Anjar

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"Medieval Capital of Kutch"

Anjar Tourism

Anjar is a town and municipality in Kutch District, Gujarat. With over 1,400 years of history, it is known as the oldest town in Kutch. Anjar is famous for its cuisine, its known for the gher and dabeli. It has also been a centre for trade and commerce in Kutch for eons, being a target of invasion in medieval times and during the British colonisation.

There are many ancient temples & shrines in Anjar including the Madhavrai Temple, Mohanrai Temple and Amba Mata's Shrine, the most famous of them all being the Jesal Toral Samadhi

The desert climate in this region is prone to witness earthquakes which has left many ruins in the city through the centuries. The town is also witness to earthquakes that have left the city with many ruins through the centuries. The 2001 Kutch earthquake caused the loss of more than 1,500 Anjari lives and the destruction of 1,350 homes. The town has tales to tell. 

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History of Anjar

It is believed that Ajepal the Warrior, the brother of the King of Ajmer, led a group of early settlers to Anjar in 650 AD. Soon, the settlement flourished and a centre for trade and commerce was born. Ajepal began developing a paternal role for this settlement and slowly grew to be the defender of the town. He is worshipped as a saint here and a temple has been dedicated to him at the outskirts of Anjar.

It was ruled by various clans including the Chaulukyas, eventually being in control of the Jadeja rulers, who declared Anjar as the capital of Kutch in 1545.

In the 1700s, the Sonara dynasty took over the region, establishing the Tuna harbour.

In 1815, the British East India Company began controlling the region but, to their disappointment, the earthquake of 1819 caused irreparable damage to the town bringing the population to a mere 10,000. After this, the British gave the Jadeja rulers the power to manage the region for an annual fee agreed upon.

Culture of Anjar

Anjar has experienced alot over the centuries and the culture of Anjar speaks for itself. There was a time where those similar lived in clans separated by wards. Each ward was locally known as a 'fariya'. Having matured through human differences, the town is now accepting and amicable. Most of the locals are of diverse faiths - Hindu, Jain or Muslim.

Economy of Anjar

Anjar has been a centre of trade and commerce for centuries, including having been declared the capital of the Kingdom of Kutch in 1545. Modern day Anjar has strong trade links with Adipur, Nhuj, Gandhidham and Kandla in Gujarat. The Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) estate is also located here. Handicrafts, metal crafts and local embroidery and garments are Anjar's specialty. Metal crafts, specially swords and knives, also have an export market.

Food of Anjar

The cuisine of Anjar is an amalgam of both exclusivity and tradition. Anjar has also been the origin for some of the most-loved North Indian street food such as Dabeli, Kutchi Pakwan, Peda, Kutchi Khaja and Farsan. The city also has a line of excellent restaurants serving local, Indian and international food.

Much of Gujarat's culinary also has a tinge of Rajasthani flavours with regard to its presentation and taste. However, food in Gujarat, much like Rajasthan, is vastly vegetarian with homemade khichdi; a mixture of rice, lentils and beans, buttermilk and pickle being the staple of the state.

Gujarat also stands out for its touch of sweetness across many of the region's regular stream of street food and snacks such as Khakhra, Thepla, Fafda and the famous Farsan. 

Places of Interest in Anjar

If in Anjar, do visit the famous Jesal Toral Samadhi and the MacMurdo bungalow. The bungalow is a state protected monument due to his wall paintings of Lords Ram and Krishna.

Temples & Shrines: There are many ancient temples & shrines in Anjar including the Madhavrai Temple, Mohanrai Temple and Amba Mata's Shrine. Fragments from older temples can clearly be seen placed or reincorporated into the renovations over the years. There is a monastery here that belongs to the Atits of Ajepal, the warrior who founded Anjar. There are newer temples such as the Kalya Mahadev's temple, Trimandir and Hanumanji Mandir as well.

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How to Reach Anjar

How to Reach Overview

Anjar is reachable via airways, roadways and railways. However, the city is comparatively well-connected through road. Anjar does not have an airport, but the Rudra Mata Airport in Bhuj is the closest, about 44km away. The railway station in Anjar is located at Navhagam, which is about a kilometre from the city. The city has well-connected regular transit lines plying to major nearby and faraway cities such as Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Pune, Udaipur, Rajkot, Indore and Bhopal. 

