will come to meet
you and offer you tea
while you shop.
Costumes
Kutchi costumes are unique and
some of the embroidery is very
expensive. The mirror work and
embroidery form an integral part
of Kutchi handicrafts, irrespective
of the community or ethnic group
to which they belong, however
the workmanship differs. In fact,
the different communities can
be identified by the pattern
of handicrafts, and dress or
costumes they wear. For instance,
Garacia Jat women wear only
red or black chunis while Rabari
women wear back open blouses
or cholis with odhnis to cover
their heads.Kutchi costume is incomplete
without Abha or Kanjari. Abha is
a typical choli worn by women
folk and Kanjari is a long blouse
beautifully embroidered with
mirror work. Most men in Kutch
wear loose trousers, a long-
sleeved under-jacket, a short coat,
a plain or silk-bordered cloth.Beyond the desert
Beyond the Great Rann of
Kutch we decided to go to Bhuj.It is in Bhuj that the most disastrous
earthquake took place in 2001
causing major devastation across the
State.In Bhuj, we visited Vijay Vilas Palace
and the Mandvi Beach. Vijay Vilas
Palace, built in 1929, was the famous
summer palace of Jadeja Maharaj
of Kutch. It is a well-maintained,
compact palace with lovely gardens
all around. The palace is also one of
the favourite spots for its royal and
peaceful vibe. A few of the palace
rooms are open to the public and there
is a wrought iron spiral staircase that
leads up to the beautiful gazebo-like
balcony which offers a commanding
view of the scenic surroundings, the
forest and the beach.
Mandvi Beach is clean and wide
and it is lovely to spend some time
enjoying the sunset there. Mandvi
city is known for its ship-building
industry which is over 400 years old.
The ships are handmade of wood.
If you drive around you can still see
ships being repaired in the harbour
as the ship-building process has
slowed down.
Within Bhuj, the other attractions
include the Prag Mahal and the Aina
Mahal that are walking distance
from each other. There is also the
Kutch Museum that offers you a
wealth of knowledge on the people,
culture and handicrafts of the region.
And lastly there is also a cultural
centre at Bhujodi that was not far off,
where we shopped some more!
The best time to visit Kutch is
during the dry season: November
to February to see the Great Rann’s
incredible landscape and experience
better weather. Several properties
around the region are run by locals
and provide an enjoyable stay for
the tourists. There are two ways to
travel to Kutch — from Ahmedabad
or Bhuj. Direct flights to Bhuj are
expensive though convenient as it
is the district capital and close to
Kutch. You can also take a train/
flight to Ahmedabad and then a bus
to Bhuj and onwards to Kutch.Chriselle Bayross is an MBA and PR professional. She has
worked to create compelling content and build a brand
image for some of the biggest brands in the finance sector.
She loves learning about new places and cultures and blogs
on these topics at http://www.ideapromoters.netColourful traditional dressesKutch handicraftsThe balcony at
Vijay Vilas Palace