Junagadh: Empires In India

Junagadh is the headquarters of Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. 

The city is in western India. Literally translated, Junagadh means "Old Fort". 

It is also known as "Sorath", the name of the earlier Princely State of Junagadh. 

After brief struggle between India and Pakistan Junagadh joined India on 9 November 1947. It was a part of Saurashtra state and later Bombay state. In 1960 after Maha Gujarat movement it became part of newly formed Gujarat state.

Mauryas To Nawabs Of Babi Dynasty

319-1948

Mauryan Dynasty

An impressive fort, Uperkot, located on a plateau in the middle of town, was originally built during the Mauryan dynasty by Chandragupta in 319 BCE The fort remained in use until the 6th century.

 Muslims conquered Gujarat in 1299 and the Sultanate of Gujarat was formed in 1407. They ruled over it  from (1472-1572). 

Muslim rulers overthrown and are ruled by Mughals subsequently (1573-1748).

                                                                             Babi Dynasty

Mughals were then overthrown by the Babi Dynasty in 1748

Mohammad Bahadur Khanji founded the state of Junagadh by expelling the Mughal governor and declaring independence in 1748. He was the founder of the Babi dynasty. 

In 1807 it becomes British protectorate. The East India Company took control of the state by 1818, but the Saurashtra area never came under the direct administration of British India. Instead, the British divided the territory into more than one hundred princely states, which remained in existence until 1947.

The Babi Nawabs of Junagadh, conquered large territories in southern Saurashtra and ruled over the state for the next two centuries (1748-1948), first as tributaries of Baroda, and later under the suzerainty of the British. 

                                                                              Nawabs

Nawabs of Babi dynasty:

1735 - 1758 : Mohammad Bahadur Khanji I

1758 - 1775 : Mohammad Mahabat Khanji I

1775 - 1811 : Mohammad Hamid Khanji I

1811 - 1840 : Mohammad Bahadur Khanji II

1840 - 1851 : Mohammad Hamid Khanji II

1851 - 1882 : Mohammad Mahabat Khanji II

1882 - 1892 : Mohammad Bahadur Khanji III

1892 - 1911 : Mohammad Rasul Khanji

1911 - 1948 : Mohammad Mahabat Khanji III

                                                                              Sakkarbaug Zoo

                                                                        Mohabat Maqbara

                                                                        Nawab buried here.

Junagadh has witnessed rules of many famous dynasties like Babi Nawabs, Vilabhis, Kshatraps, Mauryas, Chudasamas, Gujarat Sultans and several others. It has also seen major religious upsurges. All these have greatly influenced the architectural developments of Junagadh.