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Brief -
  
 
Bhuj, a flourishing walled city, is the most important town in the area. The old part of this walled town is a tightly packed maze of narrow winding streets, where horse drawn tongas, go about their business and the odd camel trundles past. It is a town with some character, where you breathe the air of the past, rub shoulders with tribal people turned out in colourful traditional costumes and where friendly shopkeepers in the baza, have not learnt the art of high-pressure sales. An ancient city that reflects the very essence of the region, it is embellished with fine monuments, palaces and gardens in a windswept land.
  
     
 
History -
 
 
The towns 10.5-m high stone defensive wall, forming an irregular polygon, studded with towers and five gates, is a reminder of Bhuj's medieval defenses. The local raja Rao Khengarji I, chose this, to be his capital in 1548. The existing walls were built in 1723, though subsequently the town fell twice to attacking forces, on the latter occasion to the British in 1819. Far greater damage was caused in the same year, by the great earthquake of Gujarat, which is reported to have destroyed 7, 000 houses and killed over 1,000 people. Bhuj is an ancient city that reflects the very essence of the region. Always the seat of power and identity for the nomadic tribes of Kutch, it is embellished with fine monuments, palaces and gardens in a windswept land.
 
     
 
Culture -
  
 
Bhuj, the capital of Kutch has a very good mixture of different life style. Right from the typical life style of modern city life to traditional village life style and nomadic life, all co-exist peacefully. Bhuj, with its colourful people, historic towns and remarkable handicrafts, has much of interest to offer visitors. Though it has a remarkably heterogeneous population, which belongs to 18 different tribes, each with its own language and culture, yet it has its own distinctive character. A paradise of handicrafts and lifestyle lovers, Bhuj is an ancient city that reflects the very essence of the region with its colourful people, historic towns, and remarkable handicrafts.
  
     
 
Climate & Geographical Location -
  
 
Bhuj has a moderate climate with pleasant mornings and evenings, especially in summer. While summers are very hot and dry and can shoot upto 45 degrees, in winter it drops down to as low as 2 degrees. Bhuj in Kutch, is a dry belt with Great Rann to the north and Little Rann to the east..
  
     
 
How to Reach -
  
 
Bhuj is well connected by rail, road and air. By air, various domestic airlines are available connecting Ahmedabad and Mumbai. By rail, there are direct trains between Bhuj-Ahmedabad on meter gauge line and Mumbai on the broad gauge line from Gandhidham. By road, Bhuj is connected by State highway upto Bhachau to Ahmedabad by national highway No. 8A (310 Km). State transport buses and private luxury coaches connects Bhuj to various centres of Gujarat.
  
     
 
: T O U R I S T   P L A C E S :
  
     
 
Museums -
  
 
Bhuj has two museums, the Aaina Mahal and Kutch Museum. Maharaj Madansinh founded the Aaina Mahal museum in 1977, and it houses a collection of miniature paintings, woodcarving 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, while the Sharad Baug Palace, houses the personal belongings of Maharaos. The architecture and artifacts of both the palaces reflect extensive European influence. The Kutch Museum, housed in a fine old building, near Hamirsagar Lake, 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.
  
     
 
Lakhpat -
 
 
Visit to Lakhpat is a trip into history. In this ancient port-city, time has been standing still for ages. It is today deserted, desolate, uninhabited, and invokes powerful nostalgia and soulful affection. Among the ruins, stand the Gurudwara (holy shrine of the Sikh religion), the 200 year old, gigantic tomb of Ghosh Mohammed Caba, and many other places with ancient stories to tell. An abandoned town, the only access to it is by road. 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. A fort, an irregular polygon, defended by round towers, surrounds Lakhpat. It is not only the architecture but also the stark loneliness and a vast view of deserted, crumbling houses that make Lakhpat a rare spectacle.
  
     
  Koteshwar -  
 
An ancient pilgrim centre, Koteshwar is located at a short distance from Narayan Sarovar and 215 Km 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. On its tranquil shores, you will rediscover a rare feeling - Peace. Vijay Vilas Palace at Mandvi, is famous for its royal decor and environs. another attraction of Mandvi, is the Hawa Mahal, built in the royal traditions of Rajasthan. 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.
  
     
 
Others
  
 
 
 
AAINA MAHAL PALACE - It was in the 18th century, that Rao Lakhpatji (1741-1760) commissioned Ramsingh Malam, to construct the Aaina Mahal, with its hall of mirrors of Venetian glass.
  
 
 
 
CENOTAPHS COMPLEX - A popular site is the Cenotaphs Complex or Chattardi. These are built of red stones. The successive earthquakes ruined these tombs since 1819. Of these, the one built for Rao Lakha in 1770, is the largest and finest.
  
     
 
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.
  
     
 
RUDRANI DAM - Has the colourful Rudramata Temple (originally 17th century) nearby. Sati's rudra aspect, is believed to have fallen on this spot and is hence a place of pilgrimage.