Now this one’s a geographic marvel! The picture above is of The Great Rann of Kachchh in Gujarat. Don’t misunderstand the stretch of white as snow, for it is a cyclical salt marsh located in the Thar Desert.
Next step? Book a Gozo and let us drive you to this phenomenon!
Kachchh is known for its age old culture and rich traditions. We, at Gozo, have listed down a few places you can travel with us to in and around the region.
Tent City-Dhordo
Dhordo is a stunning village located in the city of Bhuj. The place is filled with migratory birds from the furthest corners every year from October to February. Unlike its ordinary looks, this place is quite buzzing!
This Tent City of Dhordo is a place where the events take place. It is home to various occasions such as music, dance and cultural performances. The Live music (folk songs) and dances at dawn is the key attraction to this place.
Later in the evening they offer a handicraft bazaar, local art etc. Best souvenirs to take home with you are their artifacts and handmade exotic jewelry. As the Kutch artists are known for their silver work. Some other souvenirs a person can take include toys made out of shells, and wooden carved furniture etc.
Kalo Dungar
This is the highest peak from where one gets an uninterrupted view of the whole Rann of Kachchh.
A popular temple called the ‘Dattatreya’ rests here. Legends say that when lord Dattatrya walked on the earth, he stopped at Kalo Dungar and met with a band of hungry jackals, as he saw their plight, he offered his entire body to jackals for them to feast upon. Since then on the pundits of the temples leave food out for jackals. Jackals are easily spotted in this area at evening.
If you plan to stay on until late, there is a bhojanalay where you can eat food offered by the temple. Remember to wash your own plates after having meal.
Dholavira
If you love history then you ought to visit Dholavira. Located about 250km from Bhuj, this place has a significant archaeological and historical importance. It gained importance when the ASI discovered remains of the Indus Valley Civilization. Known as Kotada timba locally, this site contains ruins of the prosperous Harappan civilization. ASI mentioned that Dholavira was inhabited in 2650 BCE and slowly began to decline after about 2100 BCE.
Monastery at Than
Travel with Gozo about 60 km away from Bhuj, and we will take you to the Dinodhar Hill which is a dormant volcano that is also a revamped as a tourist and pilgrimage spot. It is host to the Dharmanath Temple which was constructed to pay homage to Dharmanath who stood on his head for 12 long years as penance for a wrong he had committed. Kanphata monastic order was founded by him. Hence Than Monastery belongs to this sect.
The Gateway Of Kutch-‘BHUJ’
Bhuj is the gateway for the famous Utsav-“The Rann Utsav”. This place is renowned for its colorful dresses, ethnic jewelry, and decorated localities. Handicrafts such as ‘bandhni’ and delicacies like ‘dabelis’ are something you should not miss! The ‘Aina Mahal Museum’ and the ‘Sri Swaminarayan Mandir’ are the two most popular tourist spots in Bhuj.
The Rann Utsav!
You can possibly not leave the Rann of Kutch without attending the grand, spectacular and rich Rann Utsav which has a culture you can brag about experiencing!
Rann Utsav is a celebration of life, and is a landmark bestowed with grace and elegance where the world gathers for more than 2 months. This festival offers visitors an excellent opportunity to see the diverse yet united culture.
The White Desert during Rann Utsav wakes to an endless cycle of dance where century old traditions are resuscitated in a celebration. It also hosts plenty of different activities for nature enthusiasts such as Horse Riding, Camel Safaris, and Bird Watching etc.
What more reasons do you want to visit Rann Of Kutch? Book a Gozo cab today, pack your bags and ‘rann’!