Darbar Hall Museum
Tuesday, 06 October 2009 03:47
Durbar Hall Museum |
About: |
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The Darbar Hall Museum is one of the most important museums in Gujarat, located within the majestic Darbargadh Palace in Junagadh. The museum showcases a wide array of royal artifacts, weapons, textiles, and items that belonged to the Nawabs of Junagadh. It is a treasure trove for history and art enthusiasts, giving visitors a glimpse into the princely past of the region. The Durbar Hall Museum displays exciting collections of weapons and armor, belonging to the period of the Junagarh Nawabs along with other interesting curios and artifacts. The Museum also displays silver chains, chandeliers, settees, thrones, palanquins, howdahs, cushions, gowns and a large carpet that was woven in the Junagarh jail. The collections of the museum takes one back to the period of the Nawabs of Junagadh. The museum houses Royal furniture, silver-plated throne, silver chair and silk carpets. Different types of zummers, mirrors, silver objects, oil paintings, miniature paintings, photographs, palanquins, arms, albums, huge chandeliers, royal armory, portraits and golden ornaments are also preserved in the museum.  Weapons, arms, war items, gold and silver items, jewelry, paintings on big as well as small canvases, palanquins, howdahs adorn the Durbar Hall Museum. Rich ornamental carpets, intricately designed silver thrones, beautiful chandeliers speak of the tastes of the then Nawabs of Junagadh. One of the most precious possessions of the Durbar Hall Museum, Junagadh is the silver plated howdah decorated most ostensibly with silver mermaids at four corners and a tiger made out of silver posing to protect the rich velvet seats. |
Location info: |
| State:Gujarat,India |
| District: Junagadh |
| Address: Darbargadh Palace Complex, Junagadh, Gujarat. |
| Language: Gujarati, Hindi. |
| Best time to visit: October to March |
Climate/Weather: |
| Summer: Hot, with temperatures ranging from 28°C to 38°C (March to June) Monsoon: Receives moderate rainfall, making the climate pleasant (July to September) Winter: Cool and enjoyable, with temperatures between 15°C and 25°C (October to February) |
History: |
| The Darbar Hall Museum was once the hall of the royal court where the Nawabs of Junagadh held meetings and public audiences. The museum, housed in the Darbargadh Palace, was established to preserve and display the opulent lifestyle of the Nawabs. It contains a remarkable collection of artifacts, including palanquins, furniture, weapons, and gifts received by the Nawabs, providing insight into Junagadh’s royal past. |
Interesting things to do: |
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Explore Royal Artifacts: Admire Antique Weaponry: Visit the Picture Gallery: Walk through History: |
Interesting things to Visit: |
| Junagadh Fort (Uparkot Fort): An ancient fort located nearby, known for its historical significance and grand architecture Mahabat Maqbara: A unique, ornate mausoleum built by the Nawabs, showcasing a blend of Indian, Islamic, and Gothic architecture. Girnar Hill: Ashoka’s Rock Edicts: Concrete historical pages since 875 A.D say that the Uperkot Fort had served as the capital to 20 rulers of the following dynasties: Maurya, Gupta, Mandlik, Mahipal, Khengar and Navghan, sustaining 16 assaults, the last one being in 1784 all with little success though. Further down, the fort has been put to use by the British as military quarters for the country till year 1947. |
Mobile range info: |
| Good mobile connectivity is available in and around the museum, with coverage by most major telecom networks. |
How to reach? |
| By Air: The nearest airport is Rajkot Airport, approximately 105 km from Junagadh. |
| Nearest Airport:Keshod 37 km & Rajkot 99 km,connected to Mumbai airport |
| Road Transport:State connect Junagarh with Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad 321 km, Gir, Rajkot 101 km , Bhuj, Dwarka, Somnath, Palitana, Surat, Vadodara, Porbandar 113 km . Taxis, Auto-rickshaws, Tongas & City Bus services are available for local transport. |
Nearest Visiting places: |
| Gir National Park: Home to the Asiatic Lions, located about 60 km from Junagadh. Somnath Temple: One of the 12 Jyotirlingas, around 90 km from Junagadh. Sakkarbaug Zoo: Somnath temple : |
Nearest Petrol Pump: |
| The nearest petrol pumps are located within Junagadh city, around 2-5 km from the museum. |
Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation: |
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Hotel Platinum: A modern hotel in Junagadh offering comfortable stays. Hotel Shikhar Palace:Shikhar Complex,Jayshree Road,Kalwa Chowk,Junagadh,Gujarat,Ph:0285 2626596 |
Things to carry: |
