Rann of Kutch

Rann Of Kutch

February, 2019

When Amitabh Bachchan declared in the Gujarat Tourism advertisement – “Kutch nahi dekha toh kuch nahi dekha”, I believed it. Now, that I have been there, I can tell you, you should believe it too.
It is difficult to describe how plain NOTHINGNESS can be so beautiful but l shall give it a try.

Rann of Kutch is a salt marsh. Around the winter months, when the water evaporates, what is left behind is one of the largest salt deserts in the world. From November to February, Gujarat Tourism organises Rann Utsav, a festival to celebrate the Great Rann of Kutch and to experience the rich heritage and culture of Gujarat.

The GREAT Rann of Kutch

Vast and Majestic would be apt words to describe the White Desert. This place is a different kind of beautiful. The white salt meeting the horizon and watching the sun set over it was an experience in itself.

Plan a visit either around sunrise or sunset (or both 😛 ). The colorlessness(if that is a word 😛 ) of the desert makes it a great place to experiment with your photography skills. Clicking these cliche pictures was on the top on my to-do list. 🙂

The Tent City

Tent City is constructed as a part of the Rann Utsav. Here, you can choose between a variety of tents and huts to stay in. More than the stay, it is about experiencing the culture and hospitality of Gujarat.

There is not a single dull corner in Tent City. The aesthetics of this place deserve a special mention. They also have many indoor activities, handicraft shops, evening shows and a spa to keep you engaged.

I must mention though, staying here is expensive! A tent for two will cost around 15,000 INR per night but I’d still recommend this place. The stay includes all meals, evening snacks, a cultural show, and local sight seeing, depending on your package (1-3 nights).

Food was definitely the highlight of my stay at Tent City. All plans were made around meal times and the struggle each time was to at least be able to taste everything!
They also have live food counters, separate Jain food counters and dinner is served with soulful live music.

Kalo Dungar is the highest point in Kutch. Plan a visit around sunset for a spectacular view of the Rann. Don’t forget to ask the locals around about the Magnetic Hill nearby.

Gujarat is very famous for its handicrafts. Most of these pictures are from Gandhigram Village. You can visit the locals and see them create beautiful pottery, fabrics, woodwork and jewellery. Most of the times we buy such things from big brands and these artisans get very little profit out of it. Plan a visit to this village and support these amazing talented artists.

To reach Kutch, you would be traveling via Bhuj. You can spend some time there exploring the museum, temples and forts.

Things to carry

The weather in the desert is extreme. Nights are very cold and the daytime is hot. Pack accordingly.
Carry enough cash as ATMs are not in abundance.
Carry a lock if you plan to stay in the tents.

How to reach

Bhuj is the nearest town to the Tent City in Dhordo (around 85 kms). You can hire shared or private cabs to reach Dhordo.
Bhuj has an airport but flights are generally very expensive. Depending on your budget, you can fly directly to Bhuj, or take a flight till Ahmedabad and travel overnight by bus or train to Bhuj.