madhapar.in
Kutch · Gujarat · India

Welcome to Madhapar

A historic Kutchi village-town next to Bhuj, known for its lakes and temples, its worldwide diaspora, and the women who rebuilt the Bhuj airstrip in 1971. Here's a simple guide for visitors.

Places to seeHow to get here
c. 1473–74Village founded
~6 kmfrom Bhuj town
370020PIN code
Gujarati · KutchiLanguages

About Madhapar

Madhapar sits on the edge of Bhuj in Kutch (Kachchh) district, Gujarat. It's often described as one of the richest villages in India, and even in Asia, measured by bank deposits. Media reports put the total at around ₹5,000–7,000 crore spread across about 17 bank branches. The town has roughly 32,000 residents.

Much of that wealth comes from the village's large diaspora. Families, many of them Leva Patel (Kanbi) and Mistri, emigrated to East Africa from around the turn of the 20th century, and later to the UK and elsewhere. Many keep close ties with the village and return regularly. The UK-based Kutch Madhapar Community helps keep that heritage alive.

Today Madhapar has well-maintained roads, many temples, two large lakes and a cluster of banks: a prosperous town that still feels like a village.

The 300 women of Madhapar

Pakistani air strikes damaged the Bhuj airstrip during the 1971 India–Pakistan war. Around 300 women from Madhapar volunteered to repair the runway, and it was usable again within about 72 hours. A war memorial honouring them, the Virangana Smarak, was inaugurated in August 2015. Their story was later retold in the Hindi film Bhuj: The Pride of India.

A short timeline

  • 1473–74 (VS 1529): Madha Kanji Solanki of the Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya (Mistri) community moves from Dhaneti and founds the village, which takes his name. This first settlement is today's Junavas ("old residence").
  • c. 1576 (VS 1633): The Patel Kanbi community settles in Madhapar.
  • c. 1857: Navavas ("new residence") is founded as the village grows.
  • 1880s–1900: Temples are built by a local railway contractor, the first boys' school opens (1884) and the first girls' school follows (1900). Jagasagar lake is built around 1900.
  • Early 1900s: The first villagers emigrate to Africa, starting the diaspora.
  • 1960s–70s: Madhapar families settle in the UK.
  • 1971: Around 300 women of Madhapar help rebuild the bombed Bhuj airstrip.
  • 26 Jan 2001: The Gujarat earthquake causes heavy damage across Kutch, and the community rebuilds.
  • 2015: The Virangana Smarak war memorial is inaugurated.

Getting there

Madhapar is about 6 km from Bhuj, the main town of Kutch, so you'll almost always travel through Bhuj.

By air

Bhuj Airport (BHJ)

Gujarat Tourism puts Bhuj's domestic airport (Shyamji Krishna Varma Airport) about 4 km from the city. It has direct flights to Mumbai; check airlines for current schedules.

Open in Maps

By train

Bhuj Railway Station

Bhuj is on the broad-gauge network, with daily trains to and from Mumbai and Delhi via Ahmedabad. Gandhidham, about 80 km away, has more long-distance trains. Book through IRCTC.

IRCTC · Open in Maps

By road

Bus, taxi or car

State-run (GSRTC) and private buses link Kutch with all major cities in Gujarat, and some routes reach Maharashtra and Rajasthan. From Bhuj, Madhapar is a short auto-rickshaw or taxi ride.

GSRTC buses · Bhuj → Madhapar route

Places to see

Start in Madhapar itself, then explore Bhuj next door and the wider sights of Kutch.

In Madhapar

Memorial

Virangana Smarak

The war memorial to the 300 women who rebuilt the Bhuj airstrip in 1971, inaugurated in 2015.

Find on Maps
Temple

Suralbhit Temple

A hilltop temple on the outskirts of the village. Nearby is a stepped pond built by Karasan Bhima Rathod.

Find on Maps
Lakes

Jagasagar & Meghrajji lakes

Madhapar's two large lakes. Railway contractor Jagamal Bhima Rathod built Jagasagar around 1900. Meghrajji Lake is named after a ruler of Cutch State.

Find on Maps
Heritage

Village temples

Mistri Mandan Jiwani Chauhan, a railway contractor, built the Old Thakor Mandir, Shiva Mandir and Barla Temple around 1880–90. A Swaminarayan temple followed in 1949. Hanuman Mandir stands at the entrance to Navavas.

