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STEPWELL · ANCIENT WELLNavghan Kuvo
A breathtaking ancient stepwell in Uparkot Fort — a staircase spiralling down through the rock around a deep circular shaft to the water far below.
A spiral into the earth
Also hidden within Uparkot Fort, the Navghan Kuvo is even older and more spectacular than the Adi Kadi Vav. Here a remarkable staircase spirals down through the living rock, curving around a deep circular well-shaft that plunges some fifty metres or more to the water table.
Believed to date back well over a thousand years — and linked in name to the Chudasama ruler Ra’ Navghan — it was a masterful piece of ancient engineering, designed to give the fort a protected, year-round water supply able to withstand prolonged siege.
Descending its worn, dimly lit spiral — the rock close on either side, the great shaft falling away beside you — is an unforgettable, slightly vertiginous experience, and a testament to the ingenuity of Junagadh’s early builders.
The spiral rock-cut Navghan Kuvo.
From a riverside experiment to the road to freedom
A spiral shaft over a millennium old.
The spiral well is cut deep into the fort's rock.
Its name links to the Chudasama ruler.
It secures siege-proof water for Uparkot.
One of India's most striking ancient stepwells.
Reasons to make the time
Spiral stair
Winds down around the shaft.
Rock-cut
Carved from the living rock.
50 m+ deep
A plunging circular well.
Ancient
Over a thousand years old.
Siege water
The fort's hidden lifeline.
Inside Uparkot
Part of the great citadel.
What to look for inside
Winding stair
Curving down the shaft.
Deep shaft
Water far below.
How to spend an hour or two
Find it in the fort
It lies within Uparkot's walls.
Descend the spiral
Wind down around the shaft.
Peer down the well
See the deep circular shaft.
Feel the age
Over a millennium of history.
Mind the dark
Steps are dim and worn.
Pair with Adi Kadi
See the other vav nearby.
A spiral cut to the water table.
A corkscrew through the rock
Navghan Kuvo is an engineering marvel of its age: rather than a straight descent, its builders cut a spiralling staircase that winds around the outside of a deep circular shaft sunk into the rock, allowing people to walk all the way down to the water even as the level fell.
Largely unadorned, its drama lies in form and depth — the corkscrew of worn steps, the dim light filtering down, and the great void of the shaft dropping fifty metres and more beside you. It secured Uparkot’s water for centuries.
Spiral rock-cut staircase
~50 m+ circular shaft
Ancient siege water source
Carved from living rock
When to go
Cool and clear — ideal for the fort and its stepwells.
Lush surrounds; stepwell steps can be slippery.
Hot above — but the rock-cut depths stay cool.
⏰ See it with the Adi Kadi Vav and Buddhist caves; tread carefully on the dim, worn spiral steps.
Timings & entry
- Open during Uparkot Fort hours
- Reached on the fort visit
- The spiral is dim — step carefully
- Allow about 30 minutes
- Covered by the Uparkot Fort ticket
- Hold the rail on the spiral steps
- Mind the depth and low light
- See it with Adi Kadi Vav nearby
Getting there
By Air
Keshod Airport (~40 km) is nearest.
By Rail
Junagadh station is a short ride away.
In the Fort
Inside Uparkot, central Junagadh.
Shooting the well
SPIRAL & SHAFT
A corkscrew descent into shadow
What to shoot
The spiralling staircase.
The shaft
The deep circular well.
Light
Daylight fading down the spiral.
Angle
Shoot down the curve for drama.
Know before you go
More to see close by
Junagadh Old City
Bazaars, gateways & the Nawabi quarter
Willingdon Dam
A scenic reservoir beneath Girnar's peaks
Dattatreya Temple
The first Jyotirlinga, a short drive south
Narsinh Mehta no Choro
Where Gujarat's poet-saint sang his bhajans
Girnar
~9,999 steps to cliff-top Jain & Hindu temples
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).
Navghan Kuvo FAQ
What is Navghan Kuvo?
An ancient spiral rock-cut stepwell inside Uparkot Fort, over a thousand years old.
Why is it special?
Its staircase spirals down around a deep circular shaft cut into the rock.
How deep is it?
Around 50 metres or more to the water table.
Who is it named after?
The Chudasama ruler Ra' Navghan.
Where is it?
Within Uparkot Fort in Junagadh.
Is there a separate fee?
It's covered by the Uparkot Fort ticket.
Is it safe?
Yes, with care — the spiral is dim and the steps worn.
What's nearby?
The Adi Kadi Vav and the Buddhist caves.
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