Places to visit in Bhuj | A guide

While Bhuj offers a transit point to the entire Kutch region in Gujarat, the city itself is worthy of spending some time. This guide covers all the places to visit in Bhuj.

Bhuj Kutch is the transit to reach The Rann Utsav or The Great Rann of Kutch.

What people don’t realize is that Bhuj is much more than a transit place and visitors should stop here for a couple of days. Bhuj is a surprise package in the real sense of the term. 

Check out all these Bhuj visiting places.

History of Bhuj Kutch

Bhuj, a city in the district of Kutch, was an old walled city in the past. Bhuj came in limelight on the global map, due to the 2001 Gujarat Earthquake that tore down most of the city.

Thanks to the many humanitarian organizations and NGOs, Bhuj Kutch rose from the ashes. Kutch now hosts one of the longest festivals in India – The Rann Utsav in the White Desert. Bhuj acts as a gateway to the Rann Utsav and the Great Rann of Kutch.

In spite of being a city in the district of Kutch, Bhuj is referred to as Bhuj Kutch or Kutch Bhuj by travellers. 

Bhuj is full of history, architecture, grandeur, colourful bazaars and delicious food. Visitors can spend hours in the intricate streets and alleys which have the historical glory standing strong. There are walls within walls, old palaces, temples, intricately carved step-wells and lakes making Bhuj a must-visit place before heading to Rann Utsav.

Places to visit in Bhuj

While Bhuj keeps adding tourist places in Bhuj every few years, the following list is based on the places I have been to in recent years. These are the best places to visit in Bhuj.

Prag Mahal, Bhuj and Aina Mahal, Bhuj

Two palaces ( or the remains of palaces) stand adjacent to each other – The Prag Mahal and Aina Mahal. One can see the impact of the devastating earthquake on the exterior structures of both these palaces.

Prag Mahal, Bhuj is also known as the Bhuj Palace. Prag Mahal is one of the best places to visit in Bhuj. The palace survived the impact, which was earlier built in a lavish Italian gothic style. The palace has a lavish Durbar hall, with large pillars, huge chandeliers and classic marble statues, all defining the opulence of the bygone era.

Other important parts of the palace include Corinthian pillars, carved doorways, broad window boxes and Jali work representing European flora and fauna. Do climb the stairs to reach the bell tower for an exhilarating view of the city and Bhujia Hills.

Aina Mahal

Aina Mahal literally means the ‘Palace of Mirrors’. As soon as one enters the palace, one can see an exhibit on a 15 m long scroll that depicts the Royal Procession of Maharao Shri Pragmalji Bahadur.

The palace also has exhibits that include paintings, jewelled swords, ivory inlaid doors, photographs, royal possessions and the finest samples of the Kutch embroidery.

It has countless artefacts ornamented with Venetian-style chandeliers, silver objects and clocks make it an interesting sightseeing place in Bhuj.

Kutch Museum

Kutch is also written as Kachchh. Bhuj has a city museum that houses some very rare idols and artefacts. It is one of the oldest museums in the state of Gujarat and has collections of coins and tribal art and craft which includes embroidery, mirror work, thread work and metalwork. It also has collections of inscriptions and information about the tribal community of Gujarat.

All the labels and information in the museum is bilingual – English and the regional language Gujarati for ease of understanding.

Entry fee of Kutch Museum, Bhuj: Rs. 10

Timings of Kutch Museum, Bhuj: 9am to 6pm

Hamirsar Lake

Come out of the Kutch museum to witness the glory of migratory birds in the Hamirsar lake which is within walking distance from each other. The lake is a manmade lake built and derives its name from the yesteryear ruler – Hamir Rao.

The lake was built in order to cater to the domestic needs of Bhuj city and is adorned with cenotaphs. Unfortunately, the cenotaphs haven’t survived the earthquake impacts but can still see some remains and the Greater Cormorants basking in the sun’s glory.

