Bahauddin College Building (Bahauddinbhai Vajir Building), Junagadh
Somnath, Gujarat · monument
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
In the old heart of Junagadh, a short walk from the celebrated Mahabat Maqbara, the Bahauddin College Building rises like a stone confection of the late nineteenth century — a giddy, exuberant essay in the Indo-Saracenic style that fused European Gothic bones with Mughal and Rajput ornament. Commissioned during the era of the Junagadh princely state and named after Bahauddinbhai Hasainbhai, the state's vazir (chief minister), the building is generally dated to 1897 and remains one of Saurashtra's most photographed heritage structures. It was conceived as a college, and — remarkably — it still is one, housing the Bahauddin Arts College, so the corridors that carry generations of students today are the same ones that gave the pile its purpose from the start.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Pure-veg Gujarati and Kathiyawadi thali restaurants around Kalwa Chowk
- ✦Pure-veg farsan and jalebi shops in the old-city bazaar
- ✦Pure-veg pilgrim bhojanalayas along the Girnar road
About
In the old heart of Junagadh, a short walk from the celebrated Mahabat Maqbara, the Bahauddin College Building rises like a stone confection of the late nineteenth century — a giddy, exuberant essay in the Indo-Saracenic style that fused European Gothic bones with Mughal and Rajput ornament.
- Commissioned during the era of the Junagadh princely state and named after Bahauddinbhai Hasainbhai, the state's vazir (chief minister), the building is generally dated to 1897 and remains one of Saurashtra's most photographed heritage structures.
- It was conceived as a college, and — remarkably — it still is one, housing the Bahauddin Arts College, so the corridors that carry generations of students today are the same ones that gave the pile its purpose from the start.
- Architecturally it is a riot of intent.
- Onion domes and slender minaret-like turrets crown a symmetrical facade; horseshoe and pointed arches march across arcaded verandahs; carved brackets, foliate bands and lattice-work screens (jaali) soften the stone.
- The pale local sandstone catches the Kathiawar light beautifully, especially in the low gold of early morning and late afternoon, when the domes throw long shadows across the forecourt.
- Look for the layered silhouette against the sky — it is the shot every visitor comes for.
- Because it is a functioning academic institution, interiors are not a tourist circuit; travellers admire the exterior and the grounds, and it pairs naturally with the neighbouring royal mausolea and Uparkot Fort on a half-day amble through Junagadh's historic quarter.
- Treat it as living heritage: photograph from the public forecourt, keep noise down during college hours, and let students go about their day.
- For a meal, stay with Junagadh's dependable pure-vegetarian tradition.
- Pure-veg Gujarati and Kathiyawadi thali houses around Kalwa Chowk and the old-city bazaar serve unlimited thalis — rotli, shaak, dal, kadhi, rice, chaas and jaggery — alongside farsan counters selling fafda, ganthiya, dhokla and hot jalebi.
- Simple pure-veg lodges and bhojanalayas along the Girnar road cater to pilgrims, and street stalls near the market fry ghughra and gota through the day.
- Ask specifically for a pure-veg (shakahari) kitchen, easy to find across this temple-town belt.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Bahauddin Arts College, near Mahabat Maqbara, Chittakhana Chowk area, Old City, Somnath, Gujarat, 362001
How to Reach: Junagadh is well connected by rail and road across Saurashtra; the building sits in the old city, roughly 2 km from Junagadh Junction railway station. Local autos and taxis reach it easily, and it is walkable from the Mahabat Maqbara and Uparkot Fort heritage cluster.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bahauddin College Building known for?
It is one of Gujarat's most ornate Indo-Saracenic buildings — a symmetrical facade crowned with onion domes, turrets, arches and carved stonework — built in 1897 during the Junagadh princely state and still functioning as the Bahauddin Arts College.
Who was it named after?
It is named after Bahauddinbhai Hasainbhai, the vazir (chief minister) of the Junagadh state, who is credited with its founding in the late nineteenth century.
Can tourists go inside?
It is an active arts college, so interiors are not a tourist circuit. Visitors admire and photograph the exterior from the public forecourt; please keep quiet during college hours and let students go about their day.
What else is nearby?
It sits in Junagadh's historic quarter beside the Mahabat Maqbara royal mausolea and within easy reach of Uparkot Fort, making an easy half-day heritage walk through the old city.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near the Bahauddin College Building?
Junagadh's old city is full of pure-vegetarian options. Look for pure-veg Gujarati and Kathiyawadi thali houses around Kalwa Chowk and the bazaar, plus farsan counters selling fafda, dhokla and jalebi. Ask for a pure-veg (shakahari) kitchen, which is the norm across this temple-town belt.
Categories