Puhja

{{Short description|Borough in Estonia}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Puhja

| settlement_type = Small borough

| image_skyline = Puhja.jpg

| imagesize =

| image_caption = The local government building of Puhja Parish.

| image_flag =

| flag_size =

| image_shield =

| shield_size =

| pushpin_map = Estonia

| pushpin_label_position = bottom

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Estonia

| coordinates = {{Coord|58|20|18|N|26|18|43|E|region:EE|display=inline,title}}

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{flag|Estonia}}

| subdivision_type1 = County

| subdivision_name1 = 24px Tartu County

| subdivision_type2 = Municipality

| subdivision_name2 = Elva Parish

| established_title =

| established_date =

| area_total_km2 =

| population_total = 859

| population_as_of = 01.01.2021

| population_density_km2 =

| website =

| timezone = EET

| utc_offset = +2

| timezone_DST = EEST

| utc_offset_DST = +3

}}

File:Drone video of Puhja in Estonia (August 2022).webm

Puhja ({{langx|de|Kawelecht}}) is a small borough ({{langx|et|alevik}}) in Tartu County, in Elva Parish Estonia. It was the administrative centre of Puhja Parish. Puhja has a population of 859 (as of 1 January 2021).{{cite web|title=Population map|url=https://estat.stat.ee/StatistikaKaart/VKR|publisher=Statistics Estonia}}

Puhja church, originally dedicated to St. Dionysius, dates from the mid-14th century. It is built of brick, typically for medieval churches in south Estonia. After being damaged during the 15th century, it was substantially rebuilt around 1490. The Baroque tower spire dates from the 18th century, while the interior is mostly Neo-Gothic and dates from the 19th century. In the adjacent cemetery, there are memorials dedicated to local pastor and translator Adrian Virginius (1663-1706) and poet Käsu Hans (died 1715).{{cite book | last = Viirand| first = Tiiu| title = Estonia. Cultural Tourism | publisher = Kunst Publishers | year = 2004 | pages = 196–197| isbn = 9949407184 }}