Bhuj

How to reach Bhuj

Air:
Various domestic airlines are available connecting Ahmedabad and Mumbai (Bombay). The Indian Airlines office (Tel: 21438) is open daily from 10 am to 12.30 pm and 1.30 to 4.30 pm. There are four flights weekly to Mumbai (US$85). Gujarat Airways (Tel: 25198) also has four flights weekly to Mumbai (US$90). As the Indian Air Force has a base at the airport, there is tight security there.

Rail:
There are Direct trains between Bhuj-Ahmedabad on meter guage line and Mumbai (Bombay) on the broad guage line from Gandhidham. New Bhuj railway station is one km north of town, down a little back road from the north gate (Sarpat Gate) of the old town. A few trains pass through Bhuj and one has to go either to Palanpur (near Rajasthan border; 391 km) or to Gandhidham, which have good rail connections to important towns around this region. One can travel to Ahmedabad via Palanpur (491 km, 16 hours, Rs128/382), but it is quicker to get a train or bus to Gandhidham to connect with the overnight Gandhidham Kutch Express (300km, seven hours). The total rail fare Bhuj is Rs115/410 in 2nd 1st class. Some travel agents are available for the reservations. Hemal Travels (Tel: 22491) offers this service, near the bus stand.

Road:
State transport buses and private luxury coaches connect various centres of Gujarat. Bhuj is connected by State highway to Ahmedabad by national highway No. 8A (310 Kms)

Buses are available from Bhuj to:

• Ahmedabad (hourly; 8-10hr);
• Bhavnaaar: (2 daily; 8hr);
• Gandhidham (every 30min; lhr);
• Jamnagar (5 daily; 7hr);
• Palanpur (5 daily; 8hr):
• Rajkot (10 daily; 6hr, Rs60).
• Mumbai (18 hours, Rs450),
• Ahmedabad (7hours, Rs90 /140)

Patel Tours, Sahjanand Tours and MK Tours can all book sleeper coaches. STC buses run to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan via Rathapur and Tarada (15 hours, Rs163). For other places in Rajasthan, such as Abu Rd, Ajmer and Jaipur, one will need to get a bus to Palanpur and a second bus from there. There are regular departures to the villages of Kuchh.A share taxi to Mandvi is Rs 20. They leave from the STC stand.

Getting Around
An auto-rickshaw to the railway station costs Rs 20, and to the airport, it costs at least Rs 30. From Darbar Gadh to the bus stand it costs maximum Rs 8. There are places renting bicycles along the road outside the bus stand (Rs 3 per hour, Rs 20 per day Scooters such as Vespas and Honda Heroes can be hired from the scooter hire shop close to the bus stand. The rent for a day is fixed at 200 to 250.

Accommodation
Bhuj's hotels and lodges still cater mainly to budget travelers, although a couple of more up-market hotels have opened recently.

Some hotels around Bhuj (Gandhidham)

• C. L. Sharma Resorts Private Limited
• Hotel Madhuban, Gandhidham
• Hotel Desert Palace
• Shiv Regency
• Sayaji Hotel
• Hotel Shiv
  

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