Hamirsar lake is a good place for a walk in the evening and you can find some local vendors selling snacks. Winter mornings can be really special as you can spot local as well as migratory birds like Greater flamingos, Pelicans, Black-winged stilt, etc. Hamirsar Lake is one of the best places to visit in Bhuj.

Chattardi Bhuj

The construction of cenotaphs or chhatris was done by the Royal families of erstwhile kingdoms in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi and Indore, Madhya Pradesh. These umbrella-shaped dome structures were built in memory of a royal family member and do not contain the mortal remains. 

Chattardi in Bhuj is a cenotaph’s complex made of red stone. It is one of the rarest monuments existing in India as all of the tombs here are made out of Red stones.

Each tomb is different in size, shape and design with intricately carved walls and roof. Floral designs are the most common patterns found on these tombstones. Apart from floral patterns, hexagons, octagons and stripe patterns can also be seen across the walls of the structure.

Although many movies have been shot here and Chattardi has shot to fame, visiting this place will transform you into a different world altogether. Unlike other tourists, I visited this place with a guide and got amazing information about each structure’s significance. This is definitely a place to visit in Bhuj.

Swaminarayan Temple, Bhuj

The divinity of the temple can be proved during the Gujarat Earthquake of 2001. The earthquake destroyed one side of the temple facing north which was built by Lord Shree Swaminarayan. Miraculously the divine idols remained as they were, without any damage whatsoever.

It was decided that the idols would be housed inside a new grand temple. A huge temple was constructed using traditional Vedic architectural methods, on the banks of Hamirsar Lake.

Since its first brick installation ceremony on 7 May 2003, it has taken 7 years for its completion. Based on a grand podium, the new temple faces East and is constructed mainly with pure high-quality marble. It has intricate wooden carvings coated with vibrant colours that characterize this temple.

Ram Dhun temple and Ram Kund

Ram Kund is a stepwell, designed like a small reservoir in which rainwater used to be collected for drinking purposes in the past. Ram Kund is located near the Prag Mahal while on the way to the Kutch Museum, just behind the Ram Dhun Temple.

After walking along the water, pray your respects to the carvings of characters from the Ramayana, such as Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman, along with the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu over the walls in Ram Dhun temple

Bhujia Hills

The Bhujia Hill Fort lies on the outskirts of Bhuj.

Originally built as a safe house and to store defence artillery during battle, the fort was later used by the Indian Army to store ammunition. It is now barren with only a temple at the top and a proposed memorial park at the foothills of the hill.

In winters you can trek to the top of the hills for breathtaking, panoramic views of  Bhuj city. There are some steep steps on a set trail from the parking to the fort. If you are fit and want to sweat it out, Bhujia hills could be included in your list.

Vande Mataram Memorial Park Bhuj

The latest attraction added in Bhuj is the Vande Mataram Memorial Park. the Memorial Park beautifully tells the intriguing tale of India’s freedom struggle through 13 episodes – from the revolt of 1857 right up to the country’s Independence in 1947. Build in 4-D technology, this memorial aims to abide by the most exigent moment of India’s freedom struggle.

Spread across 12 acres of land, the memorial was painstakingly built over 4 years. The primary structure is modelled like the Sansad Bhavan. Indian parliament and India Gate are some of the most popular places to see in Vande Mataram memorial park.

Vande Mataram memorial park entry fee: Rs. 200 per adult, Senior Citizen: Rs. 50, Kids below 10 years: Rs. 50

Timings of Vande Mataram memorial park: 10 am to 7 pm. It is closed on Mondays.

Shopping in Bhuj

Going to Bhuj and not shopping is like committing a crime. Shopping in Bhuj and around for Kutch arts and crafts is a must and one of the best tourist places in Bhuj. Depending upon whether you are spending one day in Bhuj, two days in Bhuj or more, shopping can vary. There are many tourists who only tour the art and crafts scene in Kutch villages. There are 2 options for things to buy in Bhuj.

Shopping in Bhuj city

If you do not feel up to driving out of town to Bhujodi village, there is a street in the middle of the city on station road, where you can shop for artefacts, and textiles and even customize a nameplate for yourself in mirror and mud work. There is no particular name to the street but it is the one near Rajgulab shopping centre.

