Bhuj

Bhuj
City

Bhuj
Coordinates: 23°15′N 69°40′E / 23.25°N 69.67°E / 23.25; 69.67Coordinates: 23°15′N 69°40′E / 23.25°N 69.67°E / 23.25; 69.67
Country  India
State Gujarat
District Kachchh
Municipality Bhuj Municipality
Founded by Rao Hamirji
Government
 • Type Municipal corporation
Area
 • Total 56 km2 (22 sq mi)
Elevation 110 m (360 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 148,834
 • Density 2,700/km2 (6,900/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Gujarati
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 370001
Telephone code 2832
Vehicle registration GJ-12
Sex ratio 0.97 ♀/♂
Website www.gujarattourism.com
source:Census of India[1]

Bhuj ( pronunciation ) is a city and a Municipality in Kutch District in the state of Gujarat, India.

Etymology

According to legend, Kutch was ruled by the Nāga chieftains in the past. Sagai, a queen of Sheshapattana, allied with Bheria Kumar and rose up against Bhujanga, the last chieftain of Naga. After the battle, Bheria was defeated and Sagai committed sati. The hill where he lived later came to be known as Bhujia Hill and the town at the foothill as Bhuj. Bhujang was later worshiped by the people as snake god, Bhujanga, and a temple was constructed to revere him.[2]

History

A Jadeja Chief in Kutchi attire during reign of Deshalji II : A sketch drawn in 1838

Bhuj, formerly sacred to the snake Bhujang, was established by Rao Hamirji in 1510 and was made the capital of Cutch State by Rao Khengarji I in 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital was formally laid on Vikram Samvat 1604 Maagha 5th (approx. 25 January 1548). After 1590, when Rao was forced to acknowledge Mughal supremacy, Bhuj was known as Suleiman Nagar among Muslims. The walls were built by Rao Godji I in 1723, and the Bhujiya Fort by Devkaran Seth in Rao Deshalji I's time (1718 - 1741).[3]

Bhuj has been attacked six times. In two cases the defense was successful and in four it failed. In 1728 an attack by Sarbuland Khan, Mughal Viceroy of Gujarat, was repulsed by Rao Deshalji I, and, in 1765 Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro was, by a timely display of the strength of the fortifications, induced to withdraw. During the civil troubles of the reign of the Rao Rayadhan III, Bhuj was thrice taken, by Meghji Seth in 1786, by Hansraj in 1801, and by Fateh Muhammad in 1808. On the 26th March 1819, the hill fort of Bhujia was captured by a British detachment under Sir William Keir.[3]

Chhatedi of Bhuj

In 1818, Bhuj had population of 20,000 people. The earthquake on 16 June 1819 destroyed nearly 7000 houses with a loss of 1140 human lives. About one-third of the buildings that escaped ruin were much shattered, and the north face of the town wall was leveled with the ground. Bhuj is home to one of the first Swaminarayan Sampraday temples, built in 1822. In 1837, Bhuj is said to have had a population of 30,000 souls.[3]

After independence of India in 1947, Cutch State acceded unto the dominion of India and was constituted an independent commissionaire, Kutch State. In 1956, Kutch State was merged with Bombay state, which in 1960 was divided into the new linguistic states of Gujarat and Maharashtra, with Kutch becoming part of Gujarat state as Kutch district. Bhuj is the district headquarters of Kutch District, the largest district in India.

On 21 July 1956[4] as well on 26 January 2001, the city was struck by a major earthquake which caused a great loss of life and property. Many parts of Bhuj were demolished due to the extensive damage whilst others were repaired. There has been a great progress in the city since the 2001 earthquake, with considerable improvements to roads, transport and infrastructure.

Geography

Skyline of Bhuj from Bhujia Fort atop Bhujia Hill

Bhuj has an average elevation of 110 metres (360 feet). On the eastern side of the town is a hill known as Bhujia Hill, on which there is a Bhujia Fort, that separates Bhuj city and Madhapar town ( considered one of the richest villages in Asia ). It has one major lake Hamirsar and several small lakes.

Climate

Climate data for Bhuj (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 37.0
(98.6)		 38.9
(102)		 43.9
(111)		 45.6
(114.1)		 47.8
(118)		 47.0
(116.6)		 41.3
(106.3)		 41.2
(106.2)		 42.8
(109)		 44.0
(111.2)		 39.7
(103.5)		 35.4
(95.7)		 47.8
(118)
Average high °C (°F) 27.4
(81.3)		 30.4
(86.7)		 35.4
(95.7)		 38.9
(102)		 39.4
(102.9)		 37.6
(99.7)		 34.2
(93.6)		 32.7
(90.9)		 34.9
(94.8)		 36.9
(98.4)		 33.1
(91.6)		 28.7
(83.7)		 34.1
(93.4)
Average low °C (°F) 10.0
(50)		 12.8
(55)		 18.1
(64.6)		 22.3
(72.1)		 25.5
(77.9)		 27.2
(81)		 26.4
(79.5)		 25.3
(77.5)		 24.3
(75.7)		 21.7
(71.1)		 16.0
(60.8)		 11.2
(52.2)		 20.1
(68.2)
Record low °C (°F) −0.2
(31.6)		 0.3
(32.5)		 5.5
(41.9)		 12.7
(54.9)		 16.6
(61.9)		 16.1
(61)		 19.4
(66.9)		 20.0
(68)		 17.8
(64)		 11.1
(52)		 6.0
(42.8)		 0.6
(33.1)		 −0.2
(31.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 1.3
(0.051)		 0.3
(0.012)		 1.1
(0.043)		 0.2
(0.008)		 1.5
(0.059)		 35.6
(1.402)		 130.9
(5.154)		 99.7
(3.925)		 48.6
(1.913)		 2.3
(0.091)		 1.8
(0.071)		 0.2
(0.008)		 323.3
(12.728)
Average rainy days 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.3 1.8 5.0 3.8 2.2 0.4 0.2 0.1 14.3
Source: India Meteorological Department (record high and low up to 2010)[5][6]

