Gujarat Diaries - 5

Overview: We had booked a safari at Devaliya Interpretation Zone at Gir at 9am. So we started from Diu at around 5:30am so that we could reach their on time. The distance from Diu to Sasan Gir is around 100kms so we kept a driving time of 3 hours and 30 mins buffer. We had some confusion on whether to book a 3 hour safari into the Gir forest or 1 hour safari to the Gir Interpretation Zone, where a smaller fenced area of Gir has been created so that more animals can be spotted. The decision proved good in the end after we spotted the Asiatic Lion, Jackal, Vultures, Wild Cat, Leopard and a few migratory birds. Spotting these animals in their natural habitat was a great experience early in the morning. It took around 1.5 hours from the safari starting point to return to the same place. The ticket cost is Rs 200 per head, and Rs 200 for camera. We had to pay an additional Rs 1900 for the gypsy.

Gir

Gir

From here, we headed to Junagadh, around 1.5 hours drive from here. We first saw the 3rd century Girnar Ashokan inscriptions. The rock is well protected in an enclosure, and contains the inscriptions of Ashoka, along with Rudradaman I and Skandagupta.

Girnar Ashokan inscriptions

From here, we went to the Uparkot fort, and first saw the Jama Masjid inside the fort, followed by the Buddhist caves. The Buddhist caves are 3 tiered, and date back to the 3rd century BC built in Satavahana style of architecture. Several carvings are worn out due to the age of the structure and some seem to be damaged during excavation.

Cannon at Uparkot Fort

Uparkot Caves

Uparkot Caves

There are other important monuments inside the fort, but we decided to skip the rest and headed towards Mahabat Maqbara, one of the most prominent structures in Junagadh. The elaborate structures in the complex were home to the Nawabs of Junagadh in the 19th century. The Mahabat Maqbara has its unique style of twisted minarets outside the main mausoleum.
We had the traditional Gujarati thali in Junagadh before we left the town.

Mahabat Maqbara, Junagadh

Next we went to the Khambalida Buddhist caves, and worth a visit for the Bodhisattva figures on either side of the main cave. The following is the description of the sculptors as per Wiki -
'On the left, the figure is probably Padmapani under Ashoka-like tree with a female companion and five attendants. There is a yaksha-like dwarf on the left of it holding a basket. The figure on the right is probably Vajrapani under Ashoka-like tree with similar attendants. The broad belts of female are similar to that of figures at Uparkot Caves of Junagadh. They are comparable to late Kushana-Kshatapa period sculptures elsewhere as well as features some late Andhra mannerism.[1] The caves are believed to have come into existence in the 4th or 5th century AD.'
Inside the cave is pretty dark and is also filled with bat droppings.
After admiring the caves, we headed towards Rajkot where we checked into our hotel.

Khambalida Buddhist Caves

Day 5: Diu - Sasan Gir - Junagadh - Khambalida Caves - Rajkot (270 kms)