The white beauty - Rann of kutch

We were on family vacation at my Aunt’s place in Rajkot. My aunt suggested us to visit Rann Utav which was going on at that time. Next morning all of us left for Bhuj which was around 6 hrs drive from Rajkot. We reached in the afternoon, had lunch and took rest for a while. We left for Dhordo village which is about 80 kms from Bhuj. Dhordo is the nearest village to Rann. It is a place where Rann Utav is held every year between October to March. We were at the white desert at around 5.30 p.m. in the evening.

The first glimpse of the white endless desert was awe-striking. The view of Salt Rann, with white all around is beautiful & cannot be described in words unless you see it.  The full moon night gives the best views of the desert, when the vast land of salt sparkles like a white sheet all over up to where the eyes can see.

Nowhere in this world will you find a counterpart to this amazing piece of geography that turns marshy during the monsoons and then back to its brilliant white glory during the winters and summers.

The pristine beauty of nature comes alive in the warmth of the people, the delicious food of the land, colourful handicrafts and the haunting Kachhi melodies.

Little Rann of Kutch  is famous for the Wild Ass Sanctuary and the migratory birds from all over the world who arrive in droves in winter.

Walk on the beach in Mandvi, watch the birds and windmills rotating in circles above the cool water. Take a short camel ride towards the Vijay Vilas Palace.  Great place to spend half a day.

Dholavira has been recently excavated and identified to be a part of Indus Valley Civilization that existed 5000 years ago. The black tarred road to Dholavira through the milky white Rann is a journey to remember.

Kala Dungar is the highest point in Kutch. On a clear day, the sun set point here offers breathtaking views of the Rann. If you are here in the morning, wait until noon to watch the Jackals being served by the temple priest. Combine a trip to Kala Dungar with India Bridge the closest border with nearby Pakistan.

Koteshwar, Narayan Sarovar and Fossil Park - The temple on the sea in Koteshwar and the nearby lake have many a legend associated with it. The Fossil Park closer to Bhuj is quite a treat to know about the fossil rich area of Kutch.

Lakhpat: An ancient trading port, an old fort and Guru Nanakdev of Sikh Sect, stayed at this place for some time.

Stay in Eco Resorts and Home Stays and atleast one night in a mud house or Bhunga as it is locally called. The Bhungas are beautifully decorated with glass and mud art and some of them also have imprints of leaves and flowers that are made with cow dung. Rann Riders, Desert Adventures in Little Rann and Shaam -e-Sarhad, Devpur Home Stay in Great Rann and Bhuj are some of the most popular ones in the area. 

Visit Handicraft Villages: A trip to Kutch is incomplete without a visit to a few handicraft villages and workshops. Some of the must visit places are Nirona (Rogan Art, Copper Bells, Lac Work), Nakhtarana (Tie and Dye), Khavda (Pottery), Bhujodi and Ajrakhpur (Block Printing), Dhordo and Hodka (Leather, Quilts, Mud Mirror). The women of the area weave magic with their fingers creating embroidery with such finesse that would put modern machines to shame.

Eat Local : Road side Dabbas serving delicious Gujarati Thali are in all the villages. I enjoyed one of the best meals of Gujarat in Khavda in just 50 INR at a queer Daba.