There were many forts in Kutch. Today some are in ruins and some are still in good condition.

Kanthkot (P) : Population 2,246

Kanthkot is an old fort about 5 km circularly situated on the top of an isolated rocky hill. This place was the capital of Kathis in 8th century and it was taken from them by the Chavdas. After the Chavdas, the Solankis came and after them the Vaghelas. Mod befriended Vaghela who not only gave Kanthkot but also his daughter in marriage to Mod’s son Sad. Sad lived in Kanthkot and made it his capital. Sad’s son Ful named the fort Kanthadurg. Bhimdev sought shelter from Mahmud of Ghazni in 11th century at Kanthkot. In 1816 it surrendered to the British who razed it to the ground. On the hill are remains of three temples of which one is dedicated to the ascetic Kanthadnath, the second a Jain temple and the third a temple of the sun.

Roha Fort

Roha fort is situated on the hillock of the same name, 50 km from Bhuj. It’s height is 500 feet from the ground level and 800 feet from the sea level. Roha was the leading Jagir of Kutch state and there were 52 villages under this Jagir. Rao Khengarji I (1510-1585) established Kutch and became a ruler of Kutch. His brother Sahebji set up Roha village and died after a battle with Raysinhji Zala of Halvad. After his death his successor Jiyaji built two big tanks on the Roha Hill. His son built a fort on Roha hill. Thakore Kalapi was famous poet in Gujrat. He wrote romantic poems at Roha hill because atmosphere of Roha was peaceful and close to the nature with many peacocks and other birds which can be seen here even now. Roha is called Sumari Roha after the princesses of the Sumara state Umarkot in Sindh. Fleeing Allaudin Khilji the princesses sought asylum with Abda, who died fighting Allaudin. Consequently the princesses took Samadhi at Roha. The present Thakore of Roha, Thakore Virensinhji Saheb lives in Bhuj and would like to develop the Roha hill as a tourist point.Tera lies 85 km west of the town of Bhuj.

Tera Fort

Tera Jagir consisted of 41 villages and was one of the largest Jagirs of Kutch state. There are Ramayan wall paintings in the Tera castle. There are elaborate carved and beautiful paintings on glass in the Jain temple. Bandhani (tie & dye), Block printing, mirror work, Jats embroidery are the main crafts of this town. There are many of wild life animals chinkara, Blue Bull, Wild Boar, Hyena, The Great Indian Bustard, Peacock, Black partridge, etc. A very famous Mahadev temple Pinglaswar is 35 km far from Tera.

The people of Kutch believe in simple living and high thinking. The staple food is Rotlas made of Bajri (millet) which the local relish with Butter milk or ‘Chhas’, Butter and Jaggery or ‘Gud’.’Khichhdi’ made of rice and dal (pulses) is liked by everyone.

If you visit any house first a glass of water is served as a custom. Tea which was unknown 60 years ago has become the universal drink among all classes of people. Milk based items like curd and ghee are very common in food preparation. Ground nut oil and ground nut is generally used to make the food more exotic.

The usually Kutchi Cusine consists of Roti or Rotlas, Curd, Butter milk, Dal, Curry, Vegetables, Papad, Kachumbar. Dry rotlis or Theplas and Khakras and Sev (of Gram Flour) are made and stored as food during travelling etc..

Now a days, food values are becoming more tasty and palatable than nutritious. The main delicacies in food items are- Khaman dokla, Gathia, Undhia, Muthia, Raita, Dahi wada, Kachori, Bhajia, Bhaji made of brinjal, bitter gourd and lady’s finger,etc.. As a change from normal food, Dabeli, Puri Shak, Pav Bhaji, Bhakarwadi, Papdi, Kadak, etc. have crept in.

There are many varities of sweets like- Adadiya, Gulab Pak, Son Papdi, Mohan thal, Pedas, Halwa, Gulab Jamun, Jalebi, etc.. Seeds of Dhaniya or Dhana dal, Betal Leaf or Pan with Supari is served after food as the last item.

Wild ASS

Equas hemionus Pallas (Khar Gaddha)—Kutch is well-known for its wild ass. This interesting animal is restricted to the fringes of the Little Rann of Kutch, more so on the southern side in Surendranagar district and around Jinjuvada. According to a rough ocular estimate made by the well-known conservationist Mr. E. P.. Gee in 196the population of wild asses was in the neighbourhood of 870. An aerial census of their population was made in October 1969 by the State Forest Department and their number was provisionally estimated at 362.1 Wild asses have been recently bred in a couple of zoos in the country. This will ensure the species from becoming extinct. The Rann is characterized by flat grassy expanses known as ‘ bets ‘ in which coarse grasses spring up vigorously with the monsoon inundations. When the tracts get flooded, herds of .

wild asses keep to the higher and drier portions on the ‘ bets ‘ moving freely from one elevation to another. As summer approaches and the grass in the ‘ bets ‘ withers, the wild asses shift to other ‘ bets ‘ which have perennial water supply and some green grass throughout the year and congregate in such places in large numbers. They are sturdy and well-built creatures and can gallop at about 50 km. per hour over considerable distances. It is difficult to catch them and more so to keep them in captivity. Young ones can be easily tamed. It is thirteen hands high. has a light brown neck and body, a black stripe down the back, and a white belly. Like the tame ass it has long ears, but its limbs are stronger and better made. Generally moving in herds of ten to fifty, it is sometimes found single or in pairs. According to the local belief, there are, in every herd of wild asses, besides young ones, several grown up animals both male and female. The former Gazetteer records that as each young male comes of age, he fights the head of the herd, and the loser is mutilated and becomes the victor’s follower.

