Witness the Gorgeous White Salt Desert, Great Rann of Kutch

Sprawling in an area of 7000 sq km, White Salt Desert in Great Rann of Kutch is a magical place. Situated about 100kms from Bhuj city, this white desert seems like a surreal place. One can enjoy camel ride here or else a long walk is enough to get one all excited. Local boys can be seen playing cricket here, whereas the couples enjoy walking hand in hand for couple of miles. Watching the sun go down is probably the best thing to do here; the evening shots are simply worth capturing. The ideal time to visit the Great Rann of Kutch would be during the Rann Utsav, a state fair that celebrates the spirit of Kutch region.

Note: Permits are required to enter the desert and the area nearby. Do not forget to carry sunglasses; it will help you see better when the sun is over the head.

Visit Kala Dungar, the Highest Point in Kutch Region

At a short distance from Great Rann White Desert is Kala Dungar. Also known as the Black Hill, it is the highest point of the Kutch region and it offers a panoramic view of the desert. Atop the hill is a Hindu temple known as Dattatreya that dates back to 400 years old. The top of the hill makes wonderful vantage point to get the picture of the Great white desert, which by the way looks like an ocean from this point. Thus, if photography is your main motive that Kala Dungar is a must-visit in the holiday trip to Kutch.

Go Back in History at Kutch Museum at Bhuj

If you are seeking additional knowledge on the history and culture of Kutch region, then the place to visit would be Kutch Museum in Bhuj. Centrally located in the city, Kutch Museum is the oldest museum in Gujarat that was established in 1877. The museum has the largest collection of Kshatrapa inscriptions that date back to 1st century AD. Also, one can witness extinct Kutchi script and an attention-grabbing collection of coins (including the kori, Kutch’s local currency.) A small section of the museum is also devoted to tribal cultures; here ancient artifacts, folk arts and crafts and information about tribal people can be found. The museum exhibits embroidery, paintings, arms, musical instruments, sculpture and precious metalwork that once prevailed in the Kutch region.

Time: 10:00 am to 1:00 am and 2:30 pm to 5:30

Closed: Wednesday, Public Holiday

Entry Fee: Rs. 5

Witness the Rich Heritage of Kutch Region at Prag Mahal and Aina Mahal at Bhuj

Not so far from Kutch Museum are the royal heritages of Kutch region called Prag Mahal and Aina Mahal. The two distinct buildings have the potential to take one back in history. Maintaining its royal look, these palaces are done in Indo-European style of architecture. The Aina Mahal as the name suggests has a hall that is replete with number of giant size mirrors, each done exquisitely whereas, Prag Mahal is known for its Bell Tower and an incredible view of the surrounding from the top. Both the palaces are open for public viewing and has numerous items and photographs that suggests a lavish life of the then ruling family.

Visit Vijay Vilas Palace, the Famed Film Shooting Location in Kutch

Vijay Vilas Palace is situated in Mandvi, which is about 65kms from Bhuj city. This scenic town was once the hub for ship building industry, however now, it boasts of its rich heritage and beautiful beach. The Vijay Vilas Palace is the highlight of the town and this has also earned it the benefit of being the film shoot location for many bollywood movies; the most prominent being Lagaan, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and recent movie R Rajkumar. The palace is a two story building along with Chhatri of Vijayaraji. The view from the terrace of the palace has a panoramic view of the surrounding which is simply beautiful. If you will interact with the one of the care takers, they shall narrate a story or two of the film shoots that have take place here.

Enjoy Camel Ride on Mandvi Beach

Situated at a short distance from Vijay Vilas Palace is the Mandvi Beach. The beach is often quite and thus is a great place to spend time in solace. However, your unperturbed situation can be disturbed by the people who offer ride on a camel for merely Rs 10 or 20. The deal is not at all bad and therefore their offer should be accepted, as in return of this small sum you can get a pleasant memorable camel ride along the beach. Horse riding is also available at the beach and so is the water scooter ride. While you choose your ride in Mandvi, do not miss out on taking pictures of the pelicans that stroll along the beach as well.

Experience the Interesting Mélange of Religion and Nature at Narayan Sarovar

Narayan Sarovar is indeed a must see place in Kutch region. It is a wildlife sanctuary situated in the village Narayansar, which is situated at a distance of about150kms from Bhuj city. The place is most noted for being a holy Hindu ground and is in close proximity to an ancient temple called Koteshwar. Narayan Sarovar or the Lake is amongst the 5 holiest lakes in Hinduism, making it an obvious choice pilgrimage destination in India. The sanctuary here on the other is the home of rich variety of birds and animals; there are about 112 species of residential birds whereas 38 species of migrant birds can also be spotted here along with 14 species of mammals. Since the destination has a good blend of nature and religion, it becomes a place of interest in Kutch.

Trace the Evidences of One of the World’s Oldest Civilizations at Dholavira

Visiting Kutch region gives history lovers a great opportunity to visit ancient sites like Dholavira. This site is considered as the slice of the Indus Valley Civilization/Harappan Civilazation. The ruins throw light on the culture of Harappa and reveal their excellent knowledge of planning and constructing a sound infrastructure. One can find the evidences of well-built harvesting system, network of tanks and sewage system. The ruins here are divided into three zones: the citadel (where the rulers or high officials inhabited), the middle city and the lower city. One very interesting find here is an inscription with 10 large signs, which is estimated to be one of the first evidences of a written language. A small museum located at the entrance of the site houses artifacts that reflect the lifestyle during the Indus Valley Civilisation. One can also see the progression from mud and basic tools to iron and copper implements, gold jewellery and cooking vessels.

Find the Real Beauty of Kutch Culture in its Handicraft Village Tour

Handicraft is an important part of Kutch life. And while you are in this region, you can take advantage of time and enhance the charm of holidaying in Kutch. There are two villages near the Great Rann White Desert that have recently been in enough limelight. Known as Dhordo and Hodka, these villages are the face of Kutch handicraft (for the record, there are about 32 villages in Kutch region that indulge in the art of embroidery). Visit Dhordo to witness Mutua embroidery, which includes chain stitches inset with small mirrors, leather embroidery and silver jewellery. In Hodka village, the skills of the local Rabari, Meghwal and Maldhari communities can be seen. Apart from the embroidery, Bhungas (huts) can are decorated by the village craftsmen. So, you can expect some interesting visual treats while taking the tour of handicrafts villages in Kutch Region. Apart from Dhordo and Hodka, Sumrasar, Loria, Zura, Nirona,Nakhtarana,Bhujodi, Padhdhar, Dhamanka and Anjar are the handicraft villages in the region.

Dhordo Village Distance from White Desert: 5kms

Hodka Village Distance from White Desert: 22kms

Witness One of its Kind Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary in Little Rann of Kutch

Located in the Little Rann of Kutch, Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary is one of its kind. It is the only place where the Indian Wild Ass or Ghudkar still inhabit. The sanctuary is also the home of 32 mammal species and is an important breeding site for birds. Unlike most of the wildlife sanctuaries in India, this reserve is a desert with parched grasslands that are just right for the animals who reside here. The grassland are said to feed atleast 2100 animals. It can be an out of box experience for wildlife lovers, as this sanctuary differs in several aspects like landscape, flora and fauna for that matter.