Temples on Maps
Memorial & museum

Smritivan, Bhujiyo Hill

A memorial park and earthquake museum on Bhujiyo Hill in Bhuj, remembering the victims of the 2001 earthquake. It opened in 2022 and covers 470 acres. The museum's published hours are 10am–6pm, Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays).

Official site

In Bhuj

Palace

Aina Mahal

The 18th-century "Palace of Mirrors", built for Maharao Lakhpatji by Ram Singh Malam. Its museum includes a 15 m scroll of a royal procession.

Gujarat Tourism
Palace

Prag Mahal

An Italian-Gothic palace from the 1860s next to Aina Mahal, with a Durbar Hall and a 45 m bell tower overlooking the city.

District info · Official site
Museum

Kachchh Museum

Founded in 1877, this is Gujarat's oldest museum. Its collections include Kshatrapa inscriptions, coins including the kori, textiles, arms and tribal culture.

District info
Lake

Hamirsar Lake

Bhuj's historic artificial lake, around 450 years old. It's a good place for a stroll.

Incredible India
Crafts

Bhujodi

A weaving and crafts village about 8 km south-east of Bhuj, home to many Vankar weaving families and nearby craft centres.

Gujarat Tourism

Further afield in Kutch

Must-see

White Rann & Dhordo

The vast white salt desert of the Great Rann, best seen in winter and on full-moon nights. Dhordo hosts the Rann Utsav tent city. Everyone needs an entry permit, which you can get online or at the Bhirandiyara check post.

Online permit · District info
Viewpoint

Kalo Dungar (Black Hill)

The highest point in Kutch, at 462 m, about 90 km north of Bhuj. It has sweeping views over the Great Rann and a temple to Lord Dattatreya. It's an army area, so photography may be restricted.

Gujarat Tourism
UNESCO

Dholavira

A Harappan city on Khadir island in the Great Rann, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.

UNESCO
Coast

Mandvi Beach & Vijay Vilas Palace

A sandy beach known for its sunsets and water sports. Nearby is the red-sandstone Vijay Vilas Palace.

Mandvi Beach · Vijay Vilas

Where to stay & eat

We don't list or recommend individual businesses yet. These links open live Google Maps searches, so you can compare current options, reviews and opening hours.

🏨 Hotels in Madhapar 🏨 Hotels in Bhuj 🏡 Guest houses 🍛 Restaurants in Madhapar 🥘 Gujarati thali in Bhuj ☕ Cafés 🍬 Sweet & snack shops 🧵 Handicraft shops

Visiting the White Rann in season? The official Rann Utsav tent city at Dhordo takes bookings at rannutsav.net, the site Gujarat Tourism links to.

Local services

Emergency numbers (free, all over India and Gujarat):

112All emergencies
(police, fire, ambulance)
108Ambulance
(Gujarat, 24/7)
181Abhayam women's helpline
1800 203 1111Gujarat Tourism
toll-free
Hospital

G. K. General Hospital, Bhuj

The district hospital, run under the Gujarat Adani Institute of Medical Sciences (GAIMS). It's opposite Lotus Colony on Madhapar Road, Bhuj.

District listing · Maps
Health

Clinics & pharmacies

Find nearby clinics, hospitals and chemists.

Hospitals · Pharmacies
Money

Banks & ATMs

Madhapar has a well-known cluster of bank branches. Reports mention SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis, PNB and Union Bank among them.

Banks · ATMs
Police

Police

Dial 112 in an emergency. For non-urgent matters, find the nearest police station.

Police stations
Post

Post office

Madhapar's PIN code is 370020. Look up post offices on India Post.

India Post · Maps
Transport

Getting around

Auto-rickshaws, taxis and buses connect Madhapar and Bhuj.

Taxis · Bhuj bus station · Fuel

Best time to visit & events

❄️ Winter (around Nov–Feb)

Cool, dry weather and the best time for sightseeing and the White Rann.

🌕 Rann Utsav 2026–27

The tent city at Dhordo runs from 1 November 2026 to 7 March 2027. Full-moon nights are the most popular.

Source: rannutsav.net

🌧️ Monsoon

The Great Rann can flood and look more like an inland sea than a white desert. Check conditions before planning a Rann trip.