Location: Darbargarh, Bhuj

Site School since: August 2022

Custodian: M.M.K.B. Trust

Site School In-charge: Shriraj Gohil

Contact: chc@cept.ac.in

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Bhuj Darbargadh has been the capital of the Kutch state since the establishment of Kutch. Kutch has established itself as a superpower and Darbargadh was a symbol of the ultimate authority of the region of Kutch, Saurashtra, and Kathiyawad. Nagarkhana is considered one of the earliest establishments of the Darbargadh. Nagarkhana is the fort gate and the main entrance to the Darbargadh of Bhuj. It used to be a two-story fort gate where the first story was used by the musicians who used to play five times a day and the second story was used more as a spectator's lounge. The whole structure was beautifully ornamented and had references from the last five centuries. Culturally it has references to motifs from the culture of Kutch, Dutch, Middle Eastern, and Indian Subcontinent.

 

In the 2001 earthquake, the Nagarkhana got heavily damaged with the rest of the Darbargadh. Nagarkhana lost its two stories and the ornament elevation on both sides.  Late HH Maharao Saheb Pragmulji III himself took the charge of restoring the Darbargadh starting with Pragmahal. In the year 2021, HH Maharani Saheb Pritidevi of Kutch continued the work starting with the restoration plans of Nagarkhana post demise of HH Maharao Saheb Pragmulji III of Kutch. 

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CHC CRDF and M.M.K.B. Trust have signed an M.O.U. for this site to be a CEPT Conservation Site School since August 2022.

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