Bhuj

Introducing Bhuj

The capital of Kutch is an interesting outback city resurrected from the 2001 earthquake that killed 10% of the city’s 150, 000 people, and devastated its rich cultural heritage. But the city’s physical and psychological scars are healing, and much of interest still remains. The beguiling bazaars sell amazing Kutch handicrafts, and some historic buildings, such as the Aina Mahal and Prag Mahal, have an eerie beauty that makes Bhuj more than just a springboard for visits to the surrounding tribal villages.

The reconstruction of Bhuj has been an expectedly slow process – settlements of itinerant workers still line the roads in and out of the city – and to encourage economic growth, the government has opened up the surrounding salt plains on a cheap lease, with 10-year tax-free incentives. The industries that came forward though were largely salt or chemical plants – many from outside the region – so it remains to be seen what impact this will have on local flora and fauna.

Last updated: Sep 19, 2008