The Great Rann Of Kutch is one of the geographical wonders of India, situated at the far western edge of Gujrat. The place is famous for its spectacular view of white colored lands exceeding the horizons and hypnotizing our eyesight.

So we decided to visit Kutch in Christmas vacation and explored its vibrant, colorful culture. Our flight from Bangalore to Ahmedabad was on 24th Dec and it took only 1.5 hours to reach Ahmedabad. We had booked the cab from Bangalore for the entire trip with the help of our friends. From Ahmedabad, we directly headed towards Bhuj as it was around 350 Km and road trip took 6 hours of time. After having lunch at Ahmedabad, we started our road trip. Initially, we all were very excited but after 2 hours of road journey we were bored but thanks to nice roads of Gujarat, we covered maximum distances in less time and on the way we have seen salt mountains on both sides of road and salt farming. We all get excited to see tons of salt on the road side and explained the process of salt making to kids. Capturing some shots in camera we headed straight to Bhuj as we were staying there at night. Next day, early morning we left for Kutch after breakfast and reached in 1 hour to our destination Tent City Dhordo – Rann Mahotsav.

Salt mountain on the side of road

 

Rann Mahotsav

The Gujrat Government hosts an annual 3-month long festival during winter called the “Rann Mahotsav or Festival of the Rann” where tourists can witness the creativity of the local craftsmen, soulful Sufi and folk music, ecological and cultural diversity.

Rann Utsav gives visitors not only a chance to experience the full moon on salt deserts but also get a taste of the local culture, cuisine, and hospitality. 

For Rann- Mahotsav, we had booked the tent online 2 months before our trip in Tent-City, as availability chances are very less otherwise. The Tent City is very well organized and very clean. All the staffs are very helpful.

Once you reach the entrance of Tent City, staff will do aarti and play dhol to welcome you. They will take your luggage, label it according to your tent no. and block and deliver it directly there. First, you have to report at the office to know your Tent no. and then they will take you in their colored auto to your Tent. The whole tent city has many blocks and in each block, around 20 tents are there. Morning Tea is served in your tent and for other meals, you have to visit their dining hall. After refreshment, we started our tour of the Tent City and Rann-Mahotsav. We thought of walking around the whole Tent City, but the staff said, that it is in very large area so-called polo-car for us and others. The vehicle dropped us near Recreational zone where lots of activities like Trikke, bicycle and tricycle, rifle shooting, pool games, indoor games etc. were happening on paid basis. Kids enjoyed there and we also tried some activities. After that, we went for lunch in the dining hall and enjoyed the meal.

At 4 p.m we all had to gather at the entrance to board the bus going for “White Rann” and around 5 P.M we reached the marshland. From there camel cart will take you to the desert. All the camels were beautifully decorated and further 10 min we were at the most famous and largest salt desert in the world.

Rann Of Kutch/ White Rann/ White Desert

The Great Rann Of Kutch

 

Salt flats of the Great Rann of Kutch, an expanse of about 30,000 square km of salt desert and seasonal marshland that lies between the Gulf of Kutch and the Indus River.The area was once the shallows of the Arabian Sea before geological uplift closed off the connection with the sea, leaving behind a vast lake which turns into a desert in the dry months. During the monsoon months, the Rann of Kutch is submerged in seawater. As the sea water finally begins to recede in October, and the elaborate process of salt farming starts by Agariyas- the salt farmers of Gujrat.

The Great Rann of Kutch is a magnificent landscape of dazzling white salt-encrusted desert plains. The white desert seems to scintillate in the moonlight. Its view is magical like a delicate layer of snow has covered the land above the horizons.

According to locals The White Desert reflects the mood of the sky, in the afternoon its milky white and tends to play with colors during sunset and in the night it’s sparkling due to moonlight on full moon night.We reached before sunset so were able to enjoy and capture the mood of sky and desert during sunset. As we walk in the salt desert more and more trying to see the Indo-Pak border, we were caught by the eternal beauty of this wonder of nature.The Rann was endless and the salt was spread everywhere and in every direction. The whole experience was spiritual as after so much hustle and bustle you reach a place, where there was pure silence, you are standing but not on land or snow but on the lake covered with salt, isn’t nature’s wonder!

After exploring the marshland and collecting the salt we returned to Rann Mahotsav. 

Rann Mahotsav is vibrant, cultural extravaganza of Gujrat, where you can enjoy performances from all over India, do shopping of colorful Kutchi work clothes, bedspread, shoes, purse, handicrafts etc…

Handicrafts

 

Taste the delicacies, enjoy the dance and festivities as it is celebrated and decorated like a festival. We left, with the colorful memories and experience of this Wonder, in the morning for Kala Dungar.

View of the White Desert from Kala Dungar

 

Important Points:

How to Reach: Take a bus or taxi from Ahmedabad to reach Kutch.

Hotel: Book a tent or mud house in advance to get a complete feel of Rann -Mahotsav or you can plan a 1-day trip.

Packages: Gujrat Tourism offers 2- days 1-night package Or you can plan on your own.