Durbar Hall Museum |
About: |
Located in the historic city of Junagarh in Gujarat, the Durbar Hall Museum is one of the most famous tourist attractions of Gujarat. The beautiful Durbar Hall was used as durbar (court) of the erstwhile Nawabs of Junagadh. The Durbar Hall has many interesting sections like Picture Gallery, Palanquin, Textile and Arms Gallery.
The Durbar Hall Museum displays exciting collections of weapons and armor, belonging to the period of the Junagarh Nawabs along with other interesting curios and artifacts. The Museum also displays silver chains, chandeliers, settees, thrones, palanquins, howdahs, cushions, gowns and a large carpet that was woven in the Junagarh jail. The collections of the museum takes one back to the period of the Nawabs of Junagadh. The museum houses Royal furniture, silver-plated throne, silver chair and silk carpets. Different types of zummers, mirrors, silver objects, oil paintings, miniature paintings, photographs, palanquins, arms, albums, huge chandeliers, royal armory, portraits and golden ornaments are also preserved in the museum. Darbar Hall Museum is an art museum situated at Junagadh, in Gujarat. The museum is housed in the hall where the erstwhile Nawabs of Junagadh used to hold court. Established in 1966, Darbar Hall Museum gives an insight into the period of Nawabi rule in Junagadh. The museum exhibits silver plated thrones, fine carpets, huge chandeliers and a red silk carpet with diamonds resembling stars of a crimson sky. Carpets lavishly embroidered with gold thread, huge chandeliers, royal armory, portraits and paintings are also on display. Darbar Hall Museum is the part of City Palace. Of all the Tourist attractions in Junagadh, the Museums display a lot of the relics within the territory of walls and buildings and people with interest in historical happenings, can savor a taste of the same with utmost gusto. It provides visitors ample opportunities to go through the antics, historical manuscripts, and archeological remains all under one roof.Out of the two Museums in Junagadh, the Durbar Hall Museum is the more popular one and houses the a varied range of items and memorabilia which give us the image of the Nawabs' era and an insight into the ways of life and different instruments used during that period. Weapons, arms, war items, gold and silver items, jewelry, paintings on big as well as small canvases, palanquins, howdahs adorn the Durbar Hall Museum. Rich ornamental carpets, intricately designed silver thrones, beautiful chandeliers speak of the tastes of the then Nawabs of Junagadh. One of the most precious possessions of the Durbar Hall Museum, Junagadh is the silver plated howdah decorated most ostensibly with silver mermaids at four corners and a tiger made out of silver posing to protect the rich velvet seats. |
Location info: |
Address:Durbar Hall Museum,Junagadh,Gujarat,India |
District: Junagadh |
Nearest City: Junagadh |
Language: Gujarati, Hindi. |
Best time to visit: October to March |
Climate/Weather: |
Junagarh is mild with temperature summers.beatween 34-43°C in winters and 28-34°C in the |
History: |
The Durbar Hall Museum,was set up in the year1966.Junagadh actually has been a courthouse in the times of the Nawabs - where all court cases used to be put up to be fought for or against. Part of the old city palace, the court was later converted into a museum, preserving the tokens and mementos which speaks of the grandeur and glory of the past ages of Nawabs and Sultans. |
Interesting things to do: |
Interesting things to Visit: |
Ashokan Edicts: Located at the base of the Girinagara or Urjayata Hill, the boulder bearing the edicts of Ashoka placed within a small building at the side of the road established itself at 210 31 N and 700 28 E. The first fourteen edicts here are that of Ashoka and are etched in the eastern side of the boulder. Then later Mahakshatrapa Rudradaman I in 150 A.D and Skandagupta in 450 A.D incorporated their inscriptions describing the dire straits brought about by the destruction of the embankments of Sudarshan Lake by the rivers Suvarna Sikta and Palasini. Of all the monuments and Forts in Junagadh, the edicts of Ashoka carry the philosophy in its weightiest terms.
