Once upon a time, this beautiful piece of land used to be connected to the Arabian Sea through the mighty Indus River. However, the constant moving of tectonic plates changed the course of the river, making Rann a barren but captivating land. The best time to visit is between the months of November to February, because this is when the wetlands dry up creating a crunchy white salt bed. This bed is what makes it look like a desert, sure to sweep you off your feet. One of the most visited rural destinations in India, it is a great starting point for anyone who wants to interact with local artisans and get a feel of their humbling way of life.
Kutch has been on my list of places to travel since forever. And when I was given the opportunity to plan a Bachelorette trip, I took full advantage and zeroed in on Kutch. Obviously, eyebrows were raised, but I was adamant. All my girls will tell you, in hindsight, that they are glad they listened to me.
We’ve put together a 4 day itinerary that covers all the highlights and things you need to know before you book that trip.
Day 1 // Ahmedabad
The best way to reach Kutch from other parts of the country is to take a convenient flight to Ahmedabad and then hire a cab to drop you off to your destination. That’s exactly what we did. A new city always gets me excited and I had to explore it. A quick Google search will tell you that you absolutely cannot miss Sabarmati Ashram, because of its rich history. It was always such a peaceful place to explore and understand everything Gandhiji stood for. Added bonus was the Sabarmati Riverfront, a beautiful boulevard along the banks of Sabarmati river, an ideal place to spend an evening.
After that amazing experience, we knew we couldn’t leave Ahmedabad without exploring it’s shopping and food scene. So, we landed up at Law Garden and shopped to our heart’s content, everything from lehenga choli to oxidised jewellery. Famished after that shopping spree, we headed over to Manek Chowk. Having heard raving reviews from everyone who’s been here, my expectations were pretty high, and frankly I was surprised that I wasn’t disappointed. Even at 1AM in the night, this street, dotted with eateries on both sides, was bustling with people satiating their cravings. And boy, do the Gujaratis love their cheese.
Day 2 // Bhuj
We left pretty early in the morning to head over to our final destination. There was only one stop on the way, Bhuj, the town devastated by the 2001 earthquake. We visited some amazing historical structures here, Prag Mahal and Aina Mahal. Both these beauties were severely damaged during the earthquake. Plenty of restoration work has gone into making them viable again. These palaces exuded the grandeur of the bygone era, with their large darbars, intricate furniture and enormous chandeliers. These two are fine examples of Italian Gothic architecture, built largely using Italian marble and sandstone. Absolutely stunning to say the least. The clock tower at Prag Mahal gives you a panoramic view of the entire town of Bhuj, not to be missed.
After exploring this historical town as much as time allowed, we headed to our stay for the night, a homestay in Hodka village of Kutch. I wanted to stay away from the glamorous tent city of Kutch to ensure I had a more local authentic experience and hence I picked a homestay over glamping, probably my best decision this entire trip.
Bhuj is also home to many artisans of the Bandhani craft, you can visit craft-shops here to get a flavour of the art, many even conduct workshops. An interesting aspect about the artisans here, is that many of them are independent women. Talking to them gives amazing insight into their lives and their communities.
As we reached just around sunset, the temperature had started to fall with a cold wind picking up speed, but we had the warmest welcome, with tea and bonfire waiting for our arrival. The homestay was so pretty with colourful walls and a large courtyard. We retired for the night after thoroughly enjoying a small cultural program, of folk songs and dance, put up by our hosts. A sated stomach, a chilly night, a blazing bonfire and a folk night, perfect way to end a long day.
Day 3 // Kalo Dungar & Rann of Kutch
Woke up early and excited to explore Kutch. We decided to start off with Kalo Dungar, the highest point in Kutch. This place promises panoramic views of the white dessert and it did not disappoint. I’m finding it hard to explain how beautiful the view from the top was. Imagine a pale blue sky fading into a stark white desert, almost like someone had painted on a very large canvas.
