Kutch is actually an island shaped like a turtle, a princely state of yore in India that retains the grandeur of its past. Kachi is probably one of the most beautiful and surreal places in India, with its vast white salt desert. During winter, it comes to life with the annual Rann Festival, which runs from December to February, with a huge camp settlement offering cultural programming, activities and adventures like hot air balloons.
Kutch is also one of the largest regions in India with an extremely low population density. In addition, Kutch is located on the border of India and Pakistan, and parts of Pakistan can be seen from Kutch. Kutch is also known for its handicrafts and embroidery work, flamingo sanctuary and wild donkey sanctuary. Bhuj is an ideal starting point for exploring the Kutch Ranch. The beautiful beaches of Mandvi near Bhuj are also well worth a visit during your trip to Kachi. Don’t miss a visit to the ancient town of Dora Vila.
places to visit
Places like Bhuj. Mandvi, Dholavira, Gandhidham and Anjar are some of the most visited but lesser known places in the Kutch area. Narayan Sarovar, one of the five holy lakes mentioned in the Shrimad Bhagvad, is also located here, along with many other Jain and Hindu pilgrimage sites. Bhuj, the former capital of Kutch, gets the most attention, but there are many other places that deserve to be known.
Places such as Dholavira (archaeological site containing the ruins of the city of Harappa), Ina Mahal and Parag Mahal in Bhuj, Tan Monastery in Mandvi and Vijay Villa Palace are all worth visiting A visit for history buffs. Besides being a major historical tourist destination, Mandvi is also a port city with an amazing shipyard. Cutch’s coast and marshes attract many migratory and domestic birds, including large flocks of flamingos, pelicans and common cranes, which frequently fly in the area.
Kachi is a beautiful combination of sea and desert, and its beauty can captivate anyone. A special mention in the Kutch area is the stunning white desert of the Kutch Ranch. Covering an area of 7,505 square kilometers, the largest salt desert in the world, the Kutch Ranch remains covered in water during the monsoon season, while in winter the water evaporates, leaving behind dizzying expanses of dry, hard mud. Diamonds in the hot sun look eerie in the blue light of night. Those who want to see the beauty of the desert from a different angle should climb Kalo Dungar (Black Mountain), the highest point in Katchi. The summit offers stunning views of the Kutch region, the Thar Desert and Greater Rann.
In winter, this vast salt flat presents a magical spectacle. Set in a magical landscape, Rann Utsav is a spirited carnival marked by the excellence of folk dance, music and art. Full of hospitality and tradition, Rann Utsav is a grand event that is celebrated for three months every year.
In stark contrast to the beauty of the Kutch Habitat is the Kutch Little Ranch, a land not for the faint of heart as this is where nature unfolds in its harshest forms. The Little Rann Barrens are home to wild asses (locally known as khur) as well as bluebells, blackbucks and chikaras. In this part of Kutch, people can be seen pumping the groundwater and extracting the salt.
Agriculture, sea and desert represent Kachi’s multiculturalism well. This land is home to one of the most colorful people, who love bright clothes. Visiting Kutch is an inspiring experience. Many pastoral communities in Kutch are semi-nomadic herders of camels and sheep.
All the major nomadic communities, namely the rabaris and ahirs, possessed creative intelligence and often produced the finest handicrafts and popular textile techniques including woodblock printing, tie-dye and weaving. The tribes of the sleepy villages of Hodko, Nirona, Mandvi and Bhujodi make ornately embroidered garments for wedding dowry. The delightful surf embroidery, the geometric beauty of Khareek patterns, the dramatic spirit of pakoo’s tight square chains and the double-button embroidery of sodha Rajput, and the mirrored embroidery of Rabari and Ahir artisans – all found plenty of buyers. The Kutch region has been a confluence point for many communities from border areas such as Pakistan’s Sindh province and western Rajasthan’s Marwar region, which has also provided the region with a wealth of handicrafts. One can experience the beauty of Kachi in many ways – strolling along the beaches of Mandvi, witnessing the art of the past in Bhuj’s beautiful palaces, and also satisfying a shopping craving by visiting the local markets.
