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HERITAGE · NAWABI MUSEUMDurbar Hall Museum
The royal Durbar Hall of the Nawabs of Junagadh — a museum of thrones, chandeliers, weapons and regal portraits that preserves the splendour of the princely court.
The court of the Nawabs
Set within the old palace of the Nawabs of Junagadh, the Durbar Hall Museum preserves the regal world of the princely state. Its centrepiece is the durbar (audience) hall itself, glittering with grand chandeliers, ornate furniture, plush carpets and the silver and gilded thrones from which the Nawabs once held court. Around it, galleries display royal weaponry and armour, palanquins and elephant howdahs, textiles and costumes, portraits of the rulers and personal memorabilia of the court.
It is an intimate window into the wealth, ceremony and daily life of Junagadh in its heyday. For visitors, the museum makes a fine complement to the Mahabat Maqbara and Uparkot, completing the picture of Nawabi Junagadh — the human, courtly story behind the city’s great monuments. (The image shown here is an illustrated emblem.)
Illustration — the royal durbar hall.
From a riverside experiment to the road to freedom
Illustration — thrones and chandeliers.
The Nawabs rule the state from their palace.
The audience hall hosts the court's ceremony.
Thrones, weapons, howdahs and portraits accrue.
The hall and collection form a state museum.
Reasons to make the time
Royal thrones
Silver and gilded seats of state.
Chandeliers
A glittering durbar hall.
Howdahs
Ornate elephant seats.
Arms & armour
The court's weaponry.
Portraits
The Nawabs and their world.
Completes the story
Pairs with Maqbara & Uparkot.
What to look for inside
Durbar splendour
Thrones and chandeliers.
Royal collection
Weapons, howdahs, textiles.
How to spend an hour or two
Enter the durbar
See the audience hall and thrones.
Admire chandeliers
Look up at the glittering lights.
See the howdahs
Ornate elephant seats await.
Browse the arms
Royal weapons and armour.
Study the portraits
Meet the Nawabs in paint.
Pair with the city
Continue to Maqbara and Uparkot.
Illustration — a Nawabi durbar.
A glittering audience hall
The heart of the museum is the durbar hall itself: a high, ornate audience chamber hung with chandeliers, spread with royal carpets and furnished with the thrones and ceremonial seats of the Nawabs. Display cases and adjoining galleries, set within the old palace rooms, hold the rest of the collection.
The architecture is that of a 19th-century princely palace — grand but human-scaled — designed to impress visiting dignitaries and stage the ceremony of the court. (Shown here as an illustrated emblem.)
Ornate durbar audience hall
Silver & gilded thrones
Grand chandeliers & carpets
Palace galleries of regalia
When to go
Cool and clear — ideal for the zoo, fort and Girnar.
Girnar turns lush green; the city is fresh.
Hot — sightsee early; Kesar mango season.
⏰ Allow an hour; it's usually closed on Wednesdays, so plan your Junagadh sightseeing around that.
Timings & entry
- Open daytime; usually closed Wednesdays
- Photography rules vary — check inside
- Allow about an hour
- Pair it with the nearby monuments
- A modest museum ticket is charged
- Cameras may carry an extra charge
- Do not touch the exhibits
- Combine it with Maqbara and Uparkot
Getting there
By Air
Keshod Airport (~40 km) is nearest.
By Rail
Junagadh station is a short ride away.
On Foot
In the old city, near the palace area.
At the museum
THRONE & LIGHT
The glitter of a princely court
What to shoot
The durbar hall and thrones (if allowed).
Detail
Chandeliers, carpets and howdahs.
Portraits
The Nawabs and their regalia.
Check rules
Photography may be restricted.
Know before you go
More to see close by
Girnar Sanctuary
Forested slopes of leopards, deer & raptors
Willingdon Dam
A birdy reservoir beneath the massif
Narsinh Mehta no Choro
Where Gujarat's poet-saint sang his bhajans
Uparkot Fort
Ancient citadel with stepwells, caves & cannons
Mahabat Maqbara
A fantastical Indo-Islamic royal mausoleum
Gir’s Edge
Lion-country safaris begin just south of the city
Where to eat around the ashram
Kathiawadi Thali
Rotla, kadhi, shaak and ghee-rich fare.
Ganthiya & farsan
Saurashtra's beloved fried snacks.
Chaat & kachori
Bustling old-city bazaar bites.
Kesar mangoes
Junagadh's Girnar-grown Kesar mango is famed (summer).
Durbar Hall Museum FAQ
What is the Durbar Hall Museum?
A museum in the old palace of the Nawabs of Junagadh, centred on the royal durbar hall.
What's on display?
Thrones, chandeliers, howdahs, weapons, textiles and royal portraits.
Is there an entry fee?
Yes, a small ticket; it's usually closed on Wednesdays.
Where is it?
In the old city of Junagadh, near the palace area.
How long should I spend?
About an hour.
Can I take photos?
Photography rules vary — check on site.
What's nearby?
Mahabat Maqbara and Uparkot Fort.
Why visit?
It reveals the courtly, human side of Nawabi Junagadh.
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