BHUJ TOURISM | TOURIST PLACES TO VISIT & TRAVEL GUIDE TO BHUJ
Heritage | City
About Bhuj
#11 of 17 Places to visit in 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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