City of Bhuj

Tucked into the far west of Gujarat, Bhuj is the gateway to Kutch, a vast and singular region of salt desert, scrub and some of the most accomplished craft traditions in India. The town itself, rebuilt with great resilience after a major earthquake, retains its old royal palaces, bustling bazaars and a frontier atmosphere shaped by centuries of trade across desert and sea.

The real treasures of Bhuj lie in the surrounding villages, each specialising in its own art. Within a short drive you can watch bandhani tie-dye, intricate Ahir and Rabari embroidery, hand block-printing at Ajrakhpur, copper-bell making and the weaving of fine woollen shawls. In town, the Aina Mahal and Prag Mahal palaces, the Kutch Museum and lively textile markets give a sense of the region's princely past.

No visit is complete without the Great Rann of Kutch, an immense white salt flat that shimmers to the horizon and glows extraordinarily under a full moon. During the cooler months the Rann Utsav brings tented camps, folk music and dancing to the desert's edge, a memorable way to experience Kutchi hospitality and culture.

The flavour of a Bhuj visit is one of warmth and discovery: sipping chai with master artisans in mud-and-mirror bhunga houses, bargaining gently for handwoven textiles, and standing on the salt desert as the sky turns rose and gold at sunset.

We include Bhuj for travellers who want something beyond the obvious. It offers India at its most authentic and craft-rich, a chance to meet makers in their own homes and to witness landscapes found nowhere else, making it a highlight of any thoughtfully designed Gujarat itinerary.