Places of interest

Hamirsar Lake


Demographics

Religions in Bhuj
Religion Percent
Hindus
  
 68.62%
Muslims
  
 25.64%

The total population of Bhuj was 299,983 in the year 2011, which consisted of 152,222 males and 147,761 females. .[1]

Culture

A pair of shoes

Bhuj is a famous destination for shopping of handicraft work like bandhni (tie-dye) and leatherwork. Artists of nearby villages bring their artwork for sale in Bhuj haat which is situated near jubilee ground. Bhuj is famous for the jolly nature of its citizens, who usually go to the surroundings of Hamirsar lake to relax.

Bhuj is also famous for its food, especially pakvans, dabelies (a local burger stuffed with mashed potato, cooked with masala curry and serious chutneys). Bhuj is famous for its Gujarati thali which is unlimited Gujarati food.

Media and communications

State-owned All India Radio has a local station in Bhuj which transmits various programs of mass interest.

Education

Main Gate of Kutch University

Alfred High School, the first high school of Kutch, established in 1870, is also an architectural heritage of the town.

Krantiguru Shyamji Krishna Verma Kachchh University is located in Bhuj. The university has 41 colleges affiliated, nineteen of which are in Bhuj. The university gives degrees in Arts, Science, Commerce, Law Education, Management, Pharmacy, Social Welfare, Medicine and Engineering.[7]

Primary and Secondary

Gujarat adani institute of medical sciences Bhuj

Higher education

Transportation

Bhuj Railway Station - Main Building
YP class loco outside Bhuj railway station
19132 Kutch Express at Bhuj railway station

Bhuj is connected to Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Gandhinagar, Pune, Visakhapatnam and other major cities of India by railway trains. It has a domestic airport from which daily flights connect to Mumbai, with flights operated by Jet Airways and Air India. State Transport buses are available from the ST stand in the middle of the town to various places in Gujarat. Additionally, many private tour operators also run frequent buses to major cities in and outside Gujarat. Kandla Airport is 53 km from Bhuj. The city can be navigated by the city bus and auto rickshaw.

Trains

Train no. Train Name Runs From Destination Departure Days Arrival Days
11091-11092 Ahimsa Express Bhuj Pune Wednesday Tuesday
14312-14311 via Ahmedabad & 14322-14321 via Bhildi Ala Hazrat Express Bhuj Bareilly Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday for 14312. Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday for 14322 Friday, Saturday, Monday for 14311. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday for 14321
22829-22830 Shalimar - Bhuj Weekly SF Express Bhuj Shalimar Tuesday Monday
22904-22903 Bandra Terminus Bhuj AC Superfast Express Bhuj Bandra Monday, Thursday, Saturday Thursday, Saturday, Monday
12960-12959 Bhuj Dadar Superfast Express Bhuj Dadar Monday, Thursday Wednesday, Saturday
19132-19131 Kutch Express Bhuj Bandra Daily Daily
19116-19115 Shayajinagari Express Bhuj Bandra Daily Daily

Flight

Jet Airways aircraft at Bhuj Airport

Bhuj has well connected flights to Mumbai provided by the airlines of Jet Airways and Air India Regional.

Airline Departs Arrives
Jet Airways Bhuj Mumbai
Air India Regional Bhuj Mumbai

The Jet Airways flight from Bhuj to Mumbai continues on to Delhi

References

  1. 1 2 "Census of India". The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India, New Delhi, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2007-06-26. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  2. ↑ Ward (1 January 1998). Gujarat–Daman–Diu: A Travel Guide. Orient Longman Limited. pp. 316–317. ISBN 978-81-250-1383-9.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha. Printed at the Government Central Press. 1880. pp. 215–216.
  4. ↑ "Quake rocks Kutch". The Hindu. 24 July 1956. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  5. ↑ "Bhuj Climatological Table Period: 1981–2010". India Meteorological Department. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Ever recorded Maximum and minimum temperatures up to 2010" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 21, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  7. ↑ "ક્રાંતિગુરુ શ્યામજી કૃષ્ણ વર્મા કચ્છ યુનિવર્સિટી". Kskvku.digitaluniversity.ac. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
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