Uparkot Fort
ઉપરકોટ
A fort more than two thousand years old on a hill east of the city, with Buddhist caves, a stepwell, a mosque and ancient cannons, and sweeping views over the whole city.
Uparkot Fort is said to have been first built in the 4th century BCE, during the Mauryan Empire, and it survived many sieges. From the high walls you can see Girnar Mountain in the distance. The fort's attractions are concentrated in one area: Buddhist caves, the Adi Kadi Stepwell, the Navghan Well, and the Jama Mosque, which was converted from a Hindu temple. There are also two enormous Egyptian bronze cannons. In recent years the site has undergone extensive restoration, with new walkways and a light show added. Tickets are priced for locals, and foreign visitors pay a little more. It takes about 10 minutes by auto-rickshaw from the city centre, and a visit usually takes 2–3 hours.
Opening hours
Approx. 06:00–18:00 (check on site)
Nearby sights
- Navghan Kuvo
- Uparkot Buddhist Caves
- Adi Kadi Vav
- Khapra Kodiya Caves
- Ashokan Rock Edicts
- Mahabat Maqbara
- Damodar Kund
- Sakkarbaug Zoo