Black Buck-Antelope Cervicapra (Linnaeus) (Kaliar)

His variety of deer is to be seen occasionally on alluvial sands along the shores of the Gulf of Kutch, while the Common Red Antelope-Gaz:ella henetUi ( Chinkara ) is found in the same places in much larger numbers. A fine male antelope of the Indian plains has long spiral horns. The older animal becomes deep black on the upper parts, in strong contrast with its white throat, belly and legs. Sought after by sportsmen and some of the villagers, its number which was once a justifiable pride of Kutch, has sadly diminished today. Bucks were plentiful on the low lying saline flats of Banni which provide grazing for the cattle raised in this area. Bucks need to be carefully husbanded so that their number can once again be an attraction to the tourists. Black bucks can run very fast and escape enemy by swift running.

Fleeing Allaudin Khilji the princesses sought asylum with Abda, who died fighting Allaudin. Consequently the princesses took Samadhi at Roha. The present Thakore of Roha, Thakore Virensinhji Saheb lives in Bhuj and would like to develop the Roha hill as a tourist point.

Fox-Vulpes bengalensis (Shaw) (Lonkadi)

Three varieties found in Kutch are (i) common grey Indian fox;(ii) white with black belly and legs, and (iii) large English-like fox of a light brown colour with a white point to his brush. Known as lonkadi it is quite active. This animal is normally found in burrows in fields and open lands. In Kutch it is common in the shrubby open lands but not in the desert. It lives on frogs, reptiles, birds, insects, etc., also feeds on fallen fruits and berries and is a menace to melon plantations. These animals have notable speed which helps them in their defence against other animals.

Aina Mahal

The heritage of Kutch art and culture is displayed in the Madansihji museum (Aina mahal) Bhuj. The last ruler of Kutch Maharao Madansinhji established the “Maharao of Kutch Aina Mahal Trust on 1st January, 1977. Aina Mahal means a mirror palace. It was created by the artists Ramsinh & Gaidhar Devshi in the period of Maharao Lakhpatji (1752-61).
In 1757, Rao Lakhpatji visited the emperor Alamgir in Delhi. He was graced with the title of Mahi Maratib. He welcomed foreigners in his court. Fortune brought him a man named Ramsingh malam who specialized in Kutchi architecture, enamel work, jewellery, tile work and interior decoration.

The great master piece of Ramsingh is the Hall of Mirrors in the Aina Mahal. The walls are white marble covered with mirror which are separated by gilded ornaments. The hall is lit by elaborate pendant candelabra with shades of Venetian glass. The hall of mirrors is on the second floor of the Aina Mahal but Ramsingh devised ingenious pumps and siphons to raise up water to fill the pleasure pool and to operate fountains which cast spray in an intricate variety of patterns charming the eye and cooling the air.

The small state apartment, carpeted with exquisite Kutchi silk embroidery, its walls paneled high with the same priceless fabrics still contains Maharao Lakhpatji’s bed. The hall is filled with a miscellaneous collection of objects; a Dutch Clock, English and French celestial globes, some antique pictures, mechanical toys, glass and china. On the walls of the corridor are a variety of pictures, some European and many Indian. The Aina Mahal alone cost eight million kories and was only one of the many enterprises which the Maharao and Ramsingh undertook together.

The Kutch Museum

The Kutch Museum at Bhuj initially formed part of the School of Art established by Maharao Khengarji on 1st July, 1877. It is the oldest museum of Gujrat. At the time of Maharao Khengarji’s marriage, an exhibition of 5897 items were exhibited and items worth Rs. 3300 were given to the Museum which necessitated the construction of a new building.

Accordingly, on 14th November, 1884, the foundation stone for the present museum building was laid. The building consisting of 2 floors cost Rs. 32000. The museum is situated almost on the banks of the beautiful Hamirsar lake and just opposite the Nazar Baugh garden.
Tera lies 85 km west of the town of Bhuj. Tera castle on the western edge of the state of Gujrat dominates the plains of Kutch from its position on the banks of Tretara (Three lakes) namely Chattasar, Sumerasar and Chatasar.

Bharatiya Sanskruti Darshan

Mr Ramsinhji K Rathod a scholar of the folk art of Kutch and winner of many state Government awards has created an excellent museum in Bhuj which is called Bharatiya Sanskruti Darshan.

he museum epitomizes the rustic life styles of the Kutchi villager containing around 4500 exhibits. Also, there are more than 1500 rare books on art and culture.This museum has five major sections. In the Ethnological section, Sahitya Chitra, in the central hall can be found rare works of literature. In other sections are interesting artifacts such as leather embroidery, wood work, wood carvings, terra cotta, wall paintings, bead work, stone carvings, musical instruments, knives and swords and silver work.Inside one of the huts is the intricately designed “Kothala” (the treasury). In olden times, ornaments money, and other valuables of the royalty were kept in the “Kothala”.