Junagadh

In Gujarati, 'Junagadh' literally means an ancient fort. It was the capital of the Junagadh State under the Muslim rulers of Babi Nawabs.

The Junagadh town is located at the foothills of the sacred hill of Girnar and occupies a special place in the history of Gujarat. It is situated at 21°31' N latitude and 70°36' E longitude.

History
Junagadh, at different times in history, was under the influence of four major religions: Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Muslim. It was ruled by the Mauryans, Kshatrapas, Guptas, Vallabhis, Chudasamas, Gujarat Sultans and Babi Nawabs. Both political powers and religious influences enriched the culture and created fantastic edifices leaving their mark on the architecture of Junagadh.

Junagadh was wrested from the Mughal Empire in the mid-18th century by Sher Khan Babi. He established a dynasty that was later supported by the British. In 1947, the Muslim ruler ceded his state to Pakistan, although the population was overwhelmingly Hindu. He was forced to flee when Indian forces invaded the state.

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