Heritage wonders of Saurashtra

Heritage wonders of Saurashtra

 

Historic Jamnagar

 

Once famed as the Halar region, the coastal city of Jamnagar lying about 92 km from Rajkot was the stronghold of Jadeja Rajputs known as Jams. Jamnagar has been founded by Jam Rawal of Nawanagar down the memory lane in 1640. 

 

Lakhota Lake, Jamnagar

 

For history buffs, the walled Lakhota Lake sprawling over an area of 1040 sq. km has the magnificent Lakhota Island Palace or Ranmahal that came up sometime in 1856 with the statue of former cricket icon, Ranjeet Singhji at the entrance.

 

Idyllic beach palace of Chorwad

 

The fascinating beach destination of Chorwad is just 95 km drive from Porbandar in the district of Junagadh that we couldn’t afford to miss during our trip to Porbandar. We halted at the Holiday Camps of Gujarat Tourism that form the only options for tourists on their trip to Chorwad. Lying on the southern coast of Saurashtra, Chorwad is only 23 km from the fishing town of Veraval and proved to be quite exciting for us.

 

The beach rests in utmost tranquillity with the waves lashing on rocks. Chorwad is one of the few beach destinations in Gujarat that has a royal grandeur.

 

Summer Palace, Chorwad

 

Overlooking the beach is the spectacular Summer Palace of Nawab Mohabbat Khanji III, the Nawab of Junagadh. If luck is on your side, you can get to watch the sun rising gorgeously in the historic backdrop of the palace.

 

Junagadh’s regal grandeur

 

The fabled city of Junagadh on the foothills of Mount Girnar offers a plethora of medieval Islamic architecture that would surely quench the wanderlust of tourists. Junagadh was once the bastion of Nawabs and founded by Sher Khan Bazi, it joined hands with Independent India after a lapse of 85 days sometime on November 9, 1947. The fort city is a repository of historic marvels but unlike Hyderabad, has failed to take off as a popular tourist destination.

 

Our discovery of Junagadh began with the visit of 20 metres high Uparkot Fort or the Upper Fort that dominates the city and has an adorned gateway.

 

Durbar Hall Museum

 

The Durbar Hall Museum, or the residence of the Nawabs provides an insight into the fascinating lifestyles of the rich and famous. Tourists will be amazed with the range of exquisite objects d’art exhibited in the hall that make up a rare blend of European and Saurashtrian flavour.

 

The portrait of Nawab Bahadur Khan, the foremost ruler of Junagadh and the Nawab of famed Babi dynasty greets tourists in the Durbar Hall. The main hall has a wide range of furniture belonging to 19^th century crafted from wood, glass and silver that depict an exemplary of superb craftsmanship of silversmith in foil mounted on carved wood. The antique chairs and tables, silver casket and palanquin, betel box carved out of silver, the Belgian cut glass mirrors and an exquisitely carved glass tree in the shape of a fountain add a touch of grandeur to the palace.

 

We entered the Textile Gallery of the museum replete with richly embroidered, gem-studded carpets flaunting karbochi works, hand fan and the flag of Junagadh. The Arms Gallery also exhibits a wide range of specialized weapons commonly used by the Nawabs

 

Our last sightseeing spot was the Nawab’s Mausoleum, the greatest landmark in the chequered history of Junagadh. It consists of Bahauddin Maqbara, an excellent piece embodying the post medieval Islamic architecture in India. A stopover at Ashoka’s Rock Edicts indicates the extension of Ashoka’s empire over Saurashtra.