| Comfortable shoes for walking around the museum. Water bottle and light snacks. Camera for photography (check museum policies on photography). A hat and sunscreen for exploring nearby outdoor attractions. Some cash for entry fees and local purchases, as digital payments may not be widely accepted in all areas. |
Tips & Suggestions: |
| Allocate at least 2-3 hours to fully explore the museum and nearby attractions. Photography might be restricted inside the museum; inquire at the entrance. The best time to visit is during the winter months (October to February) for pleasant weather. Respect the historical artifacts and follow museum rules. |
Help Line/Phone Number: |
| Police Station:100 |
| Tourist Helpline: 1800-233-9008 (Gujarat Tourism) |
| Society/Community Phone Number: |
| Links: www.mapsofindia.com www.gujaratholiday.com |
Video
Dynamic View
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| Somnath Temple |
| Somnath of Prabhas Pattana, situated on the southern coast of Saurastra, in the province of Sorath, now known as Jungadh in the state of Gujarat, holds the prestigious temple of Sri Someshwar, which is supposed to have witnessed the dawn of time. The present temple is an imposing structure: its imposing exterior is adorned with marvellous sculpture; it has a grand sabha mandap in front; its shikhara measures 155 feet. The jyotirlinga installed on the Brahmasila is about four feet in height and is adorned with spectacular sandal paste decorations, a novelty here. There are hundreds of priests in the service of the Lord, attending to His needs, round the clock....more |
| Ahmedpur Mandvi Beach |
| Mandvi is one of the finest beaches on the Gujarat shoreline. The beach is white and firm, ideal for walks, and the water perfect for swimming. Seemingly unending, with sands ideal for astle building by kids, and shallow waters for a wading, this is a great spot for a family holiday. A variety of water sports like water scooters, skiing, surfing, para sailing, speed boat trips are on offer. Cottage Resort Magico Do Mar is one of the highlight of this beach offering air-conditioned rooms, pleasant lawns, palm groves. The resort bungalow facing garden towards sea offers wonderful sight which should not be missed.When you've had enough of lazing in the sun and are ready for some action and fun, you can participate in any of the numerous beach activities offered on the beautiful Indian beaches!For instance, you could indulge in any of the exciting water sports such as surfing or parasailing, or go swimming in the clear blue sea, or even try your hand at building a sand castle or playing a game of beach volleyball...more |
| Chorwad Beach |
| A visit to Chorwad Beach in Gujarat, India, offers ample of opportunity to the tourists to know about the ins and outs of the Chorwad Beach in Gujarat, India. Chorwad Beach in Gujarat, India is yet another beautiful and scenic spot which if marketed well can figure high in the itinerary of the domestic and international tourists. Chorwad Beach is an interesting and alluring amalgamation of rocky crags and bowlderish seafront along with jaunty boat rides across the Chorwad seafront and to cap it all with opportunities to visit Porbandar and Somnath and other nearby beach destinations and other travel destinations worth their salt in terms of beauty and ambience....more |
| Madhavpur Beach |
| Madhavpur is a small town located 60 kms southwest of historic town Porbandar. Madhvapur Beach is one of the beautiful sandy beaches in Gujarat. Beautiful sandy beaches lined here with coconut trees.It is believed that Lord Krishna had married Rukmini in Madhavpur. The Legend is kept alive by holding a fair on Chaitra Sud 12 every year. There is also a Bethak of Mahaprabhuji as Shri Vallabhachrya who had given discourse on Shrimad Bhagwat for seven days here.Madhavpur beach, which made news recently for Tropex-2009 military exercise, has another claim to fame. It is home to a two-decade long conservation project of Green Sea and Olive Ridley turtles: both endangered marine species included in Schedule-1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.According to the Forest department, over 10,000 baby turtles have been safely released in the Arabian Sea this year.Ever since the conservation work began nearly 20 years ago, around 2 lakh baby turtles have been released into the sea.....more |
| Uperkot Fort |
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The state of Gujarat boasts of a number of historical Forts and monuments in
Junagadh. Built and rebuilt repeatedly the Uperkot Fort, Junagadh one of the
two fortifications of the city, has of late become one of the main Tourist
attractions in Junagadh. Adding to the advantage of the fort being less
thronged has helped it retain the ethnicity without losing any bit of its
charm.The fort has many interesting exhibits like the two guns placed on the
western wall and believed to have been cast in Egypt. The bigger one is
called the Nilamtope and the other one is known as Kadanal. In and around
