The old, walled city of Bhuj is the most important town in Kutchh and also the district headquarters. Bhuj is distinguished by its brightly decorated Hindu temples, beautiful palaces and intricately carved wooden pavilions. It is a paradise for handicraft lovers. The houses here are decorated both from inside as well as outside with linear reliefs made from mud and mirrors. Bhuj is famous for embroidery. The oldest museum of Gujarat is situated in Bhuj. Be it the bandhni (tie and dye) and batik textiles, or the intricate silk embroidery done on leather, each artifact is a labour of love for the craftspersons. The colorful thread embroidery on cloth is done by different castes and communities in their own distinct way. The region was also known for the enamel work done on gold and silver jewellery, lacquered wood, seashell toys and metal bells.

You can lose yourself for hours in the intricate maze-like streets and alleyways of this fascinating town. There are walls within walls, attractive crenellated gateways, old palaces with intricately carved wooden pavilions, and striking, brightly decorated Hindu temples. Bhuj resembles much of India before the tourist invasion, and you're much more likely to come across that disarming hospitality which was once the hallmark of rural India. Unfortunately if there has been no monsoon, the picturesque lake remains dry.

Bhuj comes as a pleasant surprise to most of the tourists who were skeptical about the destination as just another stretch of arid land on the western frontier of India. A sense of remoteness and space that is part of the mystique of Kutch is exhilarating. People are friendly, lacking the neurotic stripe that makes urbanites identifiable anywhere. Well-maintained budget hotels and restaurants serve the best of the vegetarian cuisine and at places the milk products were the tastiest. Herds of goats, sheep, cows and camels are a common sight in Kutch. The colourful arts, be it bead work or glass embroidery, copper bells or leather work produced in Bhuj are simply a temptation for the purse.


In and around Bhuj there is plenty to be seen; somewhere something or the other will keep you happy for the day. Dholavira - for the archaeologists, colourful temples are taken over by the pilgrims, wildlife enthusiasts may zoom in their binoculars to locate the wild ass, a fashion crazy designer can get a lesson or two from the Kutch women who create a variety of embroideries in glass, bead, leather etc. Others can explore the fort ruins or the palaces and if you are not sure of the sun, consider few of the interesting museums in Kutch.

Places to visit

Aina Mahal Palace
Aina Mahal Palace is the 18th century creation of the extravagant Rao Lakhpatji (1741-1760). He sent a local craftsman Ramsingh Malam to Europe to perfect his skills in glassmaking and ironfounding. He commissioned Ramsingh Malam to construct Aina Mahal with its hall of mirrors of venetian glass. The hall of Mirror 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.

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

Narayan Sarovar
Narayan Sarovar is 210 Kms from Bhuj. Narayan Sarovar is one of the five holy lakes of the Hindu faith.

How to get there

Air
Various domestic airlines are available connecting Ahmedabad and Mumbai (Bombay).

Rail
Direct trains between Bhuj-Ahmedabad on meter guage line and or Mumbai (Bombay) on the broad guage line from Gandhidham.

Road
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)