Bhuj is a city with profound historical background and also the district head-quarters of Kutch. The city's name is attributed to the hill named Bhujiyo Dungar, which is at the eastern side of the city and also considered to be the place of the Great Serpent Bhujang. A temple dedicated to him stands at the top of this hill.
The city has a long history of kings and empires - and hence many historic places to see. The city was left in a state of devastation after the 2001 earthquake and is still in the recovery phase. Bhuj connects you to a range of civilizations and important events in South Asian history through prehistoric archaeological finds, remnants of the Indus Valley Civilization (Harappan), places associated with the Mahabharata and Alexander the Great's march into India and tombs, palaces and other buildings from the rule of the Naga chiefs, the Jadeja Rajputs, the Gujarat Sultans and the British Raj.
The vibrant and dynamic history of the area gives the area a blend of ethnic cultures. In a walk around Bhuj, you can see the Hall of Mirrors at the Aina Mahal; climb the bell tower of the Prag Mahal next door; stroll through the produce market; have a famous Kutchi pau bhaji for lunch; examine the 2000-year-old Kshatrapa inscriptions in the Kutch Museum; admire the sculptures of Ramayana characters at the Ramakund stepwell; walk around Hamirsar Lake and watch children jumping into it from the lake walls as the hot afternoon sun subsides; and catch the sunset among the chhatardis of the Kutchi royal family in a peaceful field outside the center of town.
Bhuj has a strong connection with the Indian history, starting from the pre-historic days. From the Indus Valley Civilization and Alexander the Great's reign, to the Jadeja Rajput, the Gujarat Sultanate and the British rule, Bhuj has witnessed all phases of history. In the 18th century, Rao Godiji built the fort of Bhuj, in order to protect Kutch from the then political situation which arose due to the decline of the Mughal Empire. This fort had 11 m high walls and 51 guns around the city.
