BHUJ CITY

Ahmedabad Anand Bharuch Bhuj Baroda Bhavnagar Dwarka Gandhidham Junagadh Kutch Palitana Porbandar Saputara Surat Siddhpur Rajkot

        Bhuj, a flourishing walled city is the most important town in the area. It is a paradise of handicrafts and lifestyle lovers. There are villages rich in craft and culture. The houses are decorated both from the outside and inside with linear reliefs made of mud and mirrors. Tourist can also observe both the processes. Embroidery, though, is the most sought after handicrafts.

Places to visit

AINA MAHAL PALACE
        It was in the 18th century that Rao Lakhpatji (1741-1760) commissioned Ramsingh Malam to construct Aina Mahal with its hall of mirrors of venetian glass. He sent a local craftsman Ramsingh Malam to Europe to perfect his skills in glassmaking and ironfounding.

        He created this Hall of mirror that has white marble walls covered with mirrors and gilded ornaments and the floor is a pleasure pool lined with tiles, with a platform above it surrounded by a series of fountains operated by an elaborated system of pumps below a Venetian chandelier.

CENOTAPHS COMPLEX
         A popular site is the Cenotaphs Complex or Chattardi. These are built of red stones. These tombs were ruined by the successive earthquakes since 1819. Of these, the one built for Rao Lakha in 1770, is the largest and finest. It is polygonal in shape, with balconies and an intricately carved roof. Other impressive Cenotaphs are the ones built for Rao Rayadhan, Rao Desai and Rao Pragmal. Essentially the cenotaphs served as memorial grounds for the royal family.

LAKHPAT
         Lakhpat is located north-west of Bhuj at a distance of 170 km. The only access to it is by road. It is an abandoned town. At one time Lakhpat was a prosperous port yielding one lac koris, hence probably the name Lakhpat. (Lac means 1,00,000 and kori was a Kutch monetary unit).

        However, this period was short-lived, since after the Indus changed its course, the port dried up. It is now a barren plain of limestone rock. The sea is still quite close. Almost 50 years ago, the town was home to hundreds of families involved in fishing and manual labour. Over the years, it emptied out with most people leaving in search of more lucrative employment opprotunities.

        Lakhpat is surrounded by a fort, an irregular polygon, defended by round towers. The walls are of considerable height. It is not only the architecture but the stark loneliness and a vast view of deserted, crumbling houses which make Lakhpat a rare spectacle. There is a mausoleum.

        It is dedicated to the local family, whose ancestors were known to have super-natural powers. The tomb is made of black stone, with four arched doors, its outer walls are decorated with floral motifs. The inside walls are engraved with passages from the koran. In addition to this, there are gurudwara (a Sikh place of worship) and a number of temples.

KERA
        Kera finds a place on the tourist map mainly due to the 10th century Shiva temple. In its original form it must have been extremely beautiful as suggested by what little remains at present. It was damaged in the earthquake of 1819.

KOTESHWAR
        An ancient pilgrim centre, Koteshwar is located at a short distance from Narayan Sarovar & 215 Kms. from Bhuj. The existing temple is situated on a high plinth overlooking the sea. It is an excellent, breathtaking sunset point.

MANDVI
        Founded in 1581 AD, Mandvi has a fortification with 25 bastions and is a well known centre for the production of the country crafts. It lies southwest from the city of Bhuj. It once resounded to the bustle of shipyards where Rao Godji (1760-78) built and maintained a fleet of four hundred ocean-going vessels, including one that sailed to England and back in 1760.

        Mandvi is also well-known for its beautiful sea beach, calm and clean accompanied by a shallow run of sand, free from gravel. It is a safe beach for swimming.

MUSEUMS
        Bhuj has two museums, the Aina Mahal and Kutch Museum. Maharao Madansinh founded the Aina Mahal museum in 1977, and it houses a collection of miniature paintings, wood carving and glassworks of art. The museum itself is a period room of 16-17th century. It also houses the royal households, clothes and jewellery. The hunting trophies are housed in pragmahal, which is located in the same grounds.

        Another hall of exhibits, though not officially a designated museum, is the Sharad Baug Palace, that has on display the personal belongings of Maharao's. It also owns the precious collection of trophies and presentation articles received from the British Government. The architecture and artifacts of both the palaces reflect extensive European influence.

        The Kutch Museum is housed in a fine old building, near Hamirsagar Lake. Built by the state engineer Sir Ferguson, after whom it was named, the museum remained a private exhibit for the Maharaos till independence when it was renamed as the Kutch Museum.It initially formed a part of the School of Art established in 1877 by Maharao Khengar III.

How to reach Bhuj

• Various domestic airlines are available connecting Ahmedabad and Mumbai (Bombay).
• Direct trains between Bhuj-Ahmedabad on meter guage line and or Mumbai (Bombay) on the broad guage line from Gandhidham.
• State transport buses and private luxury coaches connect various centres of Gujarat. Bhuj is connected by State highway upto Bhachau to Ahmedabad by national highway No. 8A (310 Kms)

Ahmedabad Anand Bharuch Bhuj Baroda Bhavnagar Dwarka Gandhidham Junagadh Kutch Palitana Porbandar Saputara Surat Siddhpur Rajkot