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Bhuj Gujarat MiniGuide
Bhuj Gujarat MiniGuide
Bhuj,
traditional Kutch handicrafts and
finally, a calm-inducing stepwell. The
great Gujarati thali and the resort
Gujarat
promoting ‘endogenous tourism’
are not to be missed.
designed in an Indo-European Visit the Swaminarayan and Guest House 7 offers a rooms and an angular glass-
style. The museum here has royal Temple for its brightly-coloured variety of rooms and a restaurant and-red exterior, Hotel Ilark 9
family memorabilia, Chinese- wood carvings that depict with delicious food (00-91-2832- is a good option as a place
styled tiles, paintings and mirrors Lord Krishna and Radha. This 254438; hotelgangaram@yahoo. to stay in Bhuj. The deluxe rooms
(Old Palace; 9am – 12pm and temple marks the place where co.in; Darbargadh Chowk; are particularly nice (00-91-2832-
3pm – 6pm Sun – Fri; entry ` 10). Swaminarayan sat with local holy from ` 1,400). 258999; hotelilark.com, info@
men when passing through Bhuj Even though the hotel receives hotelilark.com; Station Rd;
BEST FOR MUSEUMS 3 (00-91-2832-250231; Tirth Dham). mixed reviews, Hotel KBN’s 8 from ` 2,200).
The Kachchh Museum location in the heart of the town, Hotel Prince 10 has excellent
is the oldest museum in Gujarat. BEST FOR WELLS 5 15 minutes away from the service, smart rooms and good
It houses the largest collection For some peace and quiet, head airport, is its USP. This 24-room food. The hotel is located close
of Kshatrapa inscriptions, dating to the Ramkund Stepwell. property has excellent service to the airport and the railway
back to 1AD and dioramas Located across from the Kachchh and spacious, clean rooms, some station (00-91-2832-220370;
of Kutch tribal costumes (College Museum, this neatly-designed, featuring circular beds! (00-91- hotelprinceonline.com, info@
Rd; 10am – 1pm and 2.30pm – square stepwell has sculptures 2832-227251; hotelkbn.com, hotelprinceonline.com; Station
5.30pm Thur – Tues, closed of characters from the Ramayana hotelkbn@hotmail.com; Station Rd; from ` 3,000 with breakfast).
on 2nd and 4th Saturdays and the incarnations of Lord
of the month; entry ` 2). Vishnu along the walls. TURN OVER FOR MAP AND NUMBER LOCATIONS
MINI GUIDE
Bhuj, Gujarat
Getting around See Eat & drink Sleep
Essentials
444
‚ To Train GETTING THERE
To Airport (5km)
6
Station JetKonnect, IndiGo, GoAir and
2 7
(1.25km) SpiceJet fly to Bhuj Airport from
1 all major metros via Mumbai,
444
Shro 15 1 while there is a direct flight
ff Ba
zaar from Mumbai. Return fares
Rd
‚
d
Old To Bhujodi from Mumbai start from ` 6,800.
nR
tion
Hamirsar 4 Vegetable The airport is located 3km
Tank (7km)
io
Market
Sta
from the city centre.
tat
6
wS
St New 10 9
Langa
THE COST
Ne
Rajendra
Park Vegetable 14
Mahadev
Sa
ar 8
Na
ga DIFFICULTY OF TRAVEL
rR Rd
d Bus Stand 11 LOW HIGH
3 5
Lal T ari
12
6 WHEN TO GO
ek
To Hotel The best time to visit is between
Mangalam September and February
(600m) CHINA as the temperatures are cooler,
Rd
PAKISTAN
6
66
summer months.
sp
BHUJ
Ho
INDIA
To District A r a b i a n S e a
Bay of Bengal
Superintendent
of Police (100m)
‚ Andaman
Sea
WORDS: RAGHAV BIKHCHANDANI PHOTOGRAPHS: CORBIS, GETTY IMAGES, ANDREY STAROSTIN, HEINZ LEITNER/ 123RF
as well as an extensive all-
vegetarian menu. The Gujarati
thali is a great option here
(00-91-2832-253644; greenrock
restaurant.com; Chatthi Bari Ring
Rd, near ST Station; 11am – 3pm
and 7pm – 10.30pm; mains from
` 90, thali from ` 120). The North Indian fare at Noorani
Mahal is spicy and tasty
Within Hotel Mangalam
is the amazing Yellow Chilli 12 . A few nights at Shamm-e-Sarhad Village Resort will give you an insight
A branch of a chain run by and South Indian and Chinese into Kutchi rural life
chef Sanjeev Kapoor, this eatery cuisines is Hotel Nilam 14 ,
serves delicious vegetarian
and creative Mughlai dishes
where you are greeted by
bow-tied, waistcoated waiters.
Side trip or listen to folk songs under the
(see Sleep for details; lunch The famous Gujarati thali Located in the Banni grasslands open sky (00-91-2803-296222;
and dinner; mains from ` 150). is also available here (Station Rd; 63km north of Bhuj, the hodka.in, hodka.in@gmail.com;
Another quality restaurant mains from ` 60, thali ` 110). Shamm-e-Sarhad Village Hodka Village, Banni; Oct – Mar;
is Sankalp 13 , winner of the Noorani Mahal 15 Resort is a project to promote from ` 3,200 all-inclusive).
Times Food Award, which offers is a rare North Indian, non- ‘endogenous tourism’, which
authentic South Indian vegetarian restaurant in Bhuj. helps visitors understand the FIND OUT MORE
specialties. Head here for Most of the dishes here are livelihood and culture of Kutch. Lonely Planet India is great
your fix of southern delicacies chicken, but there’s also Run by the Halepotra community, for information on Bhuj.
(00-91-2832-254303; hoteloasis mutton and vegetarian food the accommodation includes Full of useful tips and
bhuj.com/sankalp,restaurant. cooked either in the tandoor bhungas (circular mud huts with suggestions, it also
html; Hotel Oasis, New Station Rd; or in a spicy curry (00-91- sloping roofs and neat interiors), carries a map.
11am – 11pm; mains from ` 50). 2832226328; Station Rd; and luxurious tents. You can
A great air-conditioned 11.30am – 3pm and 7pm – go bird-watching or visit villages For more details, log on to
restaurant for vegetarian North 11pm; mains from ` 55). in the area such as Hodka, lonelyplanet.com