About Bhuj

Country: India | State: Gujarat

Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days

Nearest City to Bhuj: Bhuj, Ahmedabad (353 Kms)

Best Time to Visit Bhuj: October to February

Peak Season: November to February

At a distance of 59 km from Gandhidham, 64 km from Mandvi, 78 km from Kutch, 232 km from Rajkot, 256 km from Jamnagar, 333 km from Junagadh, 334 km from Ahmedabad, 390 km from Dwarka, 431 km from Vadodara, 434 km from Mount Abu, 444 km from Bhavnagar, 557 km from Udaipur and 863 km from Mumbai, Bhuj is a flourishing city in Gujarat and also the headquarters of Kutch district. Often called as the Jaisalmer of Gujarat, Bhuj is one of the places to visit near Rajkot, and among the best attraction not to miss during your Gujarat tour.

Located in the western part of India, Bhuj is the most important city in the Kutch region of Gujarat and also the capital of the former princely state of Kutch. The city of Bhuj got its name from the Bhujiyo Dungar, a hill that overlooks the city and is believed to be the residence of the Great Serpent Bhujang, to whom a temple stands at the top of the hill. Spread around the fortified Bhujiyo Dungar Hill, the city was ravaged in the earthquake of 2001 which left a huge area destroyed and in shambles.

The desert city of Bhuj has a long history of kings and empires. The city was founded by Rao Hamirji, a Jadeja Rajput ruler, in 1510 CE and it was made the capital of Kutch state by Rao Khengarji I in 1549 CE. Bhuj remained the capital of Kutch for 29 years during the rule of Jadeja Rajputs. In the late 16th century, Bhuj came under Mughal dominance, though the administrative authority was given to Jadeja rulers. After the decline of the Mughal Empire, Bhuj came under British rule in 1815 CE but Rajput kings still held local administrative powers. Later considered a princely state, Kutch would continue thus until joining with a newly independent India.

Bhuj is a treat to the eyes of visitors as it offers everything from white desert to beautiful temples and from wildlife sanctuaries to the cultural landscape as part of Bhuj tour packages. Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Bhujia Hill Fort, Aina Mahal, Prag Mahal Palace, Hiralakshmi Memorial Craft Park, Kutch Fossil Park, Tapkeshwari Temple, and Rudramata Dam are some of the top places to visit in Bhuj. It also has the oldest museum in the state of Gujarat. Apart from the tourist places, Bhuj is also very famous for its traditional handicrafts and embroidery.

About 3 km from Bhuj, Rudramata Airport is the nearest airport and is well connected by flights with Mumbai while Ahmedabad Airport is the nearest international airport which is about 354 km from Bhuj. Bhuj Railway station is well connected by trains with Palanpur, Pune, Dadar, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Shalimar, and Mumbai. Bhuj is well connected with buses from Mumbai, Dwarka, Ahmedabad, Mount Abu, Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, Amreli, and Mandvi.

There are many budget and few mid-range hotels in Bhuj that are scattered throughout the city. There are no luxury accommodation options in Bhuj but the mid-range hotels offer good service.

The best time to visit Bhuj is from October to February as the summer months in Bhuj tend to be harsh and rains can be torrential. The most famous and very popular festival celebrated in Bhuj is the Rann Utsav also called Desert Utsav. Held every year in February/March, this Desert Festival usually coincides with the Hindu festival of Shivratri. The other fairs celebrated in Bhuj are Naagpanchmi or Bhujia Fair, and Fair of Hajipir.

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Other Info
Internet Availability: Good
STD Code: 02832
Languages Spoken: Gujarati, Hindi and English
Major Festivals: Rann Utsav, Naagpanchmi or Bhujia Fair, & Fair of Hajipir
Notes/Tips:
None

How to Reach Bhuj

By Air

Nearest Airport: Bhuj - Rudra Mata Airport (3 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Bhuj Railway Station (0 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Bhuj Bus Station (5 Kms)

Top 10 Places to Visit in Bhuj

Pilgrimage

#1 of 17 Places to Visit in Bhuj

At a distance of 4 km from Bhuj Railway Station, Shree Swaminarayan Mandir is a Hindu temple located in the heart of Bhuj city, Gujarat. Situated near Kutch Museum, it is one of the famous temples of Shree Swaminarayan and among the best places of sightseeing in Bhuj.

