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Uparkot
Uparkot is a fort located in east side of Junagadh, Gujarat, India. History A fort and town was established at the foothills of Girnar hill during reign of the Maurya Empire and continued to be used during Gupta period, but it lost its importance when the capital of Saurashtra region was moved from Junagadh to Vallabhi by Maitraka. Chudasamas settled around Junagadh from 875 CE according to bards when they acquired Vamansthali (Vanthli) from Chavda ruler. A 10th-century Abhira Chudasama king Graharipu Ahir (r. c.940-c.982) cleared the old citadel free from the jungle. From the evidence contained in the Hemchandra's ''Dvyashraya'', it can be concluded that Graharipu laid the foundations of the citadel as it now exists. the legend is told about its rediscovery. Legend After several Chudasamas of Vamansthali had ruled, a woodcutter one day managed to cut his way through the forest and came to a place where stone walls and a gate existed. Nearby sat a holy man in contemplatio ...
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Uparkot Caves
Uparkot caves, also Uperkot caves, are ancient man-made caverns. The caves are a part of the Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups situated in the eastern part of Junagadh of the Indian state of Gujarat. Caves These caves located at Uperkot beyond the 300 ft deep moat, close to Adi Kadi Vav, were carved in 2nd–3rd century A.D. These caves have influence of Satavahana architecture with combination of '' Graeco-Scythian'' style. According to ASI "The cave group is in three tiers, with all members of each galleries shown in semi-relief, but only two storeys having regular floors. The caves at Uparkot are cut into two floors. On the first floor, there is a '' Kunda'', a deep tank about 11 feet square, with a covered verandah round three sides of it. There is a big chamber with six pillars supporting the roof adjoining it. Under the corridor, in the rest of the area, in the walls on the north-east and west sides are stone bench-recesses, divided into long compartments with a base mou ...
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Jumma Masjid, Uparkot
Jumma Masjid or Jama Masjid is a mosque in Uparkot Fort in Junagadh, Gujarat, India. The mosque was built in 15th century by converting a temple or a palace now identified as Ranakdevi Mahal by local people. There is a controversy surrounding the identification of the structure. History The Jumma Masjid (Friday Mosque) was built by Mahmud Begada in 15th century following capture of Junagadh in 1472. It is evidently constructed from the materials of a Hindu or Jain temple or previously existing palace. The palace is now identified as Ranakdevi Mahal by local people attributing it to Ranakdevi, the legendary queen of Chudasama ruler Khengara. The Jumma Masjid and cannons are enlisted as the State Protected Monument (S-GJ-115) by Archaeology Department of the Government of Gujarat. In 2020, the Gujarat tourism department placed a board marking the place as Jami Masjid–Ranakdevi Mahal. The local Rajput community objected to the identification as a mosque and protested. Later the ...
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Junagadh
Junagadh () is the headquarters of Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Located at the foot of the Girnar hills, southwest of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar (the state capital), it is the seventh largest city in the state. Literally translated, Junagadh means "Old Fort". After a brief struggle between India and Pakistan, Junagadh voted to join India in a plebiscite held on 20 February 1948. It was a part of Saurashtra state and later Bombay state. In 1960, in consequence of the Maha Gujarat movement, it became part of the newly formed Gujarat state. History Early history As per the legend, the founder of the Ror Dynasty Raja Dhaj, Ror Kumar, alias Rai Dyach, ruled over the principality of Jhunagarh in the fifth century BC. An early structure, Uparkot Fort, is located on a plateau in the middle of town. It was originally built in 319 BCE during the Mauryan dynasty by Chandragupta. The fort remained in use until the 6th century, when it was abandoned for about 3 ...
