Junagadh itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Junagadh

1. 01

   Day 1: Uparkot and the nawabs

   Start at Uparkot Fort at opening time and see the gateway, the ramparts and, if your knees allow, Adi Kadi Vav and Navghan Kuvo. Eat a Kathiawadi thali for lunch and rest. In the afternoon, visit the Mahabat Maqbara, then the Darbar Hall Museum if it is open. Finish at the Ashokan rock edicts and Damodar Kund near the Girnar foothills for the late light.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Uparkot Fort	3 to 4 hours including the stepwells and caves	Moderate	Early morning in October to February; avoid the middle of the day in summer
   Adi Kadi Vav and Navghan Kuvo	60 to 90 minutes for both	Demanding	Morning, when the passages are cool and the light enters the shafts
   Kathiawadi Thali	1 hour	Easy	Lunch
   Mahabat Maqbara	45 to 60 minutes	Easy	Early morning or late afternoon light, October to February
   Darbar Hall Museum	About 1 hour	Easy	Midday, when outdoor sights are hot

   Pace: Adi Kadi Vav and Navghan Kuvo involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.

   With parents at Uparkot Fort: The approach is a gentle ramp through the gateways, but the interior is large, shadeless in places and uneven. The stepwells mean long flights of steps with no handrails to speak of. Seniors can enjoy the gate, the mosque area and ramparts and skip the deepest descents.

   With parents at Adi Kadi Vav and Navghan Kuvo: Both involve narrow, steep stairs cut in rock with polished, sometimes damp steps and little railing. The wells are cooler than the fort above but climbing back out is tiring. Older visitors can enjoy the entrances and top views and skip the descent.

Plan 02

2 days in Junagadh

1. 01

   Day 1: Fort, caves and mausoleum

   Spend the morning at Uparkot Fort and its stepwells. After lunch, visit the Baba Pyara caves, then the Mahabat Maqbara in the late afternoon light.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Uparkot Fort	3 to 4 hours including the stepwells and caves	Moderate	Early morning in October to February; avoid the middle of the day in summer
   Mahabat Maqbara	45 to 60 minutes	Easy	Early morning or late afternoon light, October to February

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Uparkot Fort: The approach is a gentle ramp through the gateways, but the interior is large, shadeless in places and uneven. The stepwells mean long flights of steps with no handrails to speak of. Seniors can enjoy the gate, the mosque area and ramparts and skip the deepest descents.

2. 02

   Day 2: Girnar foothills and the ropeway

   Book an early ropeway slot and go up to Ambaji temple, returning by ropeway. Visit Damodar Kund, the Ashokan rock edicts and the Bhavnath temple, then rest. The Darbar Hall Museum makes a cool, indoor end to the day.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Darbar Hall Museum	About 1 hour	Easy	Midday, when outdoor sights are hot

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Plan 03

3 days in Junagadh

1. 01

   Day 1: Uparkot and the old city

   Uparkot Fort and the stepwells in the morning; the Darbar Hall Museum and the Mahabat Maqbara after lunch.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Uparkot Fort	3 to 4 hours including the stepwells and caves	Moderate	Early morning in October to February; avoid the middle of the day in summer
   Darbar Hall Museum	About 1 hour	Easy	Midday, when outdoor sights are hot
   Mahabat Maqbara	45 to 60 minutes	Easy	Early morning or late afternoon light, October to February

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Uparkot Fort: The approach is a gentle ramp through the gateways, but the interior is large, shadeless in places and uneven. The stepwells mean long flights of steps with no handrails to speak of. Seniors can enjoy the gate, the mosque area and ramparts and skip the deepest descents.

2. 02

   Day 2: Girnar

   Start before dawn if you are fit and want to climb, using Damodar Kund as the starting point. Otherwise take the ropeway to Ambaji temple, return by midday and visit Damodar Kund and the Ashokan edicts.

3. 03

   Day 3: Caves, zoo or a day trip

   Visit the Baba Pyara caves and the Sakkarbaug zoo in the morning, or take a day trip towards Sasan Gir or Somnath, which have their own pages on Raahzo.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Junagadh trip for parents and children

• Do not attempt the full Girnar climb of about 10,000 steps unless you are fit; take the ropeway to Ambaji temple instead.
• Visit Uparkot in the early morning and skip the long stepwell descents if knees or balance are a concern.
• Plan the Darbar Hall Museum and Mahabat Maqbara for midday, when indoor and level sights are best.
• Carry water and a hat everywhere; shade is limited at the fort and foothills.
• Choose a hotel with a lift and easy car access, and book ropeway slots in advance.
• Avoid the Bhavnath fair and festival days if crowds are difficult for you.

Junagadh with elderly parents: the full guide →