WHITE RANN OF KUTCH

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A desert by definition, for those who value the beauty of culture, Rann of Kutch is a vast ocean of cultural beauty. With a glorious past captured in its traditions this is a culture that not only preserves its essence but also celebrates it.

Each village has its unique craft that has been mastered over centuries by the talented and uniquely artistic people of Kutch. Machine-made works of art pale in comparison to the exquisite craftsmanship of the Kutchi women who work with meticulous detail and astonishing accuracy. The variety of crafts range from weaving, patchwork, block printing, bandhani, tie-and-dye, rogan-art and other ethnic styles of embroidery, to pottery, wood-carving, metal-crafts and shell-work.

Beautifully organized by the Department of Gujarat Tourism, Rann Utsav is truly a festival that celebrates the varied art forms and handicrafts arising from different parts of Kutch.

The Rann of Kutch is located in the Thar Desert bio-geographic area in the Indian state of Gujarat, with some parts in Pakistani province of Sindh. It is a seasonally marshy region, the word Rann meaning "salt marsh", alternating with medaks, elevated pieces of land where vegetation grows. Kori Creek and Sir creek are located in Rann of Kutch area which is part of Indus river delta.

Kutch is the name of the district in Gujarat where this region is situated. The marsh covers a huge area of around 10,000 square miles and is positioned between the Gulf of Kutch and the mouth of the Indus River in southern Pakistan. Many rivers located in Rajasthan and Gujarat flow in to Rann of Kutch. These are Luni, Bhuki, Bharud, Nara, Kharod, Banas, Sarswati, Rupen, Bambhan and Machchhu.

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The Rann of Kutch is the only large flooded grasslands zone in the whole Indo-Malayan region. The fact that the area has desert on one side and the sea on the other provides the Rann of Kutch with a variety of ecosystems, including mangroves and desert vegetation. The grassland and deserts of the Rann of Kutch are home to forms of wildlife that have adapted to the often harsh conditions of this vast area. These include endemic and endangered animal and plant species.

Due to its proximity to Pakistan, the Indian army has a base at Rann and has army officials patrolling around the area through the day. To visit Rann of Kutch, all travellers must have valid id proofs which are checked by the army official at the entry point.

The government of Gujarat holds a three month long festival known as ‘The Rann Utsav’ every year starting from December to February. This is the main source of income for the locals around who welcome visitors from across the globe to savour in local delicacies and to witness the culture and hospitality of Kutch.

At the utsav, there are different cultural events held everydays where travellers can stay in tented accommodations in the desert or can also opt for an authentic stay in mud houses a few kilometers away from the desert. Considering the magnitude of the festival, the accommodation at Rann is expensive during season time and hence it is advisable to pre-book if one wishes to visit the white desert during the utsav. Other than the festival months there is no accommodation option available in the desert, in this case one could opt to stay around Rann or could make a day trip from Bhuj.

                                

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Once at Rann Utsav the shopaholics can also indulge in buying authentic Gujarati handicrafts handmade by the Kutchhi people with a variety of options in clothes, bags and other items such as shoes and puppets.

During season, a variety of food options are also available at Rann starting from local chaats, Gujarati snacks to full fledged Gujarati thalis. Apart from the festival months, there are barely any options available for food. It is advisable to carry water and food if one wishes to visit Rann from March to November.

The best time to visit Rann is during the utsav, but for those who want to skip the crowds, a visit Kutch in November or March is a better option. A few other ‘not-to-miss’ spectacles at Rann are the sunset and the moon rise or a new moon night which adds to the beauty of the white desert by adding different shades of colours to the white sand. The Rann of Kutch is definitely a must visit place for anyone visiting Gujarat.

    

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