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Mandalika III
Mandalika III, called by the epithet Ra Gangajalio, was a Chudasama dynasty, Chudasama king of Saurashtra (region), Saurashtra region of western India who reigned from to (Vikram Samvat, VS 1507 to VS 1527). His capital was at Junagadh. Mandalika was married to a daughter of Arjun Bhim Gohil of Arthila, named Kunta Devi, who had been brought up in the house of one Duda Gohil, her uncle. Mandalika's first military exploit was an expedition against Sangan Vadhel of Bet Dwarka, because that chieftain had omitted to send a present on the occasion of his installation. A successful attack was made against Bet Dwarka, and Sangan Vadhel was taken prisoner but afterwards released, and Mandalika returned in triumph to Junagadh. He was sent by the Gujarat Sultanate, Gujarat Sultan to fight his relative Duda Gohil of Arthila whom he defeated and killed. He sacked Arthila and the Gohil family had to move to Lathi State, Lathi. During his reign, Junagadh was attacked by Gujarat Sultan Mah ...
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Graharipu
Graharipu was a 10th-century Abhira tribe, Abhira king of Saurashtra (region), Saurashtra region of western India with his capital at Vamanasthali (now Vanthali). He was a contemporary of Mularaja, the first Chaulukya dynasty, Chaulukya ruler of Anahilapataka (now Patan). Graharipu built or repaired Durgapalli, the ancient fort in Junagadh identified as Uparkot Fort, Uparkot. The Abhiras grew very powerful during the reign of Graharipu in the middle of the 10th century A.D. He had his capital at Vāmanasthali, now represented by Abhiras the village Vanthali, 9 miles west of Junagadh. The growing power of the Chudasama dynasty and his acts of harassing the pilgrims to Somnath temple resulted in his conflict with Mularaja. After a major and decisive battle, Mulraja defeated Graharipu. The ruler from Kutch, Laksha had fought alongside Graharipu in the battle and was killed. After this battle, the Chudasama domain was repeatedly attacked by subsequent Chaulukya rulers. Titles Gra ...
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Junagadh State
Junagarh or Junagadh ( ur, ) was a princely state in Gujarat ruled by the Muslim Babi dynasty in British India, until its integration into the Union of India in 1948. History Muhammad Sher Khan Babai was the founder of the Babi Pashtun dynasty of Junagarh in 1654. His descendants, the Babi Nawabs of Junagarh, conquered large territories in southern Saurashtra. However, during the collapse of the Mughal Empire, the Babis became involved in a struggle with the Gaekwad dynasty of the Maratha Empire over control of Gujarat during the reign of the local Mohammad Mahabat Khanji I. Mohammad Khan Bahadur Khanji I declared independence from the Mughal governor of Gujarat subah, and founded the state of Junagarh in 1730. This allowed the Babi to retain sovereignty of Junagarh and other princely states. During the reign of his heir Junagarh was a tributary to the Maratha Empire, until it came under British suzerainty in 1807 under Mohammad Hamid Khanji I, following the Second Ang ...
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Navghan Kuvo
Navghan Kuvo is a stepwell in Uparkot Fort, Junagadh, Gujarat, India. History Navghan Kuvo is named after the Chudasama king Ra Navaghana. The forecourt to reach the well was probably built during his reign in 11th century. It is believed to have been completed by his son Khengara. The well is considered older than the forecourt. It is an oldest example of the stepwell according to some scholars. It is near the Uparkot Caves. The well might have been built in Kshatrapa period (2nd-4th century) or in Maitraka period (6th-7th century). It is a state protected monument (S-GJ-116). Architecture A small staircase entered through an arched doorway leads to the forecourt. The well is located at the far end of the forecourt. The water in the well is reached by a circular staircase which is cut in the soft rock behind thin stone wall of the shaft of well. The flight of the steps, first straight and then transverse, turns right around the shaft. The array of square holes in the stone wall ...