Etched in a huge boulder, the edicts were founded by James Todd, but it was much later by 1837 that Rev. Dr. John Wilson who made them properly known to the world by copying the edicts and in 1843 they were enlisted in the Bombay branch journal by the Royal Asiatic Society. Mahabat Maqbara: Uperkot Fort: Concrete historical pages since 875 A.D say that the Uperkot Fort had served as the capital to 20 rulers of the following dynasties: Maurya, Gupta, Mandlik, Mahipal, Khengar and Navghan, sustaining 16 assaults, the last one being in 1784 all with little success though. Further down, the fort has been put to use by the British as military quarters for the country till year 1947. Junagadh Zoo Museum: Wellington Dam: Wellington Dam: Scince Museum: Narsinh Maheta Lake: Bhavnath Mahadev: The worship starts at mid night on the 14th day of the dark half in the Magha month and as soon as the puja commences these sages are seen advancing towards the Bhavnath Mahadev Temple seated on elephants holding flags in their hands. The air reverberates with the sounds of the conch shells, the tungis and the turis. A strong belief is prevalent that on this day Lord Shiva himself visits the Bhavnath Mahadev Temple. The organizers serve free meals to the visitors on this auspicious occasion. Temple of Gorakhnath: Junagadh Temple of Gorakhnath is positioned at the Girnar Hill in the district of Junagadh, Gujarat. Girnar Hill lies about 5 kms to the east of Junagadh. The presiding deity at this temple is Lord Gorakhnath. In the vicinity of this beautiful temple, you would get the chance to see several other Hindu temples along with a number of Jain temples. Neminath Temple: Amba Mata Temple: Mallinath Temple: Girnar Hill: Bazaars in Junagadh: |
Mobile range info: |
How to reach? |
Nearest Railway Station:Junagadh railway station,connected to Ahmedabad |
Nearest Airport:Keshod 37 km & Rajkot 99 km,connected to Mumbai airport |
Road Transport:State connect Junagarh with Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad 321 km, Gir, Rajkot 101 km , Bhuj, Dwarka, Somnath, Palitana, Surat, Vadodara, Porbandar 113 km . Taxis, Auto-rickshaws, Tongas & City Bus services are available for local transport. |
Nearest Visiting places: |
Chorwad Beach: Chorwad Beach is 66 kilometres from Junagadh and 23 kilometres from the fishing centre of Veraval, Chorwad is a delightful resort on the sunny coast of Gujarat. The only beach in India where you can live in the timeless splendour of a palace built amidst soft golden sand facing the beach. It was built by the former Nawabs of Junagadh. The nearest Airport is Keshod. An excellent road connects to Junagarh, Girnar, the Gir Forest sanctuary and the famous temple of Somnath.
