Kutch Desert Sanctuary

This sanctuary with area of 7506.22 sq.km. is the largest in the state, encompasses a true saline desert where thousands of Flamingoes nest and breed in the world famous ‘Flamingo City’, while a 5000-year-old city lies buried in an eternal silence close by. This area was declared a sanctuary in February 1986.

Chhari Dhand Wetland Reserve

With over 370 bird species, the Chhari-Dhand Conservation Reserve is a shallow wetland of Banni Grasslands in the heart of Kutch are a dream for birding enthusiasts

Bhujodi

The vast sprawl of 45,674 km of Kutch houses a large number of craft clusters within. Bhujodi is one such hub close to Bhuj city that can be visited easily by travellers.

Vijay Vilas Palace

This weathered 1920s palace lies 7 km west of Mandvi, amid extensive orchards along a private beach. Originally a summer abode for the Kutch rulers, its first floor is now the main residence of the elderly Maharajah of Bhuj.

Pingleshwar Beach

Pingleshwar Beach lies close to Mandvi, Kutch. This golden sandy beach of Kutch is worth a visit to truly enjoy moments of bliss with your family and friends.

Metal Work

Kala Raksha

Kala Raksha was founded in 1993, keeping in mind participation and interest of artisans, community members, and experts in the fields of art, design and museums. In 2005, the education initiative of the Trust turned into Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya, the first institution of design for traditional artisans.

Khamir

Khamir was conceived after the devastating earthquake in Bhuj in 2001, where many lives were lost, and infrastructure was razed to the ground. This was a massive impediment in the lives of local artisans who live in the Kutch area. Prof Neelkanth Chhaya designed the Khamir Campus, Hunnarshala, using rammed earth technology

Lyari Riverbed

Kutch is justly famous for its rugged desert landscape, but there is more to this land. The prehistoric rock formations along the Lyari riverbed are breathtaking in their beauty and grandeur. This awe-inspiring sight dwells approx. 70 km from Bhuj, behind Dhinodhar hills

Siyot Caves

Narayan Sarovar and Wildlife Sanctuary

A sprawling lake on the western most edge of India, Narayan Sarovar has great spiritual significance. This is one of the 5 holy lakes of Hinduism, along with Mansarovar in Tibet, Pampa in Karnataka, Bhuvaneshwar in Orissa and Pushkar in Rajasthan, and is considered a coveted place for a holy dip. An adjoining temple built by the wife of Maharao Desalji features shrines of Shri Trikamraiji, Laxminarayan, Govardhannathji, Dwarkanath, Adinarayan, Ranchodraiji and Laxmiji

The Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary

The Bustard sanctuary was set up in 1992. Also known as the Lala Parjan Sanctuary, this is one of the two main locations for the conservation of the Indian Bustard. Covering only 2 sq km, this is one of the smallest bird sanctuaries of the country, but a thriving breeding ground for the endangered bird. The semi-desert area allows for the ‘ghorad’ (local name) to feed on cereal crops that grow in the region.

Bhadreshwar Jain Tirth Derasar

Perhaps one of the most under-appreciated sites of great significance for India's religious history is Bhadreshwar, barely a kilometer from the coast, 69 km east of Mandvi, past Mundra, and 75 km south of Bhuj.

Lakhpat Fort

Only 33 km north of Narayan Sarovar lies the town of Lakhpat, with a walled fort as its main highlight. The town was an important coastal trade node in the 18th century. At the mouth of the Kori creek, the large fort walls still offer testimony to a short but glorious past.

Dholavira

One of the Unesco World Heritage Site Dholavira is one of the two largest Harappan sites in India, and 5th largest in the subcontinent.

Great Rann of Kutch

The area was a once a sprawling shallow of the Arabian Sea until a constant geological shift closed off the connection with the sea. Over the years, the region eventually became a seasonal marshy salt desert. During monsoons, the marsh fills up with water and the wetland extends from the Gulf of Kutch on the west through to the Gulf of Cambay on the east. In the summers, the water dries to create a crunchy based bed of white salty land.

Hiralaxmi Craft Park

The Hiralaxmi Craft Park opened its doors on December 18, 2005. It is the brainchild of Chetan Shah, Managing Director of Ashapura Group. The idea came about when a delegation of rural artisans was invited to the Ashapura guesthouse to demonstrate their craft. After his discussions with artisans, Shah realised that many of these valuable arts were breathing their last. Lack of an organised forum to exhibit, financial support and avenues to showcase their work was slowly choking the crafts of Kutch. Shah conceived the idea of Hiralaxmi Craft Park to support artisans and give them an atmospheric place to show their craft skills and earn a stable livelihood.

Tera Village

The Tera Village is so popular for its ancient structures that tourists sometimes regard it as the Tera Heritage Village even before the Government of India declared it as a heritage village. It is the first heritage village in Gujarat and joins the small list of heritage areas, with the old City of Ahmedabad being the first Heritage City in Gujarat.

Kalo Dungar

North of the village of Khavda, Kalo Dungar (Black Hill) marks Kutch’s highest point (462 m), with remarkable views over the Great Rann salt flat (or inland sea if you’re visiting during the monsoon). You’ll need your own transport to visit. The hill is also famous for a 400-year old temple dedicated to Lord Dattatreya.

Living and Learning Design Centre Crafts Museum

The Living and Learning Design Centre (LLDC) was established in 2016 by the Shrujan Trust to preserve, revitalise and promote the craft heritage of Kutch. Apart from the museum, the complex also houses a gallery, a library, three crafts studios and a café that serves local food. Shrujan is the brainchild of founder, Chanda Shroff who visited Dhaneti village in Kutch to help in drought relief work in 1969.

