Dutch Cemetery, Bharuch, Gujarat.

In ancient India, Bharuch was an important trading port with merchants from the Arabian Peninsula using this port for trading with the lucrative Indian market. The British and the Dutch (Valandas) noted Bharuch’s importance and established their business centers here. In the 17th century the Dutch and British made it a center of their cotton purchases in Gujarat, and commercial warehouses were established in 1616 and 1618 by the British and Dutch (Valanda) respectively.



Around 1000-year-old Bharuch Fort, built by Siddhraj Jaysinh, the then king of Gujarat. The fort is situated on a hill top which overlooks the Narmada river. Around 3 km (1.9 mi.) from the fort there are some early Dutch tombs. It is located at Kukarwada village near Bambakhana area. This cemetery was established in 16th Century by the Dutch community who used to live in Bharuch.




The Irony about this monument is No Fencing around the cemetery. Artistic Dome of Monument is used to create connection of an electricity. Cemetery contains tombs which are broken and not able to read the content on it. Also, Unnecessary Acacia around the monument which covers most part of cemetery. The CNO Foundation (at the Rijksmuseum) tried to save as much as possible of the Indian-Dutch monuments. Unfortunately, CNO did not survive.

Picture Credit: Parth Vaghela
Location: Bharuch, Gujarat, India

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