Bhrigu’s City

Bharuch — known in antiquity as Bhrigukachchha or Barygaza — is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in India, and it takes its name from the great sage Bhrigu, who by tradition settled here on the banks of the Narmada. For over two thousand years, Bharuch was among the most important ports of the western coast, a gateway of maritime trade linking India with Arabia, Persia, Egypt, Greece and Rome — its name (as Barygaza) appears in ancient Greek and Roman texts. Spices, textiles, gems and ideas flowed through its harbour. Though the sea trade has long since moved on, the city retains the deep layering of its history: the ancient Bhrigu Rishi temple, old neighbourhoods, the fort, and the timeless presence of the Narmada flowing past. To explore “Bhrigu’s City” is to walk through an extraordinary depth of time — a place that was a great cosmopolitan port when most cities were villages, and which still honours the sage whose name it bears. For the visitor, Bharuch’s ancient identity is the thread that ties together its temples, river and old town — best appreciated with a sense of its remarkable antiquity. (The ancient heritage of Bharuch, named for sage Bhrigu; an old Narmada port city; a historical-cultural attraction.)