We then headed over to India Bridge, an outpost that needed to be crossed to reach the India-Pakistan border, a mere 80 kilometres from where we stood. You need special permits to head over to the other side of the bridge and explore the border areas. However, the bridge itself is stunning and worthy of a visit with expansive salt pans on both sides. Unfortunately, I don’t have a photo to show you how amazing it was since we aren’t allowed to click pictures here for security reasons.
Villages such as Ajrakhpur and Bhujodi are known to be artisan villages, you can visit them independently or get a tour arranged. For anyone who loves exploring culture through handicrafts, this is a must. The variety of handicrafts here is awe-inspiring, from rogan art to lacquer work, from block printing to pottery, anything and everything. You can also find a bunch of workshops to learn these arts if you have a few more days to spend here.
We returned to our homestay for a wholesome Gujarati meal and geared ourselves up to witness the stunning beauty of Rann. This White Desert is located in Dhordo village, where the Rann Utsav is also held every year during the months of November to March.
The White Rann Desert is one of the largest salt deserts in the world and my eyes popped, jaw dropped when I saw this beauty for the first time. Trust me, no photo can do justice to how beautiful this place is. For as far as you can see, there is only white salt in all directions, I was mesmerised. Plan your visit around sunset, because that’s when the magic happens. One of the most spectacular sunsets, heck probably the most spectacular sunset, I have ever witnessed. Such collective euphoria as the sun put up a show for us, people cheered, clapped, cried, what a performance! That tiny orange glowing ball in the distance disappeared behind the stark white desert, leaving a sky streaked with every shade of pink possible, truly therapeutic.
After the sunset, the Rann Utsav comes to life with a bunch of folk performances and a flea market to promote local handicrafts and artisans. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here, interacting with the artisans and shopping for all things colourful.’
Day 4 // Mandvi Beach
We had a really early morning start since we wanted to explore Mandvi beach. Pleasantly surprised that we managed to make it out on time. En route to Mandvi, you pass through the Tropic of Cancer and there is a board here that says exactly that and of course I wanted a picture there. Sleepy eyed, I sat staring out the window to ensure we didn’t miss the board. Quite a miracle that we didn’t miss it, given that it was really dark when we left. It’s a cute board, don’t miss this photo op.
It was about 7AM when we reached Mandvi beach and were greeted by an almost empty beach. The sun was still rising, a soft glow, a cool breeze, some mesmerising colours, again felt like we were staring at a large painted canvas. Mandvi is also famous for its seaside ship building yard. We spent a good time just soaking in the beauty of the place, a little melancholic, that the trip was almost over.
I left a piece of my heart in Kutch, I might go back to retreive for it someday, but until then Kutch has it for safekeeping to make sure I can retrieve the feeling of being overwhelmed by a sunset whenever I want.
TL;DR
- What’s the best time to Visit Kutch?
December to February - How do I get there?
You can take a flight to Bhuj or Ahmedabad and hire a private taxi to Rann of Kutch. - Where do I stay?
You can stay in Tent City, expensive but worth it. You can also stay in homestays, available at both Dhordo and Hodka villages, budget and more authentic. - What places should I not miss?
Bhuj – Prag Mahal and Aina Mahal - Kutch – Kalo Dungar, Rann, Rann Utsav, India Bridge, Topic of Cancer, Mandvi Beach
- What do I pack?
Layering is key here, since it gets hot during the day and chilling as the sun sets. A light jacket and some socks should do the trick. - What do I shop for in Kutch?
Kutchi handicrafts are colourful and intricate. Embroidered totes and wallets, colourful dupattas, quilts, beaded jewellery, pretty much everything. - How many days is sufficient for this trip?
4-5 days is more than enough to cover all the highlights of Kutch - How much will the trip cost me?
Approximately, with budget stays and a private cab, it should cost you anywhere between 7K-10K for a 4 day trip.
We hope our experience helps you plan that perfect trip to the Rann of Kutch.
Winding Roads & Pages 