Roadways to Anjar are well-connected and quite satisfactorily maintained as well. The Anjar Bus Station situated in Kushal Nagar is just about one to 2 kilometres from the city centre. There are ample cab or self-drive options from various cities within Gujarat such as Mehsana, Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Palanpur. There are efficient roadways outside the state as well.

How to reach Anjar by flight

The Rudra Mata Airport, also known as the Bhuj Airport and the Kandla Airport are the nearest airports to Anjar city, with each being at a distance of about 43 to 57 km and 12 km respectively. There are an array of connecting flights to the Bhuj Airport from prominent cities such as Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi and Marmagao.

However, direct flights ply only between Mumbai and Bhuj. The distance between the Bhuj Airport and Anjar city can be covered via a one hour to one hour and 30 minute-taxi drive. The Kandla Airport only avails three airlines; Spicejet, Trujet and the Alliance Air, only between Nashik, Ahmedabad and Mumbai. 

The Govardhan Airport, also known as the Jamnagar Airport is also in the radar of being the closest airport to Anjar, but with a vast distance of about 227 km away, approximately a 4 to 5-hour drive. Jamnagar hosts airlines across an extended list of cities including Kochi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Delhi and Chennai. 

How to reach Anjar by road

Drives to Anjar can be quite lengthy and inconvenient from far off places. However, it can be an option for nearby starting points such as Bhuj, Jamnagar, Lakhpat, Dholavira, Anand and Himatnagar. Taxis can be a great way to cover distances between Anjar city and railway stations and the airport. There are ample long drive choices within the vast state of Gujarat itself. 

How to reach Anjar by train

The Anjar Railway Station, also known as the Navgaham Station in Kushal Nagar hosts railway connectivity from cities such as Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bhuj, Gwalior, Bangalore, Pune, Patan. However, these journies are comparatively much more time consuming than road routes.

Some of the regular trains plying from the Navhagam Railway Station are:
  • The Jaipur Special
  • BRC Bhuj Special
  • JP BDTS Special
  • The Pune Bhuj Express 
  • Kutch Express
  • Bareilly Express and
  • The Ala Hazrat Express

How to reach Anjar by bus

Anjar plies both regular day rides and night journey buses from nearby cities and towns such as Bhuj, Bhachau, Gandhigam, Ahmedabad and Adipur. There are an array of buses to Anjar from major cities such as Jamnagar, Surat, Udaipur, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ujjain, Indore, Pune and Kochi.

Anjar hosts a span of bus drop-off locations such as Chitrakoot Circle, Anjar Municipal Garden, Bagicho Circle and Savaser Naka. However, some of the more extensive routes would not have direct bus facilities but would require shifting at junctions to proceed with the trip. 

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Anjar

FAQs on Anjar

What is famous about Anjar?

Rich, ancient culture.

What is not so good about Anjar?

Not very well maintained.

Who should visit Anjar?

Those curious about history and culture.

What is the best time to visit Anjar?

Winters (November-February) is the best time to visit Anjar. The weather is pleasant. The Rann Festival is also organised during the same time, increasing the scope for a lot of activities in and around the region. Summers should be avoided as temperatures rise upto 45°C.
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What is the best way to reach Anjar?

Anjar is reachable via airways, roadways and railways. However, the city is comparatively well-connected through road. Anjar does not have an airport, but the Rudra Mata Airport in Bhuj is the closest, about 44km away. The railway station in Anjar is located at Navhagam, which is about a kilometre from the city. The city has well-connected regular transit lines plying to major nearby and faraway cities such as Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Pune, Udaipur, Rajkot, Indore and Bhopal. 

Roadways to Anjar are well-connected and quite satisfactorily maintained as well. The Anjar Bus Station situated in Kushal Nagar is just about one to 2 kilometres from the city centre. There are ample cab or self-drive options from various cities within Gujarat such as Mehsana, Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Palanpur. There are efficient roadways outside the state as well.
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What are the places near Anjar?

The top places near to Anjar are Kutch which is 71 km from Anjar, Bhuj which is located 39 km from Anjar, Dwarka which is located 145 km from Anjar, Porbandar which is located 168 km from Anjar, Mount abu which is located 319 km from Anjar

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