Shopping in Bhujodi | Famous Kutch Handicrafts

Bhujodi is a traditional crafts village which is situated about 12 km from Bhuj. The village is over 500 years old and is popular as the weaver village as the 1200 families residing here have looms in their house. Shopping in Bhujodi is probably one of the best places to visit in Bhuj Kutch!

Brightly coloured stoles, kurtas, shawls adorned on the walls of each house welcome everyone in Bhujodi. These are handwoven and hand embroidered and beautified with silk threads and mirror work in intricate designs. Other commonly seen textile products consist of bed sheets, the regional outfits called chaniya choli and dupatta.

Spend time around the villages in Kutch to explore the art and craft which is unique, vibrant and mind-blowing. Some of the options are:

Ajrakh Block Prints: In Ajrakh, Khavda and Dhamadka areas

Rogan art: In Nirona area

Copper bells: In Jhura area

Wood lacquer: In Nirona area

Hand embroidered chaniya choli and fabrics: In Hodka area

Bandhani: In Abdasa, Mandvi, Mundra, Anjar, Bhuj, and Nakhatrana areas

If you have more days in hand, you could explore nearby places like Mandvi, Kala Dungar, White Rann and many nearby villages which offer art and craft tourism. Read in detail about Crafts of Kutch.

Bhuj Kutch famous food | Must try street food in Bhuj

While common Gujarati snacks that are found all over Gujarat are found here such Sev Khamni, Puri Shak, Dhokla, Khaman, etc. there are special dishes that have made a mark. Bhuj is a paradise for street food and has many options to choose from.

Dabeli

Dabeli is a popular street food that originated in Kutch. Hence it is also known as Kutchi or Kacchi Dabeli! Kutchi dabeli is a must-try food in Bhuj that has a sweet, hot and tangy masala and is served in Bun bread.

Thali

If you want to indulge in a vegetarian thali (assortment of dishes arranged as a platter for lunch or dinner) I would highly recommend Umiyaji Dining Hall or Ashapura dining hall. Most hotels in Bhuj, also have a restaurant so that is also a good option to wind up the day with.

Gulab Pak

This is a food souvenir to take back home from Bhuj Kutch. Combining the choicest rose petals and dry fruits Gulab Pak is a delicately flavourful, luxurious sweet. Khavda is the shop that specializes in this dessert.

Best time to visit Bhuj

Bhuj in Kutch district is basically a desert and gets super hot in summer. The best time to visit Bhuj is between the months of December to March. It is also the same time when the White Desert Festival or Rann Utsav is organized.

Weather: Winter temperatures are 25 ℃ during the day and 8-10℃ at night with chilly winds. The summer temperatures hover around 50 ℃.

Hotels in Bhuj/Where to stay in Bhuj

There is a range of budget and mid-range hotels, as well as luxurious resorts in Bhuj.

Budget Hotel: Go Desert Homestay, Oasis Hotel, Click Hotel, 

Mid Range: Mangalam Hotel, Hotel Tulsi

Luxurious: Regenta resort, The Fern Residency

How to Reach Bhuj

By Air:

2 flights fly to Bhuj from and to Mumbai everyday. It is a domestic airport. The next nearest airport is in Ahmedabad which is also an international airport.

By Train:

Bhuj is well connected to all major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Ahmedabad by train.

By Bus:

Bhuj is well connected by bus. Busses are available to and from all neighbouring cities in the state of Gujarat to Bhuj.

Sustainable tips for Places to visit in Bhuj

• Do not litter the roads, palaces, shopping areas in Bhuj.
• Do not write or carve on the palace walls and make it unaesthetic.
• Do not climb on broken palace structures.
• Respect the local people and ask for permission before clicking photos.
• You are in a desert city so respect the natural resources like water. Use a bucket and mug for bathing than a shower or bathtub.

Read More Gujarat posts:

Places to visit in Jamnagar

Things to do in Vadodara

2 days in Ahmedabad

Polo Forest

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