Hotel Ritish

Bhuj, formerly sacred to the snake Bhujang, was established byRao Hamirjiin 1510 and was made the capital ofCutch Stateby RaoKhengarji Iin 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital was formally laid onVikram Samvat1604Maagha5th (approx. 25 January 1548). After 1590, when Rao was forced to acknowledgeMughal supremacy, Bhuj was known as Suleiman Nagar among Muslims. The walls were built by RaoGodji Iin 1723[dubiousdiscuss], and theBhujiya Fortby Devkaran Seth in RaoDeshalji I's time (1718 - 1741).

Bhuj has been attacked six times. In two cases the defense was successful and in four it failed. In 1728 an attack by Sarbuland Khan, Mughal Viceroy of Gujarat, was repulsed by RaoDeshalji I, and, in 1765Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhorowas, by a timely display of the strength of the fortifications, induced to withdraw. During the civil troubles of the reign of the RaoRayadhan III, Bhuj was thrice taken, by Meghji Seth in 1786, by Hansraj in 1801, and byFateh Muhammadin 1808. On the 26th March 1819, the hill fort of Bhujia was captured by a British detachment under Sir William Keir.