Samatra

Samatra is a village in Kutch district, Gujarat, India, established by Velji Bapa and Manji Bapa of the Varsani community. Over time, families like Gami, Pindoria, Hirani, Bhanderi, Kerai, and Bhudiya joined, strengthening the community. Historically, Varsanis lived in Savalia village before settling in Samatra. The village is located on a large hill near Bhuj, 12 miles west on the Narayan Sarovar highway.

Samatra features notable structures like Swaminarayan Temples for men and women, the Samaj Community Centre, and several mandirs. Ujaani Talav has been developed into a lake and pilgrimage site. The village is known for its dairy factory, established in 2017, which provides food for cows and delivers natural milk to residents daily.

The Samatra TV Tower, completed in 1999, stands at 300 meters, ranking it among the tallest towers globally. Umrasar Tadav, a clean lake, coexists with wildlife like alligators. The village emphasizes water conservation with underground storage systems and dams like Vaaghrai, ensuring water sustainability.

Samatra is recognized for its cleanliness and hygiene, earning it the title of second cleanest village in Kutch by Clean Air Asia in 2016. It has inspired neighboring villages to adopt similar environmental practices, promoting ecological improvement across India.