Kutch Tourism

"The White Desert of India" Kutch Tourism Virtually an island that resembles the shape of a tortoise, Kutch is an erstwhile princely state of India holding onto its grandeur nature from the past. Kutch is probably one of the most beautiful, yet surreal places in India. With the vast expanses of white salt desert in the Rann of Kutch area, this is an amazing experience to witness. One would be able to see just stretches of pure white land as far as the eyesight goes. The place comes to life during the winters when the Rann Festival is held during December-February everywhere in which there are huge camp settlements with cultural programs, functions and adventure activities like hot-air ballooning. Kutch is also among the largest district of India with a terribly low population density. Also, Kutch lies on the India-Pakistan border and you can see parts of Pakistan from Kutch. Kutch is also famous for crafts and embroidery works, Flamingo Sanctuary and Wild Ass Sanctuary. Bhuj is an ideal starting point to visit the Rann of Kutch. Beautiful beaches of Mandvi near Bhuj are also totally worth visiting during your trip to Kutch. Don't miss to see the ancient town ofDholavira. Download Kutch PDF Guide > What's Great? Leisure destination. The entrancing White desert in the Rann of Kutch. Delectable Gujarati delicacies to enjoy. What's not so Great? Temperatures are a bit extreme, hot during day and cooler at nights. Some resorts have a problem of bugs in the tents which can be an inconvenience. For Whom Great place to arrange a short and sweet tour with your family and your loved ones. Awesome for couples to spend some quality time

History of Kutch The history of Kutch dates back to prehistoric times. There have been traces found, of its existence, in the Indus Valley sites. Alexander mentioned the town in his early writings. It was ruled by the Greeks before it finally fell in the hands of the Mauryan Empire. For the next few centuries, Kutch was ruled by a number of dynasties including Western Satraps, Guptas, Chavdas, Chalukyas and the Jadega brothers. The ancestors of the last ruler Rayadhan II, also found Kathiawar. In 1819, owing to a defeat in a battle, Kutch came under the jurisdiction of the British. When India attained independence, Kutch became a ?dominion of India? and was declared a separate state 1950. In 1956, it was merged with Bombay state. Finally, when the two states of Maharashtra and Gujarat were formed in 1960, Kutch came to be a part of the latter. Just run in the Great White Rann! The Great Rann of Kutch is a seasonal salt marsh located in the Thar Desert in the Kutch District of Gujarat. The area is special for its spectacular views at full moon nights when the moonlight shines brightly on the salt crystals formed on the marsh. A trip to this place would be a leisure trip where you can relax from all your stress and enjoy the delicacies at certain resorts. Although there is only the White Rann desert to see at this place, travelers can visit other places of interest like the Kala Dungar and Gandhi-nu-gaam for shopping and leisure. Tourists can also enjoy Golf Cart, ATV Ride, Camel Cart Excursion, Paramotoring, Meditation, Yoga and Gujarati Culture at select resorts in the tent city. The Gujarat tourism arranges a Rann Utsav every year for tourists to visit the place.

Itinerary Day 1:Arrive at Bhuj airport or railway station in the morning and head towards the Tent City. Plan you travel accordingly because check-in times at resorts in Kutch are 12:30. In the evening, transfer to White Rann and witness the grandeur of the sunset. Mode of transfer can be through Camel Cart / Bus on a first come first basis. Back at the resort, enjoy the culture of Kutch along with entertaining activities.Day 2:Wake up early morning to witness the beautiful sunrise at the White Rann. Get back to your resort and have breakfast and relax. Later in the day, all resorts offer a complimentary visit to Kala Dungar and Gandhi-nu-gaam. Enjoy the culture of Kutch along with entertaining activities at night.Day 3:Check-out from the hotel and head towards Bhuj for the local sight-seeing. Places of interest are Aina Mahal, Swami Narayan Mandir, Museum etc. Please check timings and open days of these places before the visit.

Restaurants and Local Food in Kutch The food in Kutch is mainly vegetarian, given a dominating influence of Jainism and Brahmanism, both of which follow strict vegetarianism and often avoid garlic, potatoes, yam and onion too. A local delicacy in the area is Bajra na Rotla which is usually accompanied by, like almost every other meal in the district, a refreshing glassful ofLassi, Chaas or Buttermilk.You can also relish a typical Gujarati Thali which would consist ofRoti, Dal or Kadhi, Curd , Rice and Vegetable CurriesThe other Gujarati savouries that one cannot miss includeChakri, Dhokla, Papad, Kachumbar, Khakra, Fafda, Sev, Khandvi and Khaman.Most of these are dry snacks and are ideal while traveling or for taking some home. Along with these try traditional Gujarati sweets such asGhevar, Malpua, Basundiand much more.Try Kutchi dabeli or Double Roti (A snack made by creating a mixture of boiled potatoes, a special dabeli masala and stuffing on a pav and served with a special chutney). Alcohol is not available here since Gujarat is a dry state. View 6 Restaurants in Kutch >>

Jul-Maris the best time to visit Kutch Winters (November-Feb) is the best time to visit Kutch, especially on the full moon nights as the reflection of the moonlight on the white sand looks amazing. The Rann Festival is also organized during the same time and that adds for a lot of activities in and around here. Summers should be avoided as temperatures could reach upto 45 degree Celsius. Weather in Kutch Loading... Kutch in Summer (April-June) The summer begins from the month of April and lasts till the month of June. The place becomes scorchingly hot during this time making the travelers stay away. The temperatures during the day are unbearable with some relief during the night. Kutch, however, witnesses high temperatures almost throughout the year. Kutch in Monsoon (June-September) The monsoon starts from the end of June and lasts till September. Kutch comes alive during the monsoons when the beauty of the place is enhanced. This period attracts a lot of visitors to Kutch. Kutch in Winter (November-February) The winter months starting from November and ending in February brings relief to the people from the high temperatures. It is during this time that the Rann of Kutch festival is organized which attracts thousands of people from all over the country. Monthly Weather in Kutch Month Avg. Minimum (°C) Avg. Maximum (°C) January 14 27 February 17 32 March 21 35 April 24 38 May 27 39 June 28 37 July 28 33 August 27 31 September 25 33 October 24 33 November 19 33 December 17 31

Events in Kutch Navratri, Mata No Madh, Bhuj 9th - 18th October The Ashapura Mata temple was built in the 14th century by two Karad Vanias. During Chaitra Navratri & Ashwin Navratri, lakhs of devotees from all over the state come here to pay their respects. Rann Utsav 1st November - 4th March The full moon's reflection on the beautiful white sands marks the beginning of the Rann Utsav in Kutch. It celebrates the varied ethnic flavor of Gujarat through crafts, music, dance and people.