Gujarat to build 'Sindoor Van' near Pakistan border as living tribute to Operation Sindoor

In a powerful tribute to India's collective resolve during Operation Sindoor, the Gujarat government is building a first-of-its-kind memorial park near the India-Pakistan border in Kutch. Titled Sindoor Van — or the “Forest of Sindoor” — the project will sprawl across eight hectares in Mirzapar on the Bhuj-Mandvi road, symbolizing strength, sacrifice, and unity through nature, memory, and military history.

Conceived as a high-density forest or van kavach (“forest shield”), the memorial park is being developed by the state’s forest department and will feature 10,000 native and symbolic plants per hectare, including prominently placed sindoor plants. The initiative aims to create one of Bhuj's densest forested zones while offering a thematic, immersive experience to visitors.

“Sindoor Van is not just about flora. It’s a salute to the synergy of civilians and armed forces during Operation Sindoor — a living testament to resilience,” said Kutch Collector Anand Patel.

A site of significance

The land chosen for the memorial also holds emotional resonance — it was the location of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first public address in Gujarat following the operation. During the May 26 event, women from Madhapar — famed for restoring the Bhuj air base runway in just 72 hours during the 1971 war — presented Modi with a sindoor plant. The Prime Minister pledged to grow it into a vatvriksh (banyan tree) at his official residence, turning the gesture into a national symbol of regrowth and endurance.

Honoring sacrifice

The park will also pay homage to the victims of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives — three of them from Gujarat. A dedicated zone within the forest will memorialize these lives, further rooting Sindoor Van in solemn remembrance.

According to Sandeep Kumar, Chief Conservator of Forests, Kutch Circle, the project integrates botanical diversity and symbolic storytelling. “The park will be divided into sections representing different wings of the armed forces — Army, Air Force, Navy, and BSF — with murals, models, and interactive dioramas showcasing equipment and aircraft used during Operation Sindoor,” Kumar explained.

Operation Sindoor: a coordinated stand

Launched in response to a surge in drone and missile attacks from across the border, Operation Sindoor was a massive coordinated effort by Indian forces. Over 600 cross-border threats were neutralized, with Gujarat’s Bhuj sector enduring nearly 40% of the strikes, according to BSF Gujarat Frontier Inspector General Abhishek Pathak.

“This park will be a green fortress of memory,” said a senior forest official. “A reminder that even in the face of violence, India stands united — rooted like a forest, resilient like its people.”

The Sindoor Van is expected to be completed within 18 months, standing not just as a memorial, but as a living, breathing embodiment of courage and unity on Gujarat’s western frontier.