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Mahmud Begada
Sultan Mahmud Begada or Mahmud Shah I (), was the most prominent Sultan of the Gujarat Sultanate. Raised to the throne at young age, he successfully captured Pavagadh and Junagadh forts in battles which gave him his name ''Begada''. He established Champaner as the capital. He was responsible for the destruction of the Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka, Gujarat, one of the Char Dhams considered sacred by Hindus. Names His full name was Abu'l Fath Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah I. He was born Fat'h Khan or Fateh Khan. He titled himself, ''Sultân al-Barr, Sultân al-Bahr'', Sultan of the Land, Sultan of the Sea. Of the origin of Mahmúd's surname Begra or Begarha, two explanations are given in ''Bird’s History of Gujarát'' (p. 202) and ''Mirăt-i-Ahmedi'' (Persian Text, pp. 74): # From his mustachios being large and twisted like a bullock's horn, such a bullock being called Begado. # That the word comes from the Gujaráti ''be'', two, and ''gadh'', a fort, the people giving him ...
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Adi Kadi Vav
Adi Kadi Vav or Adi Chadi Vav is a stepwell in Uparkot Fort, Junagadh, Gujarat, India. The date of its construction is uncertain. History According to Junagadh district administration website, the stepwell was constructed in 15th century. Other sources says that it was constructed in second half of the 10th century or in 11th century during the rule of Chudasama dynasty. Another source says that it was constructed in 319 BCE and rediscovered in 976 CE. According to local historian Parimal Rupani, there were two separate stepwells. It is the Adi stepwell and the Kadi stepwell is still buried, according to him. It is a state protected monument (S-GJ-114). Architecture Adi Kadi Vav is a Nanda type of stepwell. It is not built but carved out of solid natural rock. There is a flight of 166 steps in a narrow corridor to reach well shaft. A small window is carved in the thin rock layer above the well. The rock strata is visible in the eroded walls. The well is 123 feet deep. There is ...
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Maitraka Dynasty
The Maitraka dynasty ruled western India (now Gujarat) from approximately 475 to approximately 776 CE from their capital at Vallabhi. With the sole exception of Dharapaṭṭa (the fifth king in the dynasty), who followed the Mithraic mysteries, they were followers of Shaivism. Their origin is uncertain but they were probably Chandravanshi Kshatriyas. Following the decline of the Gupta Empire, Maitraka dynasty was founded by ''Senapati'' (general) Bhaṭārka, who was a military governor of Saurashtra under Gupta Empire, who had established himself as the independent around 475 CE. The first two Maitraka rulers Bhaṭārka and Dharasena I used only the title of ''Senapati'' (general). The third ruler Droṇasiṁha declared himself as the ''Maharaja''. During the reign Dhruvasena I, Jain council at Vallabhi was probably held. The next ruler Dharapaṭṭa is the only ruler considered as a sun-worshipper. King Guhasena stopped using the term ''Paramabhattaraka Padanudhyata'' alo ...
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Forts In Gujarat
The following is a partial list of forts in Gujarat, India See also * List of forts in India References {{DEFAULTSORT:Forts in Gujarat Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ... Forts in Gujarat forts ...
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Girnar
Girnar is an ancient hill in Junagadh, Gujarat, India. Geology Mount Girnar is a major igneous plutonic complex which intruded into the basalts towards the close of the Deccan Trap period. The rock types identified in this complex are gabbros (tholeiitic and alkalic), diorites, lamprophyres, alkali-syenites and rhyolites. The parent gabbroic magma is shown to have given rise in sequence to diorites, lamprophyres and alkali-syenites. The rhyolite, though earlier considered a product of differentiation, is now believed to be an independent magma without any genetic link with the gabbro and its variants. History Fourteen of Ashoka's Major Rock Edicts, dating to circa 250 BCE, are inscribed on a large boulder that is housed in a small building located outside the town of Junagadh on Saurashtra peninsula in the state of Gujarat, India. It is located on Girnar Taleti road, at about 2 km (1.2 mi) far from Uperkot Fort easterly, some 2 km before Girnar Taleti. ...
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