Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Medieval, Uparkot "Upper" Fort
Uparkot Fort (Upper Fort) was built in the 9th, 11th, 15th and 17th centuries. Famous for
its virtual inaccessibility, thanks to its location on a small plateau, and wall which, in some
places, is over 20 meters/65 feet high. That is just the
outer
walls that surround Uparkot
Fort and extend for 5 kms/3.1 miles. There are also inner fort walls that added to its im-
pregnability. Junagadh, and Uparkot Fort, was first abandoned in the 7th century, and wasn't
rediscovered until the 10th century.
Parked at the top, we walked through the ornate entrance and over to the "pushing window"
(seen from below); capital punishment took place here, pushing the condemned person to
their death.
Two, large cannons in the courtyard, named the “Neelam” and “Manek” guns, were used
to expel the Portuguese in 1538. These
Nilamtopes
(cannon) were acquired by the Nawab of
Junagadh from a Turkish Sultan, an ally at the time. The cannons face the abandoned ruined
palace of Rani Ranakdevi that was converted into a mosque (
Masjid
) in 1473.
There isn't much to see among the still beautiful ruins except to admire the roof with
its three, octagonal openings, and 140 pillars. Underground tunnels led from the palace into
town so rulers could "run away to fight another day." Curious about circles on ceiling beams
throughout the ruined palace/mosque, I was told they are powerful Hindu sun symbols. (The
entire description, and details can be found in my video on YouTube.com) We finished our
inside walk just in time as school buses pulled up, disgorging their little passengers on a
field trip. One, darling little boy asked Steve if he was
"a foreigner”!
A small, ruined mosque stood outside the palace with graves of holy. A brief look before
walking over to the step wells, and Buddhist caves, still within the fort.
