Uparkot Fort, Junagadh: History, highlights and visitor guide

History and context

The story behind Uparkot Fort

A fort and town were established here under the Mauryas and stayed in use through the Gupta period, though it lost importance when Saurashtra's capital moved to Vallabhi. The Chudasama dynasty, ruling from about 875 CE, made Junagadh its seat. The 10th-century king Abhira Graharipu is credited with clearing the old citadel of jungle and laying the foundations of the fort as it stands.

The fort was restored in 1893-94 under Dewan Haridas Viharidas, and the Gujarat government began a major restoration in July 2020. Dating of individual features, especially the caves and stepwells, is debated.

Useful facts

Uparkot Fort facts at a glance

Location

Uparkot, east side of Junagadh old town

Experience type

Fortified citadel with gateways, caves, wells and mosque

Known for

Three-fold east gateway and rock-cut Buddhist caves

Architect/Built

Mauryan origins; rebuilt by the Chudasamas from the 10th century

Time or schedule

Daytime visit; check current hours and restoration closures

Why it matters

Why Uparkot Fort is worth your time

Uparkot is the oldest part of Junagadh and the reason the city is called what it is. A legend says a woodcutter found old walls and a gate overgrown with forest and a holy man named the place Juna, old, which became Junagadh, the old fort. The citadel was first established in the Mauryan period and reused through Gupta and later times. Reading the layered gateways, mosque, caves and wells gives you a compact lesson in two thousand years of Saurashtra.

It also matters as a working place for pilgrims and locals, not just a monument. The fort sits beside the route to Girnar and was a place the Chudasama kings, the later Gujarat sultans and the Babi nawabs all held. Visiting it before Girnar or the museums gives you the political and religious background that the rest of the city assumes.

Highlights

What not to miss

1. 01

   Layered gateway

   The east entrance is three gateways one inside another, topped by a later Indo-Saracenic torana.

2. 02

   Rock-cut caves

   Double-storeyed Buddhist caves inside the fort are generally dated to the 2nd or 3rd century.

3. 03

   Rampart views

   Walking the walls gives a clear view over the old city to the Girnar hills.

Plan your visit

How to experience it

Enter by the east gateway, a sequence of three gates, one inside another, with later decorative work above the inner arch. Stop and look up at the rampart; an inscription dated 1450 is set above the gate. Walls here rise 60 to 70 feet, and the thickness is what you notice as you pass through. Take the first part slowly. Most visitors rush to the wells and miss the best architecture.

Inside, the fort is spread out, so decide what you want. The Jama Masjid near the gate was built under Mahmud Begada, and the tomb of Nuri Shah stands close by. A pair of cannons, named Neelam and Manek, are on display. The Buddhist caves cut in the rock, thought to date from the 2nd or 3rd century, are the oldest thing here, and the two stepwells, Adi Kadi Vav and Navghan Kuvo, are covered on their own page.

Walk the ramparts for the view. From the walls you look down over the tiled roofs of the old town and out towards Girnar, which makes sense of why a citadel was placed here. Carry water, a hat and a small torch for the caves and stepwells. There is little shade and few food stalls, so eat before you go.

Know before you go

Timing, access and comfort

Area

East side of old Junagadh, near the Darbar Hall Museum and Mahabat Maqbara

Time needed

3 to 4 hours including the stepwells and caves

Best time

Early morning in October to February; avoid the middle of the day in summer

Walking level

Moderate

Senior comfort

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.

Tickets and access

Entry arrangements and ticket prices for the fort and the caves inside change, and parts of the site have been under restoration since 2020. Check current opening hours and fees locally or with the Archaeological Survey of India and Gujarat tourism before going.

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