the fort one can find several Buddhist caves...more
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| Mahabat Maqbara |
| The Mahabat Maqbara in a Junagadh city,The etymological meaning of Junagadh is "old Fort". It is located in the state of Gujarat in the laps of the sacred hills of Girnar in Saurashtra. Amongst the various forts and monuments in Junagadh, one of the major Tourist attractions in Junagadh, the Mahabat Maqbara, Junagadh is an exquisite exhibition of the nineteenth century art and architecture.The yellow mausoleum, Mahabat Maqbara, Junagadh, is a masterpiece of it own kind. The uniqueness of the affluence of silver at the portals teemed with intricate carvings and the winding staircase encircling the four minarets attract a lot of tourists to its site.....more |
| Ashokan Edicts |
| Ashokan Rock edicts are situated at Lat. 210 31 N; Long 700 28 E. The Rock edicts of Emperor Ashokan were engraved on a granite boulder on the slope of Girinagara or Urjayata Hill. On the eastern face of it was engraved 14 Rock edicts by Ashoka and later epigraphs of Mahakshatrapa Rudradaman I and Skandagupta were also recorded on it, the Rock edict was first reported by James Todd in 1822. The other two epigraphs have a common purpose, which was recording the history of the breaking of dams of Sudarshan Lake occurring because of the turbulent storm waters of river Suvarna Sikta and Palasini rushing down the hill slopes.....more |
| Zoo Museum-Junagadh |
| Junagadh Zoo is famous around the world for the Asiatic Lions it boasts of. The zoo is also known as Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden. A trip to Junagadh would remain incomplete without a visit to the Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden.The Junagadh Zoo was built in 1863 by the then Nawab. Incidentally, the zoo is the oldest one in Gujarat. He had set up this zoo in order to save the Asiatic Lion from extinction. Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden is located at around 3.5 km from the center of the city. The zoo is open on all days of the week from 9 in the morning to 6 in the evening. Entry fee to this zoo is Rs 3. Junagadh Zoo is home to 71 species of animals. According to latest reports, there are around 850 animals in the zoo.....more |
| Girnar Hill |
| Girnar is one of the holiest places in Gujarat situated near Junagadh at a distance of 327 from Ahmedabad. It is a holy place and an important pilgrimage for both Hindus and Jains. There are a number of temples located here, which have converted it into a township of temples. Amidst the lush green Gir Forest, the mountain range serves as the hub of religious activity. Apart from this, there is a mosque attracting many Muslim pilgrims to the place. This has made Girnar a perfect example of unity in diversity in India.The tallest of these rises to 945 meters 3600 feet, the highest peak in Gujarat. The first peak of Girnar has a collection of Digambar and Shwetamber temples....more |
| Bhavnath Fair |
| A visit to Tourism of Gujarat, offers a golden opportunity to the tourist to undertake a tour across Gujarat and also to the bright and charming Bhavnath fair, being celebrated in Gujarat, India. Tourism of Gujarat, offers travel related information that Bhavnath fair in Gujarat, India, is home to a multitude of tourists and devotees who throng the location to be part of the mammoth experience. Bhavnath Fair, in Gujarat, India, is held in Junagadh, annually, with the fair coinciding with the grandiose and very famous festival of Shivratri, being celebrated in the same month as the Bhavnath fair of Junagadh, in Gujarat, India. Bhavnath fair, is dedicated to Lord Shiva and a lot of revelry goes on in the Shiva temples and along with that the temples are visited by Naga Sadhus, and watching them is a novel and enigmatic experience....more |
| Madhavpur Fair |
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A visit to Tourism of Gujarat, takes the interested tourist on a journey
across the length and breadth of Gujarat, situated in India, so that a
selective screening of the charms of Madhavpur fair can take place. Tourism
of Gujarat, offers travel related information about the grand and colorful
Madhavpur Fair, in Gujarat, India. Madhavpur Fair being held in Gujarat,
India, is actually held in Madhavpur which is a small town located near the
legendary and historic town of Porbandar, situated in Gujarat, India. Madhavpur, situated in Gujarat, India, otherwise is a sleepy, silent town, which comes to life when the stirrings of the grand Madhavpur Fair, being held in Madhavpur, Gujarat, India, wake it up from its deep slumber.....more |
| Jamvada waterfall |
| ....more |
| Gira Waterfall |
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| Gir Forest National Park |
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| Bhadar river |
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