Sasan Gir Forest & Sanctuary: Somnath temple : Madhavpur: Ahmedpur- Mandvi: |
Nearest Petrol Pump: |
HP Petrol Pump:Nearest jayshree cinema Junagadh,Gujarat,India |
Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation: |
Hotel Indralok:Railway Station Road, Nr. Majevadi Gate,Junagadh, Gujarat,Ph:0285 2658511
Hotel Shikhar Palace:Shikhar Complex,Jayshree Road,Kalwa Chowk,Junagadh,Gujarat,Ph:0285 2626596 |
Things to carry: |
Tips & Suggestions: |
Help Line/Phone Number: |
Police Station:100 |
Nearest Hospital: Dr. BR Sureja:Junagadh,Gujarat,India Government civil hospital:Junagadh,Gujarat,India |
Society/Community Phone Number: |
Links: www.mapsofindia.com www.gujaratholiday.com |
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Somnath Temple |
Somnath of Prabhas Pattana, situated on the southern coast of Saurastra, in the province of Sorath, now known as Jungadh in the state of Gujarat, holds the prestigious temple of Sri Someshwar, which is supposed to have witnessed the dawn of time. The present temple is an imposing structure: its imposing exterior is adorned with marvellous sculpture; it has a grand sabha mandap in front; its shikhara measures 155 feet. The jyotirlinga installed on the Brahmasila is about four feet in height and is adorned with spectacular sandal paste decorations, a novelty here. There are hundreds of priests in the service of the Lord, attending to His needs, round the clock....more |
Ahmedpur Mandvi Beach |
Mandvi is one of the finest beaches on the Gujarat shoreline. The beach is white and firm, ideal for walks, and the water perfect for swimming. Seemingly unending, with sands ideal for astle building by kids, and shallow waters for a wading, this is a great spot for a family holiday. A variety of water sports like water scooters, skiing, surfing, para sailing, speed boat trips are on offer. Cottage Resort Magico Do Mar is one of the highlight of this beach offering air-conditioned rooms, pleasant lawns, palm groves. The resort bungalow facing garden towards sea offers wonderful sight which should not be missed.When you've had enough of lazing in the sun and are ready for some action and fun, you can participate in any of the numerous beach activities offered on the beautiful Indian beaches!For instance, you could indulge in any of the exciting water sports such as surfing or parasailing, or go swimming in the clear blue sea, or even try your hand at building a sand castle or playing a game of beach volleyball...more |
Chorwad Beach |
A visit to Chorwad Beach in Gujarat, India, offers ample of opportunity to the tourists to know about the ins and outs of the Chorwad Beach in Gujarat, India. Chorwad Beach in Gujarat, India is yet another beautiful and scenic spot which if marketed well can figure high in the itinerary of the domestic and international tourists. Chorwad Beach is an interesting and alluring amalgamation of rocky crags and bowlderish seafront along with jaunty boat rides across the Chorwad seafront and to cap it all with opportunities to visit Porbandar and Somnath and other nearby beach destinations and other travel destinations worth their salt in terms of beauty and ambience....more |
Madhavpur Beach |
Madhavpur is a small town located 60 kms southwest of historic town Porbandar. Madhvapur Beach is one of the beautiful sandy beaches in Gujarat. Beautiful sandy beaches lined here with coconut trees.It is believed that Lord Krishna had married Rukmini in Madhavpur. The Legend is kept alive by holding a fair on Chaitra Sud 12 every year. There is also a Bethak of Mahaprabhuji as Shri Vallabhachrya who had given discourse on Shrimad Bhagwat for seven days here.Madhavpur beach, which made news recently for Tropex-2009 military exercise, has another claim to fame. It is home to a two-decade long conservation project of Green Sea and Olive Ridley turtles: both endangered marine species included in Schedule-1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.According to the Forest department, over 10,000 baby turtles have been safely released in the Arabian Sea this year.Ever since the conservation work began nearly 20 years ago, around 2 lakh baby turtles have been released into the sea.....more |
Uperkot Fort |
The state of Gujarat boasts of a number of historical Forts and monuments in Junagadh. Built and rebuilt repeatedly the Uperkot Fort, Junagadh one of the two fortifications of the city, has of late become one of the main Tourist attractions in Junagadh. Adding to the advantage of the fort being less thronged has helped it retain the ethnicity without losing any bit of its charm.The fort has many interesting exhibits like the two guns placed on the western wall and believed to have been cast in Egypt. The bigger one is called the Nilamtope and the other one is known as Kadanal. In and around the fort one can find several Buddhist caves...more
