Osam Mountain Hill - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden also known as Sakkarbaug Zoo or Junagadh Zoo is an 84-hectare zoo that opened in 1863 at Junagadh, Gujarat, India. The zoo provides purebred Asiatic lions for the Indian and the international endangered species captive breeding program for the critically endangered species. Wild free-ranging Asiatic lions have become extinct over most of Asia and are today found only in the nearby Gir Forest. It is the second oldest zoo in India and the fourth-biggest zoo in India.

Buddhist Caves of Khapra Kodiya are part of the Junagadh Buddhist Cave Group. They are the oldest of the caves in the group. The caves, on the basis of scribbles and short cursive letters on the wall, are dated to 3rd-4th century BCE during the Emperor Ashoka’s rule and are the plainest of all the caves in the groups

The magnificent fort of Upperkot is said to be built by Chandragupta Maurya in 319 BC and continued to be used during the Gupta period. The fort lost its importance when the capital of the Saurashtra region was moved from Junagadh to Vallabhi by Maitrakas and was abandoned for 300 years. Later it was rediscovered and rebuilt with all the updated requirements during 976 AD by Rah Grahar of the Chudasama dynasty and later it came under the rule of Mughals in 1473 CE.

Baba pyare caves are an example of ancient man-made caverns. The caves are a part of the Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups situated in the eastern part of Junagadh of the Indian state of Gujarat. Bava Pyara caves contains artworks of both Buddhism and Jainism.

On the way to Girnar Hill, one will see a huge white colour building that houses fourteen edicts of Emperor Ashoka. The edicts are dating back to 250 BC and were re-discovered by James Todd. Edicts exhibited in the building are carved out of large granite stones with inscriptions written on it in ancient languages like Pali and Brahmi. Inscriptions on the stones tell about the philosophy of Ashok-respect for all religions, developing a positive attitude.

Damodar kund is one of the sacred lakes as per Hindu beliefs, which is located at the foothills of Girnar hills, near Junagadh. It is considered holy, as per Hindu mythology and many Hindus prefer to bathe and immerse the ashes and the bones left after cremation of dead bodies, here at Damodar Kund due to a belief that the departed souls would get moksha here.