Uparkot Fort is a historic fortification located on the eastern side of Junagadh, Gujarat, India. It is situated at the foothills of the Girnar hill and is one of the oldest forts in the region, with a history spanning more than two millennia.
History
A fort and town were established at the foothills of Girnar hill during the reign of the Maurya Empire and continued to be used during the Gupta period. It lost its importance when the capital of the Saurashtra region was moved from Junagadh to Vallabhi by the Maitraka dynasty. The Chudasamas settled around Junagadh from approximately 875 CE.
The 10th-century Chudasama king Abhira Graharipu (r. c. 940–c. 982) is credited with clearing the old citadel of jungle growth. According to the evidence in Hemachandra's Dvyashraya, Graharipu laid the foundations of the citadel as it now exists.
Legend of Rediscovery
A local legend recounts that after several Ahirs of Vamansthali had ruled, a woodcutter cut his way through the forest and came upon stone walls and a gate. A holy man nearby, when asked the name of the place, replied that its name was "Juna" (meaning "old"). The woodcutter reported his discovery to the Chudasama ruler, who ordered the forest cleared. When the fort came into view, no one knew its history beyond what the holy man had said, so the place became known as "Junagadh." If the story is to be believed, either Graharipu rediscovered an ancient stronghold, or the fort was built, abandoned, and later found again by a subsequent ruler, Navaghana, who transferred the Chudasama capital from Vamansthali to Junagadh.
Restorations
In 1893–94, Haridas Viharidas, the Dewan of Junagadh State, restored the fort. In July 2020, the Government of Gujarat initiated a restoration project for the fort and its internal structures at a cost of approximately ₹44.46 crore (about US$4.6 million), with a projected completion period of 18 months.
Architecture and Places of Interest
The Uparkot is considered one of the most interesting of old forts. The parapets on the east, where the fort is commanded by higher ground, were raised at least three times to provide cover against increasingly long-range projectiles. The entrance, located in the east wall beyond the town, consists of three gateways, one inside the other. The fort walls range from 60 to 70 feet in height. The inner gateway, a specimen of the Torana style, has been topped with later Indo-Saracenic work.
On the rampart above the gate is an inscription of Mandalika III, dated 1450. Nearby is the Jumma Masjid, built by Mahmud Begada. The Tomb of Nuri Shah, close to the mosque, is ornamented with fluted cupolas and distinctive carving over the door.
The fort contains two notable wells: the Adi Kadi Vav, said to have been built in ancient times by the maids of the Chudasama rulers and descended by a long flight of steps, and the Navghan Kuvo, cut to a great depth in the soft rock with a circular staircase.
The Uparkot Caves, located within the fort, are 2nd–3rd century Buddhist caves. They form a double-storeyed cave complex used by Buddhist monks in ancient times. The Nawabi Lake is a square artificial lake located within the fort.
Current Status
The fort is controlled by the Government of Gujarat and is open to the public. Its condition is described as ruins.