Shree Swaminarayan Mandir was constructed by Swaminarayan, the founder of the Swaminarayan Sampraday in 1822. This mandir comes under the Nar Narayan Dev Gadi. The earthquake in 2001 destroyed much of the city of Bhuj, including the side of the temple facing north which was built by Lord Shree Swaminarayan. Miraculously the divine idols remained as they were, without any damage. Later, in 2010 a new temple was constructed quite close to the old temple where all the divine idols were moved. The temple is one of the most expensive temples in Gujarat. Around 600 sculptors worked with the devotees for .....

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Heritage

#2 of 17 Places to Visit in Bhuj

At a distance of 3 km from Bhuj Railway Station, Bhujia Fort is an ancient hill fort situated on Bhujia Hill in the outskirts of Bhuj city in Gujarat. It is one of the historical forts in the Kutch region, and among the prime tourist places to visit as part of Bhuj holiday packages.

Bhujia Hill Fort, also known as Bhujiya Fort is built on a hill overlooking the town of Bhuj. The fort gets its name from the temple of snake god Bhujanga situated atop the hill. According to history, the Bhujia Fort was built between 1715 - 1718 CE by Jadeja Chief, Rao Godaji. However, the fort was completed by his son, Deshalji I. The fort has stood against six major battles which were fought in the years 1700-1800 AD between Rajput rulers of Kutch, the Muslim raiders from Sindh, and Mughal rulers of Gujarat. The British colonel William Coir took over the fort in 1819. The fort has been under the occupation of the Indian Army after India's independence .....

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Museum

#3 of 17 Places to Visit in Bhuj

At a distance of 10 km from Bhuj, Vande Mataram Memorial is a museum situated at Bhujodi village near Bhuj in Kutch district of Gujarat. It is one of the popular monuments in Gujarat and among the best place to visit in Gujarat.

The Vande Mataram Memorial is a humble and yet the most ambitious offering of the Ashapura Foundation to the country. Built over an area of 12 acre, the Memorial is a non-profit institution that seeks to immortalize the most important episodes in India's freedom struggle from the revolt of 1857 right up to the country's Independence in 1947. The purpose of this museum is to create a respect for freedom fighters of the country. It is a once-in-lifetime experience for every Indian who is keen to reconnect with his roots and who seeks to renew and restore his sense of national pride.

The primary structure of the museum, measuring over 100,000 square feet, is modeled on the likeness of the Indian Parliament Building. .....

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Museum

#4 of 17 Places to Visit in Bhuj

At a distance of 4 km from Bhuj Railway Station, Kutch Museum is a museum situated on the banks of Hamirsar Lake in Bhuj. It is the oldest museum in Gujarat and among the popular places to visit in Bhuj.

Kutch Museum was established in 1877 by Maharao Sir Khengarji III of Kutch as School of Arts. The present structure of the museum was built in 1884 to exhibit the wedding gifts of Maharao Sir Khengarji III. Earlier the museum is known as Fergusson Museum after Sir James Fergusson, the Governor of Bombay, who laid the foundation stone for the present museum building in 1884. The Museum was the private retreat for the Maharaos who showed it only to their guests. However, after independence, the museum came to be known as the Kutch Museum and was open to the public.

The stunning two floor building of the museum is constructed in a typical Italian Gothic style of architecture. Designed by the state engineer, Mc Lelland, the museum was built by local builders known as Mistris of .....

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Heritage | Museum

#5 of 17 Places to Visit in Bhuj

At a distance of 2.5 km from Bhuj Railway Station, Aaina Mahal or Aina Mahal is an 18th century palace located next to the Prag Mahal Palace in Bhuj, Gujarat, India. It is one of the elegant monuments in Bhuj and among the famous Bhuj Tourist Places.

Also known as Mirror Palace, Aaina Mahal was built in 1761 CE during the reign of Rao Lakhpatji. The fabulous Aina Mahal is a part of the extravagant Darbargadh Palace of Bhuj. It was built under the craftsmanship of the famous architect Ram Singh Malam. Malam designed the building in a mixed Indo-European style and set about creating the materials for the palace locally. He personally crafted the fountains, mirrors and glasswork, as well as many other wonders of artisanship. Spread over two floors, the building features Darbar Hall, a hall of mirrors, and suites belonging to the various members of the royal family.

The Aina Mahal was converted into Madanji Museum in 1997. Due to the Gujarat earthquake in 2001, the palace was .....

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Heritage | Museum

#6 of 17 Places to Visit in Bhuj

At a distance of 2.5 km from Bhuj Railway Station, Prag Mahal is a 19th century royal palace situated next to the Aina Mahal in Bhuj city of Gujarat, India. Situated in the heart of the city, it is one of the elegant palaces of Bhuj kings and among the popular places to visit during your Bhuj trip.