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Mahabat Maqbara |
The Mahabat Maqbara in a Junagadh city,The etymological meaning of Junagadh is "old Fort". It is located in the state of Gujarat in the laps of the sacred hills of Girnar in Saurashtra. Amongst the various forts and monuments in Junagadh, one of the major Tourist attractions in Junagadh, the Mahabat Maqbara, Junagadh is an exquisite exhibition of the nineteenth century art and architecture.The yellow mausoleum, Mahabat Maqbara, Junagadh, is a masterpiece of it own kind. The uniqueness of the affluence of silver at the portals teemed with intricate carvings and the winding staircase encircling the four minarets attract a lot of tourists to its site.....more |
Ashokan Edicts |
Ashokan Rock edicts are situated at Lat. 210 31 N; Long 700 28 E. The Rock edicts of Emperor Ashokan were engraved on a granite boulder on the slope of Girinagara or Urjayata Hill. On the eastern face of it was engraved 14 Rock edicts by Ashoka and later epigraphs of Mahakshatrapa Rudradaman I and Skandagupta were also recorded on it, the Rock edict was first reported by James Todd in 1822. The other two epigraphs have a common purpose, which was recording the history of the breaking of dams of Sudarshan Lake occurring because of the turbulent storm waters of river Suvarna Sikta and Palasini rushing down the hill slopes.....more |
Zoo Museum-Junagadh |
Junagadh Zoo is famous around the world for the Asiatic Lions it boasts of. The zoo is also known as Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden. A trip to Junagadh would remain incomplete without a visit to the Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden.The Junagadh Zoo was built in 1863 by the then Nawab. Incidentally, the zoo is the oldest one in Gujarat. He had set up this zoo in order to save the Asiatic Lion from extinction. Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden is located at around 3.5 km from the center of the city. The zoo is open on all days of the week from 9 in the morning to 6 in the evening. Entry fee to this zoo is Rs 3. Junagadh Zoo is home to 71 species of animals. According to latest reports, there are around 850 animals in the zoo.....more |
Girnar Hill |
Girnar is one of the holiest places in Gujarat situated near Junagadh at a distance of 327 from Ahmedabad. It is a holy place and an important pilgrimage for both Hindus and Jains. There are a number of temples located here, which have converted it into a township of temples. Amidst the lush green Gir Forest, the mountain range serves as the hub of religious activity. Apart from this, there is a mosque attracting many Muslim pilgrims to the place. This has made Girnar a perfect example of unity in diversity in India.The tallest of these rises to 945 meters 3600 feet, the highest peak in Gujarat. The first peak of Girnar has a collection of Digambar and Shwetamber temples....more |
Bhavnath Fair |
A visit to Tourism of Gujarat, offers a golden opportunity to the tourist to undertake a tour across Gujarat and also to the bright and charming Bhavnath fair, being celebrated in Gujarat, India. Tourism of Gujarat, offers travel related information that Bhavnath fair in Gujarat, India, is home to a multitude of tourists and devotees who throng the location to be part of the mammoth experience. Bhavnath Fair, in Gujarat, India, is held in Junagadh, annually, with the fair coinciding with the grandiose and very famous festival of Shivratri, being celebrated in the same month as the Bhavnath fair of Junagadh, in Gujarat, India. Bhavnath fair, is dedicated to Lord Shiva and a lot of revelry goes on in the Shiva temples and along with that the temples are visited by Naga Sadhus, and watching them is a novel and enigmatic experience....more |
Madhavpur Fair |
A visit to Tourism of Gujarat, takes the interested tourist on a journey across the length and breadth of Gujarat, situated in India, so that a selective screening of the charms of Madhavpur fair can take place. Tourism of Gujarat, offers travel related information about the grand and colorful Madhavpur Fair, in Gujarat, India. Madhavpur Fair being held in Gujarat, India, is actually held in Madhavpur which is a small town located near the legendary and historic town of Porbandar, situated in Gujarat, India. Madhavpur, situated in Gujarat, India, otherwise is a sleepy, silent town, which comes to life when the stirrings of the grand Madhavpur Fair, being held in Madhavpur, Gujarat, India, wake it up from its deep slumber.....more |
Jamvada waterfall |
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Gira Waterfall |
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Gir Forest National Park |
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Bhadar river |
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