Watch Day: Revisiting The Historic Hamirsar Water System of Bhuj.

Watch Day: Revisiting The Historic Hamirsar Water System of Bhuj.

The evening breeze from the Chattardi Talav whistled through Khengar Park. The trees stood tall, glittering with warm lights. At the far end of the main entrance, a huge LED screen faced rows of neatly arranged white chairs, waiting for the participants to be seated. It was the 10th of October - Watch Day in Bhuj.

Before we go further, let's talk a little about the Hamirsar Water System and the Watch Day.

Hamirsar Water System: Lifeline of an Arid Landscape

Bhuj lies in an arid, saline landscape — a place where surviving the harsh environment is a challenge. The historic Hamirsar Water Management System was built about 450 years ago, during the reign of Rao Khengarji, to meet the water needs of the region. But Hamirsar is more than just a human-made lake-it runs deep into the cultural and emotional life of Bhuj and its people.

Every year, when the rains come and the lake fills, the whole city feels its warmth. When it overflows, Bhuj celebrates with joy and hope. People distribute Meghladoos (a type of sweet) as a symbol of happiness, and the next day is declared a public holiday.

Spread over 28 acres, the lake took decades to develop and come to be as it seems today. A network of canals and tunnels was built to collect water from surrounding catchments and recharge the groundwater. The Hamirsar system includes three main feeder canals, 72 water bodies of different sizes, several small streams, and a mix of natural and man-made drainage systems with flood control gates. Despite being the lifeline of Bhuj, the Hamirsar system is facing serious challenges today.

Once, Bhuj had nearly 80 water bodies, with rapid urbanisation after the 2001 earthquake and encroachments that blocked natural water flow have caused severe damage to the historic lake system. Presently, only half of them appear, many in poor conditions, facing threats of encroachment, sewage inflow, waste dumping, etc. In the past decade alone, the groundwater level has dropped by almost 12 metres (India Water Porter, May 2023), signalling an alarming future.

Amid this arid landscape, shifting climate patterns, and rising water demands, it has become more vital than ever to revisit the story of the Hamirsar water system - a remarkable water system that once sustained Bhuj’s water needs. Watch Day holds a special significance in celebrating and reflecting on this legacy.

Watch Day

Watch Day is an initiative of the World Monuments Watch (WMW) - a biennial programme by the World Monuments Fund (WMF) that spreads awareness and supports restoration of endangered heritage sites.

This year, following relentless efforts, Bhuj’s historic water system was included among the 25 global heritage sites recognised by the World Monuments Watch 2025. As part of this recognition, Watch Day was observed in Bhuj on October 10, 2025, through a series of events aimed at raising awareness among citizens and exploring ways to make Bhuj self-sufficient in water once again.

The Day Begins

The programme started with a guided bus tour from the Lakki Catchment. The Lakki catchment was one of Bhuj’s key water sources, beginning at Lakki hill along the Mundra Road and flowing toward Hamirsar Lake through Mirzapar, Umasar Lake, and the 24 Wells. The tour highlighted the intricate network of old rainwater channels and reservoirs that once ensured the city’s water security. It was followed by a public gathering at the open ground of Khengar Park, near Chattardi Talav.

The event was jointly organised by World Monuments Fund India (WMFI), the Centre for Heritage Conservation (CHC) at CEPT Research and Development Foundation, Homes in the City (HIC), and the Bhuj Municipality.

Officers from the Revenue Department, District Inspector of Land Records (DILR), Irrigation Department, Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), and Bhuj Municipality, along with faculty and students from R. R. Lalan College and Polytechnic College, participated in the tour.

Jayanti Gorsiya from Arid Communities and Technologies (ACT) led the group, explaining how the rainwater that once flowed seamlessly from Lakki Catchment to Hamirsar has now diminished because of unplanned urban expansion and changes in land use. He pointed out that the water flow near Silver Society in Lakki Catchment has been diverted towards Badami Chela, drastically reducing the inflow into Hamirsar. The lake now fills with only 5 to 7 inches of rainfall, while earlier it required about 25 inches.

A conversation with residents was held at Sahyognagar 24 Wells - locally known as ‘Chowvis Kuas’ - which was built to transport water from the Umasar reservoir to the Hamirsar lake. Participants also visited Sahyogvan, a green community space developed by residents under guidance and partial support from HIC.

Public Meeting

At the public event held in Khengar Park, Prof. Jigna Desai, Head of the Centre for Heritage Conservation at CEPT University, highlighted how the collaboration between HIC and CEPT played a pivotal role in Bhuj’s inclusion among the 25 significant heritage sites on the World Monuments Watch 2025 list.

Malini Thadani, Executive Director of World Monuments Fund India, congratulated the people of Bhuj, remarking that being selected from among 253 global nominations was a remarkable achievement. She applauded the collective commitment of Bhuj’s citizens and institutions to preserving the city’s living heritage and natural assets.

A twenty-minute video presentation, prepared by Jayashree Bardhan and Harshada Warrier from CEPT, was screened during the event. The film portrayed the historical evolution, cultural connection, and present condition of the Hamirsar Lake and Bhuj’s traditional water management system in detail. It highlighted how Hamirsar played a crucial role in making an arid landscape like Bhuj water-sufficient.

Reflecting on the transformations in Bhuj’s water system over the past three decades, Yogesh Jadeja, Director of ACT, noted that this global recognition offers a timely opportunity to revive and sustain the city’s historic water infrastructure. He emphasised the need to blend traditional wisdom with modern practices to secure Bhuj’s water future.

Thakore Shri Mayurdhwajsinh ji Jadeja and Arun Vachharajani, Steering Committee Member of Homes in the City, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the World Monuments Watch for acknowledging Bhuj’s living heritage. They called upon citizens to take collective responsibility for conserving the city’s natural resources and strengthening its deep-rooted relationship with water.

Restore Hamirsar for a better tomorrow

Bhuj’s population is growing rapidly - and so are its water needs. Once a self-sufficient city, Bhuj now depends heavily on external sources for its water supply, with nearly 70% drawn from the Narmada Canal. However, such dependence on outside sources is not a reliable long-term solution. Water scarcity affects the most vulnerable sections of society first and most severely.

It is therefore critical to restore and revive the Hamirsar Water System. HIC partner Arid Communities and Technologies (ACT) has already demonstrated several successful models within Bhuj to move towards self-sufficiency - through groundwater recharge, lake restoration, and rainwater harvesting.

In the past, Bhuj had a clear path to manage its own water challenges. Now, it is time to revisit that path and revive the long-overlooked system that sustained the city for centuries. As citizens of Bhuj, we must carry forward the spirit of Watch Day - to protect, restore, and rebuild the Hamirsar Water System, and make Bhuj self-sufficient in water once again.