The restoration of the dilapidated Bhujiyo Kotho gives the historic watchtower a renewed life. Once neglected on the edge of Ranmal Lake, the monument now regains its architectural presence. The restoration also re-establishes Bhujiyo Kotho as a cultural anchor for the city. By reconnecting the monument with contemporary life, the project helps revive the city’s historic character and urban identity.
Bhujiyo Kotho Restoration Revives Jamnagar’s Historic Watchtower and Its Architectural Legacy | Sahaj Creations
Bhujiyo Kotho was built as a drought relief construction beside the massive fort wall of Jamnagar’s old city. Historical records date its construction to 1839 A.D., during the reign of Jam Ranmalji II, the Jadeja Rajput King. The construction took 13 years to complete. In 1956, Jamnagar declared Bhujiyo Kotho its second heritage structure after the Indian Heritage Bill came into effect. However, the 2001 earthquake caused major damage to the structure. Authorities prohibited visitors due to safety concerns.
Bhujiyo Kotho once stood 42 metres tall and served as a key surveillance and defensive structure. Today, neglect and expanding urban development have weakened its monumental presence.
Our proposal focuses on the restoration, rebuilding, and consolidation of the severely damaged Bhujiyo Kotho. The project aims to create a sustainable model that can carry the monument’s legacy into the future. It preserves the heritage of “The Jams” of Jamnagar while giving Bhujiyo Kotho a renewed purpose. The restored monument now houses a visitors’ gallery that recalls a bygone era. It also continues its role as a present-day watchtower.
The restoration included reproducing the fallen parts of Bhujiyo Kotho, including the inner core, porch, and stairs. The team also rebuilt the bridging structure along the eastern rampart. It removed earlier cement work that had affected the durability of the limestone. The restoration team rebuilt the middle ambulatory structure using the original Otho Dongo construction technique. This method helped retain the monument’s original character and construction language. The team also restored the peripheral finishes of the first-level cylindrical structure using the same technique.
To complete the restoration, the team removed small structures that had been built against the Kotho. It also reproduced the damaged upper storeys, which reduce in diameter as they rise.
The Otho Dongo technique gained popularity in the region due to limited availability of marble, which was typically used to achieve smooth and reflective surfaces. The Otho Dongo method utilized a mixture called “Otho”, which consisted of natural materials such as limestone, sand, powdered limestone, soapstone, tamarind, frankincense, glue, fenugreek, wood apple, jaggery juice and shwetfal. Additionally, a coating known as “Dongo”, made from soft stone-powder, dolomite and zinc, was applied to the surfaces.
The restored structure is articulated through concentric geometries, where the ground floor spans a 25-metre diameter circle, gradually receding upwards in a tiered, pyramidal manner. This formal recession not only generates a sense of vertical progression and hierarchy but also establishes a rhythm of open and semi-open thresholds. At the uppermost level, a carved-out chamber within the thick walls offers a spatial climax—a threshold between containment and openness. Here, the geometry resolves into an octagonal pavilion supporting the roof, symbolically marking the transition from earthly mass to celestial elevation.
The 4-metre-thick walls emphasize fortress-like robustness while simultaneously enclosing intimate chambers, where deep window recesses, balconies, and projecting jharokhas punctuate the solid volume to mediate between inside and outside. These apertures allow fleeting glimpses of the city, reinforcing the tower’s role as both a watching device and a civic landmark.
Fact File
Designed by: Sahaj Creations
Project Type: Restoration and Conservation, Reproduction
Project Name: Rebuilding Bhujiyo Kotho
Location: Jamnagar, Gujarat, India
Year Built: 2025
Duration of the project: 5 Years
Project Size: 26910 Sq. ft
Project Cost: 25 Crores
Principal Architect: Ar. Sachin Vyas
Team Design Credits: Er. Nandan Bhatt, Id. Grishma Gajjar, Id. Rishi Shah, Ar. Gopi Jadvani, Ar. Jay Sonagara, Ar. Jay Vaishnav, Id. Chirag Markana, Ar. Sarala Vyas, Prasanna Vyas
Photograph Courtesy: dikunjvaghela
Firm’s Website Link: Sahaj Creations
Firm’s Instagram Link: Sahaj Creations
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