Prag Mahal is named after Rao Pragmalji II, who commissioned it in 1865. It was designed by Colonel Henry Saint Wilkins in the Italian Gothic style. The construction of the palace was completed in 1879 during the reign of Khengarji III, the son of Rao Pragmalji II and it costs 3.1 million rupees. Many Italian artisans and local mistris were involved in its construction along with Colonel Wilkins.

The palace is made of Italian marble and sandstone from Rajasthan. The grand palace boasts of Gothic-style windows and Corinthian pillars around it. One can observe some intricate carvings done on the walls with beautiful art, along with .....

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Museum

#7 of 17 Places to Visit in Bhuj

At a distance of 5 km from Bhuj Railway Station, Bharatiya Sanskruti Museum is a cultural center as well as a museum located along the College Road in Bhuj city of Gujarat. Also known as Folk Museum, it is one of the top cultural centers of Gujarat and among the must visit places in Bhuj.

Bharatiya Sanskruti Darshan Museum was established by Ramsinhji Rathod, a scholar of the folk art of Kutch, around sixty years back. It functions as both a museum and cultural center to showcase unique and rare pieces of crafts and folk arts of the Kutch region. Many specimens of the art and craft belong to the remote regions of Kutch District are exhibited in the museum. These artworks have been collected by forest service officials while travelling around the district.

The museum has been designed in the form of a hut with a huge stone door adorned with beautiful rock carvings. There are five major sections in the museum in including Anthropology section, Sahitya Chitra, Artifacts Section .....

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Museum

#8 of 17 Places to Visit in Bhuj

At a distance of 15 km from Bhuj, Living and Learning Design Centre (LLDC) is a textile museum situated at Ajrakhpur near Bhuj in Kutch district of Gujarat. Situated on Bhuj-Bhachau highway, it is one of the popular tourist places in Bhuj.

Started by Shrujan Trust in 2016, the Living and Learning Design Centre (LLDC) is a multi-dimensional crafts education and resource center dedicated to preserving and promoting the crafts of Kutch. The main aim of LLDC is to train, educate and support crafts persons to practice their traditional crafts for contemporary markets so that they can earn a dignified and prosperous livelihood. Over three thousand five hundred craftswomen are part of Shrujan's family now.

Situated in a sprawling eight-acre campus, the Living and Learning Design Centre has a Crafts Museum, Crafts School and the residential enclaves. The museum comprises, four galleries including a temporary exhibit area. The main gallery is devoted to the permanent collection of the .....

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Backwaters

#9 of 17 Places to Visit in Bhuj

At a distance of 4 km from Bhuj Railway Station, Hamirsar Lake is an artificial lake located in the heart of Bhuj city in Gujarat. It is the largest manmade lake in Kutch region and among the best places to visit in Bhuj.

Named after the founder of Bhuj Rao Hamir, this 450 years old lake was built during the reign of Rao Khengarji I (1548-1585). The embankment of Lake Hamirsar was made during reign of Pragmalji II and further improvements done during the reign of Khengarji III. The primary purpose of the lake was to fulfill the domestic needs of Bhuj in ancient times. Hamirsar Lake was well developed with a channel and tunnels that used to carry water from three rivers to fill the town's water reservoirs. This water system was damaged during the earthquake of 2001 in Gujarat. The municipality and people of Bhuj restored the water system to its original form once again in 2003 and the water of Hamirsar Lake became potable.

The lake is spread over an area of 28 acres and has .....

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Heritage

#10 of 17 Places to Visit in Bhuj

At a distance of 4.5 km from Bhuj Railway Station, the Royal Chhatardis of Bhuj are the cenotaphs of Bhuj Royal family situated to the southwest of Hamirsar Lake. Located close to Ranjit Vilas Palace, this place is one of the popular tourist attractions in Kutch.

Also known as Royal Chhatris or Cenotaphs, these are basically monuments dedicated to the lives of warrior Rajput rulers of the Kutch. The Chhatris in Bhuj were constructed in the 18th century by Jadeja ruler Rao Lakhpatji. The structure of these monuments is a unique mix of Rajputana and Mughal architectural styles. These umbrella-shaped dome structures are specimens of fine carvings in red sandstone. Almost all the Chhatardis has curved lines, domes and arches in their structure. The exterior walls are heavily ornamented, with sculptures of deities and panels depicting hunting scenes and couples in local costumes. Besides, the architecture of these structures shows a strong Islamic influence and is evident in the Mughal .....

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