Surkotada Indus Valley Civilization

Surkotada is a small, 3.5 acre site northeast of Bhuj, in Gujarat. Aprox 30 kms from Rapar. It was discovered and excavated by Shri Jagat Pati Joshi of ASI in 1964-1968.

Navjivan Nature Cure Center

This healing centre, based on naturopathic remedies and M.K. Gandhi's ideas of “nature cure”, offers treatment for a wide variety of conditions, using everything from ayurvedic and herbal remedies to panchakarma, acupuncture, meditation, prayer, and yoga asanas.

Mandvi Beach

Mandvi beach is a stretch of golden-brown sand located in Gujarat's Kutch district. The beach is located in the same town as its name, Mandvi.

Centre for Desert and Ocean

CEDO was formed in 1960 with a view to propagate and preserve native plants and strengthen the native green cover of Kutch and other arid lands of Gujarat. The homestay was started in 2005 to offer serious nature travellers an opportunity to visit and learn from Kutch's unique ecosystem.

Aina Mahal

Maharao Lakhpatji commissioned the project in 1750 to architect and designer Ram Singh Malam, who lived in Europe for 18 years and had mastered several European architecture skills. An interesting legend surrounds Maharao Lakhpatji. It is said that he used his beds only for year and then auctioned them off. The museum is a royal showcase of Kutch jewellery, weaponry and art.

Hamirsar Lake Bhuj

An excellent place to cool off on a hot afternoon, Hamirsar Lake is where people go to swim, or sit under a tree and enjoy the water, as well as where many women do their laundry.

Koteshwar Mahadev Temple

Visitors can see the temple, walk along the beach and on a clear night, even see the glow of light from Karachi, Pakistan, on the northwestern horizon.

Folk Art Museum

This is the oldest museum of Gujarat, and was established in 1877. It was originally a part of the School of Arts constructed by the Maharao of Kutch, Khengarji III, and was called Fergusson Museum.

Smritivan

Smritivan (can be translated as Forest of Memories), adorned as the largest memorial and museum to ever be built in modern India, covers a vast area over 470 acres. It is situated on the Bhujiyo Dungar (a small hill) in the outskirts of Bhuj. It also shares the area with the Bhujia fort, which is more than 300 years old.

Sharad Bagh Palace

This graceful 1867 Italianate palace, set among shade trees full of crows and bats, was the abode of the last Maharao of Kutch, Madansingh, until his death in 1991.

Prag Mahal

Named after Rao Pragmalji II, who commissioned the construction of Prag Mahal, the palace's first bricks were laid in 1865. It was designed by Colonel Henry Saint Wilkins in the Italian Gothic style. His team constituted of a number of Italian artisans and their wages were paid in gold coins. It ultimately took 3.1 million rupees to get the work done and the palace stood in its fully glory in1879. By then the regency has switched Khengarji III (Pragmalji II's son) following Pragmalji II's death in 1875. He employed the local Kutchi builder community under the guidance of Colonel Wilkins in the last phase of construction.

Royal Chhatardis

Also known as Royal Chhatris or Cenotaphs, these are basically monuments dedicated to the lives of warrior Rajput rulers of the Kutch. The Chhatris in Bhuj were constructed in the 18th century by Jadeja ruler Rao Lakhpatji. The structure of these monuments is a unique mix of Rajputana and Mughal architectural styles. These umbrella-shaped dome structures are specimens of fine carvings in red sandstone. Almost all the Chhatardis has curved lines, domes and arches in their structure. The exterior walls are heavily ornamented, with sculptures of deities and panels depicting hunting scenes and couples in local costumes. Besides, the architecture of these structures shows a strong Islamic influence and is evident in the Mughal arches, the geometrical pattern of the jaalis and in the use of turquoise blue on a roof.

Shrujan

Shrujan translates to 'creativity' from Sanskrit. It is a not-for-profit organisation that works with craftswomen in Kutch to reinvent and revitalise the ancient craft of hand embroidery from the region. In summer of 1969, Kutch was affected by drought for the fourth consecutive year, and the artisans of the region took a great hit on their livelihood. Founder of Shrujan, Chanda Shroff, was part of a relief team that had visited the village of Dhaneti to help run a free kitchen. Shroff was amazed to see that the village women refused to take charity. Shroff saw the underutilised scope of their ancient craft heritage and decided to set up a long-term sustainable project that would give them livelihood. Shrujan was born the same year.

Shyamji Krishna Varma Memorial

The Memorial’s objective is to pay tribute to the contribution of Shyamji Krishna Varma and also to educate the young generation about those great Indians who sacrificed everything for the country’s freedom.

Kutch Museum

The Kutch Museum was founded by Maharao Khengarji in 1877. He wanted to showcase the region's delightful diversity in craft and local living.

Regional Science Centre

The objective of Regional Science Centre, Bhuj is to communicate and popularise science and technology in cities, urban and rural areas for the benefit of students and the common man.

Nirona Rogan Painting

The art of rogan is unique to this small village in the middle of Kutch, but the trajectory of the craft can be traced back to Iran. The Khatri family of Nirona is originally from Iran; their forefathers arrived here more than 300 years ago. They fortunately continued with this art form and have infused life into it over eight generations.

Mamai Devi Kaliya Dhrow

One of the 52 places worth visiting in the whole world, Mamai Dev Kadiya Dhro is located in our Kutch.At a distance of just 25 km from Bhuj, we can see the beauty and mesmerizing views of Mamai Dev Kadia Dhro place.Many tourists from the country and abroad come to see the beauty of Mamai Dev Kadiya Dhro during the annual Anklan which we can see on social media.People of Gujarat and home and abroad should keep coming to enjoy Mamai Dev Kadiya Dhro scenic spot.