Chapter outline and page reference:
Introduction 407
Best Time to Visit Junagadh 410
Getting In and Out 410
By Air 410
By Rail 411
By Road 414
Travel Agents 414
Getting Around the City 415
Accommodation 416
Dharamshala 416
Budget 417
Moderate 419
Top End 421
Accommodation at Girnar Taleti 422
Places to Eat 423
Restaurants 423
Dining Halls 425
Cinemas 426
Medical 426
Hospitals 426
Medical Stores 427
Internet 427
Money 427
GPO 428
Shopping 428
Chapter preview (first three pages only):
Introduction
In India, tourism undeniably is a major source of income. It creates more jobs than any other sector for every rupee invested. Keeping this in view, tourism has been granted the status of an industry. It employs a large number of people, both skilled and unskilled, promotes national integration and international understanding, and generates foreign exchange. In fact, tourism in India is the second largest net foreign exchange earner, and is India’s largest service industry, with a contribution of 6.23% to the national GDP and 8.78% of the total employment in India (Wikipedia 2012b). Foreign exchange earnings (FEE) during the year 2005 were Rs 25,172 crore (i.e. 251,720,000,000, or over 250 billion), and by the first half of 2012 had grown to Rs 43,760 crore. International tourism receipts reached US$1.03 trillion in 2011. Nevertheless, India’s share in the world tourist market during 2001 was 0.37% only (Nishant 2009), and in 2005 had risen to just 0.49%.
International tourist arrivals reached 1.035 billion in 2012, up from over 983 million in 2011, and 940 million in 2010. In India, Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) during the period January–June 2012 was 32.37 lakh (3.237 million). When compared to many other countries this figure is relatively very small; for example, in 2011 China received about 58 million visitors, ten times that of India, and France recorded nearly 80 million international tourist arrivals. Therefore, effective promotion of tourism in India, including authentic information about tourist destinations such as Junagadh and Girnar, has the potential to dramatically increase tourist visits to India.
Of the 563 million international and domestic tourists who travelled in India in 2008, only 2.8% (15.8 million) visited Gujarat (Hannam and Diekmann 2011, page 8). This number increased to 19.8 million tourists in 2010–2011 (Wikipedia 2013c). The average number of tourists, primarily domestic, per year to visit Junagadh is 1,500,000, and the approximate income generated by tourism is 660 crore rupees (Rs 6,600,000,000 = 6.6 billion) per year (Junagadh Municipal Corporation 2011).
Anonymous (2007, page 383) reported that Gujarat State: ‘…had heritage sites that are of interest not only to tourists but to researchers, indologists and Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims’, a comment that is particularly pertinent for the city of Junagadh. Among the many very significant attractions for Hindu pilgrims are included Damodar Temple and associated kunds (Damodar Kund, Revati Kund), Bhavnath Temple, Ambaji Temple, and Dattatreya Temple. There are also especially important reasons to attract Buddhist pilgrims, including Askoka’s Edict Rock, numerous ancient Buddhist rock-cut cave complexes, and a relic of the Buddha, excavated from within the Boria Stupa in the southern valley of the Mount Girnar compound. Similarly, the Jain monuments on Mount Girnar affirm the great significance of the site to Jains today, as it was many hundreds of years ago. All these sites, and very many more, would also offer great opportunities to those interested in more detailed study.
Dalal Mott MacDonald (2003) reported that the annual number of tourists visiting Saurashtra was around 1,900,000, of which approximately 15,000 were foreign, 1,160,000 were from within Gujarat, and 740,000 were from outside the state, which amounted to 24% of the total tourist traffic of Gujarat. Of tourists in Saurashtra, 71% visit for religious purposes, 18% for business, 7% for history and architecture, 3% for leisure, and 1% for wildlife. Of tourists who visit Junagadh, 50% come for leisure/heritage, 45% for pilgrimage, and 5% for business. Dalal Mott MacDonald (2003) also reported for Junagadh an annual tourist inflow of about 900,000, of which only 2,500 were foreign tourists, and that the average duration of stay was only one night and two days. Gascoyne (1910) commented on the scarcity of foreign travellers to visit Girnar in the early years of the 20th century: ‘The Girnar mountain at Junagadh, crowned with Jain temples, is worth a long journey to see; yet probably not a dozen travellers from Europe go there in twelve months’.
