Situated at the Girnar foothills, Junagadh is a city of Indian state of Gujarat. It is the district head quarter of Junagadh District. It is also known as Sorath. Junagadh is a major tourist destination in the state. It is also a major pilgrimage center in Gujarat. Guajarati is main language of the Junagadh while Hindi is also spoken by some people. People of Junagadh is also known by the name Kathewadi in other parts of the state as the Junagadh is a part of the Suarashtra region which is also called as Kathewadi.
How to reach: The city of Junagadh is well connected by rail and road to other parts of the state and the country. It comes under the Western Railway zone of Indian Railway. Many trains connect it to Rajkot, Ahamadabad and other cities of the state. Some trains links it to cities of other state like Mumbai, Bhopal Pune Delhi etc. Nearest airport is Keshod situated about 40km away from Junagadh. The airport is well connected by domestic flights to Mumbai and other major cities of the country. Many state run buses and other private vehicles like cars and luxury buses are available from other cities and town of the state.
Places of interest: Junagadh is popular tourist place with many places of attraction in and around it. It is also one of the famous pilgrimage centers in Gujarat. Somnath is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and it is the most sacred of them. It is situated at Prabhasaptam in the district of Junagadh. Girnar Mountain is worth visiting place. The mountain is home to UPERCOT Jain temple. Ashok Shilalekh is located at 2km of Junagadh. It is the place where the great emperor Ashoka etched on rock in Brahmi blockeds moral thoughts of Dhamma like harmony, tolerance and peace. The rock is seven meter high and ten meter in circumference. Darbar Hall Museum is another placed of interest in Junagadh. The museum has an interesting collection of thrones, weapons, costumes, paintings, silver articles etc.
Damodar Kund is sacred bathing tank in Junagadh. Science museum, Wellington Dam, Moti Baugh and Ayurvedic Museum are also worth visiting places in and around Junagadh. Damodarji temple, Gayatri Mandir, Vagheswari Mandir and Mujkund Caves are other places of religious significance in Junagadh.
Other details: At the foothills of Girnar Shivratri Mela (fair) is held every year and it lasts for five days. The fair is held in the month of Maagha of Indian calendar. Thousands of devotees come here from far and wide.
