Explore KUTCH

Dhrangadhra and Dasada are both interesting bases from which to visit the Little Rann of Kutch Sanctuary. Dasada has a 15th-century fort and a village where potters and textile printers practice their craft. The family of Dasada’s former feudal chiefs arrange accommodation and guided tours of the Rann. Dhrangadhra, the capital of a former princely state, has a fine 18th-century palace and a bazaar with interesting colonial buildings. Tours of the sanctuary can be arranged through the Forest Office here. Accommodation is available in the government rest house.

Rural life and art in Kutch

Kutch is home to several pastoral communities, many of them semi-nomadic herders of camels and sheep. Among them are the Rabaris, whose round houses (bhoongas) with conical roofs are a distinctive feature of the Kutch landscape. These communities are skilled in a variety of crafts, the vibrant hues and forms of their creations adding beauty to their stark surroundings. Anjar, which used to be the crafts centre of Kutch, was tragically destroyed in the January 2001 earthquake, as were many of the crafts villages near Bhuj. Despite this, the intrepid craftspeople continue to work and sell their creations at shops in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Delhi.

The rabari bhoonga

The bhoongas of the Rabaris, superbly designed for the hot, arid climate of Kutch, are also structurally solid. The roof is conical, with a deep overhang to keep the walls cool. The parasol-shaped roof frame is made of wood, covered with tightly woven thatch. The thick walls, tiny windows, and thatched roofs provide excellent insulation against the harsh desert climate. The circular shape helps the smooth circulation of air inside. Most of them withstood the 2 earthquake. A typical cluster of bhoongas, their beautifully decorated interiors displaying the artistic skills of the Rabaris, can be seen at Tunda Vandh, 15 km (9 miles)

World best travel destinations KUTCH

Embracing the colours of horizon

An expanse of salt flats and grasslands in northwest Gujarat, the Little Rann of Kutch has a stark and unforgettable beauty – in sunlight, the salt crystals in the sand glitter like diamonds, while at night they bathe the landscape in an eerie blue haze. Every year, during the monsoon, when the sea and rivers flood the region, the salt flats are transformed into great marshy swamps, with patches of higher ground forming grassy islands known as bets. Some 4,841 sq km (1,869 sq miles) of this unique ecosystem, which supports a variety of rare fauna, form a wildlife sanctuary that is one of the last refuges of the Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus khur), known locally as Ghorkhur. Akin to the Tibetan kiang, the Ghorkhur is distinguished by a dark stripe along its back. Only about 1,000 of them now remain. Known for its speed (up to 60km or 37 miles per hour), the wild ass lives in herds led by a stallion and survives by migrating between the grassy bets through the seasons, in search of food.

The sanctuary also has a large population of nilgai (blue bull), blackbuck, chinkara (Indian gazelle), wolves, and the rare caracal. Birdlife includes migratory demoiselle cranes, pelicans, and flamingoes who come to the salt marshes during the winter months.

Sand dunes of white Desert

Dhrangadhra and Dasada are both interesting bases from which to visit the Little Rann of Kutch Sanctuary. Dasada has a 15th-century fort and a village where potters and textile printers practice their craft. The family of Dasada’s former feudal chiefs arrange accommodation and guided tours of the Rann. Dhrangadhra, the capital of a former princely statetranquillity