Uparkot Fort stands in the Girnar hills of Junagadh, Gujarat, offering a beautiful view of the city. People believe Chandragupta Maurya built it in 319 BC. The fort is well known for its rich history and cultural significance.
“Its massive walls rise up to 200 meters, showing how strongly the builders designed it to defend against enemies.”
Attractions Inside the Uparkort Fort
“Historians and locals recognise Uparkot fort for its ancient Buddhist caves, which date back centuries.” Inside the fort, you’ll find two famous stepwells—Adi Kadi Vav and Navghan Kuvo—both admired for their unique design.
You’ll also see two large cannons, Neelam and Manek, once used in old battles.
History of The Fort
If we look at the history of Uparkot Fort, many rulers, including Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka the Great, the Shakas, and the Mughal kings, ruled over it. It was a symbol of power until the 7th century during the Maitraka rule. It is said that the king of Maitraka ordered that this fort should be transferred from Junagadh to Valabhi.
A woodcutter rediscovered the fort in the 10th century. According to local legend, one day he walked through the forest and came across a huge stone wall and a gate.
A holy man was sitting near the Uparkot Fort when the woodcutter approached him and asked about the place. The holy man replied that the name of the place was “Juna,” meaning old. The woodcutter immediately went to the Chudasama ruler, King Graharipu, and told him about the ancient site. Some say Graharipu discovered the fort, while others believe he built it, and later, King Navaghana rediscovered it after it had been abandoned.
The Chudasamas ruled the place for 5 centuries, but Mehmud Begada of the Gujarat Sultanate defeated the last king of the royal family. He claimed the place and renamed it Mustafabad. The Mughals took control of the region for about two centuries.
But in 1807 BC, the British took full control of the palace and region. Finally, in 1818 CE, the East India Company took full control of the palace.
Capturing Of The Uparkot Fort
According to the stories, enemies captured the Uparkot fort around 16 times, with one siege lasting 12 years. This specific attack stemmed from the rivalry between Ra Khanger, the king of the fort, and Solanki King Siddhraj Jaysingh. Siddhraj Jaysingh wanted to marry Rani Ranakdevi, who was the wife of King Ra Khanger.
King Siddhraj Jaisingh once announced the battle because he wanted Rani Ranakdevi. he then defeated and killed Ra Khanger with his two sons and captured the fort.
When Rani Ranakdevi got to know about the death of her husband, she gave up on her life in her husband’s funeral fire, because she did not want to be captured by Siddhraj Jaysingh.
People also say that while dying, Rani Ranakdevi cursed Siddhraj to die childless, and they believe her curse came true.
The Sacrifice Of Two Slave Girls
Local stories say that when workers dug the Adi Kadi well, they found no sign of water despite their hard work. When the king learned about this, he called a priest. The priest suggested that water would appear only if they sacrificed two unmarried girls. According to the legend, two slave girls agreed to give their lives to please the water god. After their sacrifice, water filled the stepwell, and people named it Adi Kadi Vav in their honor.
Uparkot Fort Paranormal Activities
People now believe the fort is haunted because of its violent and bloody past. Its long history of battles and captures adds to its eerie reputation. Many say that the souls of the soldiers who died there still remain trapped inside the Uparkot Fort.
Visitors to the fort have reported hearing strange sounds, such as the clashing of swords or the wailing of someone from a distance. Some people also reported the feeling of discomfort and uneasiness if someone unknown were always around them, especially in the darker areas of the fort.
Final Words
Uparkot fort is today a well-known tourist place, for its rich history and architecture. The fort’s location is so amazing that it gives a full view of the city. But because of its scary past that it still haunts the place. The pain was still felt in the air.
Uparkot fort is a mixture of beautiful architecture, the Buddhist caves,stepwells, and many legendary stories, which makes this place even more special yet scary.
If you want to know more about the mysterious stories, like the Uparkort fort, Gujarat. Then stay tuned with The Unheard Stories
