Bhujia Hill or Bhujiyo Dungar is a hill located in the outskirts of the town of

Bhuj Bhuj () is a Municipality and District Headquarters of 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, who was married to Kin ...

in the district of Kutch,

Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...

, India. The

Bhujia Fort Bhujia Fort, also spelled as Bhujiya Fort, is a fort located in the outskirts of the town of Bhuj in the district of Kutch, Gujarat, India. The fort is built atop Bhujia Hill overlooking the town. History The fort was constructed for the defens ...

built on the hill overlooks the town.

Etymology

Legend of Bhujanga

According to the legend, Kutch was ruled by the

Nāga The Nagas (IAST: ''nāga''; Devanāgarī: नाग) are a divine, or semi-divine, race of half-human, half-serpent beings that reside in the netherworld (Patala), and can occasionally take human or part-human form, or are so depicted in art. ...

chieftains in 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 Sati or SATI may refer to: Entertainment * ''Sati'' (film), a 1989 Bengali film by Aparna Sen and starring Shabana Azmi * ''Sati'' (novel), a 1990 novel by Christopher Pike *Sati (singer) (born 1976), Lithuanian singer *Sati, a character in ''Th ...

. The hill where he lived later came to known as Bhujia Hill in Kutch and the town at the foothill as Bhuj. Bhujang was later worshiped by the people as snake god, '' Bhujanga'', and a temple was constructed in his reverence.

Geography

The hill is 160 metre high at one end.

Fort

was constructed for the defense of the city by

Jadeja The Jadeja (also spelled Jarejo) (Gujarati: ) is a Rajput clan that inhabits the Indian state of Gujarat. They claim to be descended from the legendary Jamshed of Iran. They also claim descent from Krishna. They originated from pastoral communit ...

Chiefs. Rao

Godji I Rao Godji I was the Rao of Cutch belonging to the Jadeja Rajput dynasty, who ruled Princely State of Cutch from 1715 to 1718. Life Godji I was a son of Rao Pragmalji I. He led a force sent by his father to restore throne of Tamachi, the sixth ...

started the construction in 1715 which ended during the rule of

Deshalji I Rao Deshalji I was the Rao of Cutch belonging to Jadeja Rajput dynasty, who ruled Princely State of Cutch as a regent from 1718 1752. His son Lakhpatji confined him in 1741 and ruled as a regent until death of Deshalji in 1752. Life Rao God ...

in 1741. The fort has seen six major battles.

Temples

Bhujang Temple

Bhujang Nag Temple, Bhujia Fort Hill, Bhuj, Kutch, Gujarat

At one corner of the fort is a small square tower dedicated to 'Bhujang Nag' (snake god), who in folklore is said to have been the brother of ' Sheshnag' - Lord of the nether world (' Patal'). It is said He came from Than of

Kathiawar Kathiawar () is a peninsula, near the far north of India's west coast, of about bordering the Arabian Sea. It is bounded by the Gulf of Kutch in the northwest and by the Gulf of Khambhat (Gulf of Cambay) in the east. In the northeast, it is ...

and freed Kachchh from the oppression of demons known as '

daitya According to ancient scriptures, the daityas (Sanskrit: दैत्य) are a race of asuras, descending from Kashyapa and his wife, Diti. Prominent members of this race include Hiranyaksha, Hiranyakashipu, and Mahabali, all of whom overran t ...

s' and '

rakshasa Rakshasas ( sa, राक्षस, IAST: : Pali: ''rakkhaso'') lit. 'preservers' are a race of usually malevolent demigods prominently featured in Hindu mythology. According to the Brahmanda Purana, the rakshasas were created by Brahma wh ...

s'. The Snake Temple was also built at the time of the fortification of the hill during

's reign (1718–1740). In a battle that was won with help of Naga Sadhus, who worship the Snake god, by Deshalji, the ruler of Kutch, also built a

Chhatri ''Chhatri'' are elevated, dome-shaped pavilions used as an element in Indo-Islamic architecture and Indian architecture. Originating as a canopy above tombs, they serve as decorative elements. The earliest example of chhatri being used in the ...

over the temple in 1723. To commemorate this event, ever since, an annual fair is held on the fort-hill on the

Nag Panchami Naga Panchami is a day of traditional worship of Nag (or Naja or Naga) or snakes (which are associated with the mythical Nāga beings) observed by Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists throughout India, Nepal, and other countries where Hindu, Jain, an ...

day in

Shraavana Śrāvaṇa ( sa, श्रावण) is the fifth month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Śrāvaṇa is the fifth month of the year, beginning on July 23 and ending on August 22. In the Tamil calendar, it is known ...

month in the

Hindu calendar The Hindu calendar, Panchanga () or Panjika is one of various lunisolar calendars that are traditionally used in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, with further regional variations for social and Hindu religious purposes. They adopt a ...

memorial park

'' Smritivan'', a memorial park and museum dedicated to victims of the 2001 Gujarat earthquake was built atop the hill. More than 13000 trees dedicated to each victim were planted in the garden and 50 small water reservoirs were created on the hill.

References

{{reflist Tourist attractions in Kutch district Bhuj Hills of Gujarat Geography of Kutch district