'Tera' - A Heritage Village

‘Tera’ – A Heritage Village

TERA is a small village in Abdasa taluka of Kachchh district in Gujarat. Kachchh is famed for its many religious shrines, architecture, crafts and folk traditions. Tera presents all these marvels of the region. It has therefore been declared a Heritage Village by the Government of Gujarat.

Tera is about 85 km west of Bhuj near Naliya, the taluka headquarters and 415 km from Ahmedabad. The Tera River flows north to north-west along the boundary of the village.

According to folklore, it was called Tera because it was sold for Tera (thirteen) thousand koris (the old currency of Kachchh). The name is also said to have been derived from the word Tretera, which suggests its geographical position on the confluence of three lakes.

Tera is believed to be a thousand years old. A paliyo (engraved memorial stone) found here records the existence of the place 750 years ago. But its history is traceable from the 500 years old ancestry of the Jadeja and Sumara Kings, the Bhayat rulers of Kachchh, who played an important role in its establishment and development. Of them, Rao Deshalji (1819-60) of Kachchh built various structures here and granted the place as a jagir of 50 villages.

About Tera

Entry to the village is through a large square, where banyan trees with seating arrangements around them and an Ashokstambh with stone railing welcome visitors. The straight, narrow streets, based on mediaeval town planning principles, intersect almost at right angles. The imposing fort wall and strategically built gates transport one back in time.

Tera has been home to many well-known entrepreneurial families. Its 2,700 residents (census of 2001) are mainly from the Bhanushali, Koli, Harijan, Parghi, Muslim, Jain, Luhana, Rajput and Brahmin communities. Most of them are farmers. The bandhani (tie-and-dye) work of Tera is famous, and forms the livelihood of 360 families. Some families practise block printing work. Besides many old and graceful historical structures, the Tera Bazaar, tea shop, craftsmen in their workshops and other traditional sights are all captivating. With the desert and the sea nearby, Tera is also an attraction for nature lovers, who can observe rich fauna including species such as Chinkara, Chital, Nilgiri, Jackal, Wolf and Hyena. There are also several species of birds, including the rare Great Indian Bustard.

Tera is famous for its religious places. Usually quiet, it bustles with activity during festivals. An estimated 40,000 Jain pilgrims visit annually. About ten to twelve thousand Hindus visit the Shitla Mata Temple and the Bhidbhanjan Hanuman Temple. Over 7,000 Muslims come for the annual Urs. Besides this, expatriates visit during summer holidays, Navratri, Diwali and on various social occasions. Tera is the first village in Gujarat to be illuminated at night with 42 solar streetlights and 25 spotlights for viewing its buildings and places. Other places of interest around it, such as Narayan Sarovar, Koteshwar, Mata-no-Madh, Roha, Bhadreshwar, Kothara, Naliya, Suthari, Jakhau, Pingleshwar Temple and a marvellous sea beach, are possible to visit in short trips.