Wooden benches called paata stand in the chowks of the old walled city, and by afternoon neighbors gather on them to swap news, read the papers and play cards. Around them rise the carved red sandstone havelis of the old merchant families.
Beyond the lanes, Junagarh Fort sits right on the plain, ringed by walls and a moat, and a short drive south the Karni Mata temple shelters thousands of holy rats. Between stops there is always time for bhujia, the crunchy local snack. Summers are scorching, winter nights turn chilly and rain is rare. A Local Friend walks the lanes at your side, matching your steps and stopping wherever a bench looks inviting.