It was also reported by Dalal Mott MacDonald (2003), that in Junagadh there were about 15 (mid-category, i.e. 1 star or deluxe) hotels, 15 guesthouses, and 30 dharamshalas. Of 32 establishments surveyed, there was a total of 473 rooms, and an average occupancy level of 35–40 %. The average spending on accommodation per day per tourist was Rs 150–250 (60% of tourists), Rs 400–500 (35% of tourists), to Rs 600–1500 (5% of tourists). To encourage tourism to Junagadh City, Dalal Mott MacDonald (2003) recommended projects such as the creation of B-class hotels and good quality, multi-national cuisine restaurants, a good tourist information centre, sign-boards at all historical and archaeological monuments, an ayurvedic health resort, and resurfacing of internal roads. Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (2006) noted that: ‘Although 50% of the tourists visiting Junagadh are leisure tourists, the per tourist expenditure…is low. This could be due to the lack of suitable spending avenues and limited stay in Junagadh. Thus, focus should be on enhancing the stay and providing varied avenues for the tourists to spend more.
Junagadh has great potential to develop and enormously expand its desirability as a tourist destination, particularly in areas such as ecotourism (wildlife tourism, nature tourism), cultural tourism, and archaeological and heritage tourism, with its historic fort, palaces, mosques, and temples. In addition, Mount Girnar’s festivals, in particular the Lili Parikrama and Bhavnath Shivaratri, exceptionally fascinating and enjoyable events, are likely to continue to attract increasing gatherings of participants.
Anonymous (2006, page 141) reported that: ‘In a bid to further explore tourism potential of Gujarat, the Junagadh district administration has chalked out an action plan worth about Rs 20 crore to lure domestic and foreign tourists. The Junagadh District Collector, Mr Bipin Kumar Srimali, said the local administration has made efforts to provide helicopter services connecting Palitana, Somnath and Junagadh.
‘Besides, wildlife eco-tourism activities have been planned at Sakkarbag and nature trails at Girnar. During Heritage tourism programme in July, the administration has decided to set up a theme pavilion at Uperkot, seminar on protection and development of archaeological memorial in Junagadh, Mr Srimali said. Mr Srimali said that of the estimated Rs 20 crore project about Rs 7 crore would be as assistance by the Central Government, equal amount would be given by the State Government and the rest would be raised through public participation.’
Junagadh is ideally situated for use as a base from which to visit surrounding attractions such as the nearby famous Gir Forest, with its plentiful wildlife including lions, the celebrated Somnath Temple near the town of Veraval, and the very popular Satadhar Ashram, about 40 km south-east of Junagadh. Junagadh is also an access point to visit the nearby beach resorts of Chorwad, an old summer palace resort of the erstwhile Nawab of Junagadh, and Ahmedpur Mandvi, adjacent Diu Island with its strong Portuguese influence. With Junagadh’s broad range of hotels, from high end international chain hotels to family run guesthouses, accommodation demands of all travellers are amply met. As part of an integrated area development plan, Ghosh (1976) commended the value of: ‘Providing more tourist infrastructure at Junagadh, Porbandar, Sasan-Gir, Somnath-Veraval, Tulsishyam and Talala and also undertaking development of scenic places like Girnar hills, Archi hills and sea beach from Veraval to Mangrol [as]…the main features of proposals for Tourism Sector.’
Many India travel-guide handbooks either completely overlook Junagadh (eg Israel and Grewal 1986), or otherwise give it only passing mention of a few lines (eg Beresky 1991, Deshpande 2000). Many others restrict their account of