall of Junagarh Fort was built about 35 feet high. To protect the fort, about 300 feet deep moat was built along the walls and it is believed that this moat was always filled with water and big crocodiles were released in it to protect the fort from enemies. Can go.
Junagarh Fort also has two stepwells which are known as Aadi Kadi and Navghan wells are located here. Just seeing these wells and the crooked stairs of the Bav arouses interest in knowing more about them. There are layers of rock along the walls.
Adi – Kadi Bav – Junagarh Fort
There is a popular story about Aadi Kadi stepwell. It is believed that these Bavs were constructed in the 15th century. During the construction of this well, when water did not come out even after extensive digging, a human sacrifice was made here. Those who were sacrificed were two little girls named Aadi and Kadi. In those days sacrifice was an accepted act. This Bav was named Aadi Kadi Bav after those two sisters.
According to another popular story, in the 15th century, two maids named Aadi Kadi used to collect water from here. It was named after both of them. This stepwell is counted among the oldest stepwells and wells in the country.
Two big cannons are kept in the fort whose names are Neelam and Manik. These cannons were imported from Iran. With the help of these cannons, Mahmood Begada had conquered 2 kilos which were Pavagarh and Junagarh. These cannons are known as big and small cannons. It is believed that the sapphire cannon could throw shells up to a distance of 5 kilometers and the smaller ruby cannon could easily throw shells up to a distance of 2 kilometers.
Jama Masjid
The Queen’s Palace located in the fort was converted into Jama Masjid after the Mughals took over. Mahmood Begada converted it into a mosque. The tomb located in Junagarh Fort is very famous for itself.
The fort includes Buddhist caves, Khapra Kodiya caves. It is believed that these caves were built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd-4th century BC. These caves are known as Uparkot Caves. Khapra Kodiya Cave and Baba Pyare Cave are located outside the fort of Uparkot.
About Ranak Devi – Junagarh Fort
It is said that Queen Ranak Devi, the wife of King Ra Khangar of Chudasam Dynasty, was very beautiful and hence in his desire to get her, King Siddharaj Jai Singh of Gujarat Patan tried for 12 years to go inside the fort. After laying siege to the fort for 12 years and still failing, he lured two nephews of Raja Ra Khangar and they succumbed to the greed and opened the doors of the fort. As soon as the doors of the fort opened, Siddharaj Jai Singh entered the fort with his army and killed Ra Khangar. After the death of Ra Khangar, Queen Ranak Devi became Sati.
Best time to visit Junagarh Fort
Winter is the best season to visit Junagarh Fort. One can easily visit here from January to April and from October to December. The opening hours of the fort are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.
How to reach Junagarh Fort
This fort is located in Mullawada area of Junagarh. To reach the fort, taxi system is available from the bus stand and railway station.
Rajkot airport is the nearest airport to reach Junagarh by flight. The distance from Rajkot to Junagarh is approximately 100 kilometers. You can reach Junagarh from the airport by rented car, taxi or state transport bus.
If you are traveling by train then you can reach Junagarh station from any part of the country through direct or connected train. The distance of the fort from Junagarh station is only 2 kilometers.
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