CLOCKWISE: IMAGEBROKER/ALAMY; NORMA JOSEPH/ALAMY; HEMIS/ALAMY
GETTING THERE
By Air The nearest airports are Ahmedabad
(190 km), Rajkot (190 kms) and Bhuj (200 kms).
By Rails Dhrangadhra railway station (18 kms)
is also connected to Ahmedabad and other major
cities in the region.WHERE TO STAY
Desert Courses They o er a comfortable stay
in eco-friendly cottages, well-equipped with
modern amenities. desertcourses.net
Rann Riders Surrounded by wetlands, the hotel
recreates a local village with cottages decorated
with mirrors, mud-plaster work, and embroideries
resembling the kooba houses of the Bajania
community of Dasada and the bhunga houses
of the Rabaris of Kutch. rannriders.com
Royal Safari Camp The red stone walls lend
the resort with the look of a heritage building.
You can enjoy a cultural performance at the
Open Amphitheatre, and arrange for a desert safari
to the Wild Ass Sanctuary. theroyalsafaricamp.com
Bhavna Resort and Farm Located in the former
princely state of Patdi on the Saurashtra peninsula,
the traditional cottage-huts o er breathtaking views
of the Little Rann of Kutch. The kitchen gets its
fresh produce from the in-house organic farmland.
bhavnafarm.comBEST TIME TO VISIT
October to March.THE DETAILSActivities
Given the richness of the fl ora
and fauna of the region, desert
safaris are immensely popular.
There are many eco-friendly resorts
that offer jeep, horse and camel
safaris in the Little Rann of Kutch.
For an intimate experience, opt for
a homestay in any of the 32 villages
that dot this region. Check the
Gujarat Tourism website for the list
of homestays in the region.Sights And Festivals
The Killa of Zinjwada and the
Jhilkeswar Temple Sculptures from
the ancient Mor dynasty are some
of the unique sights in the area.
Other popular attractions are the
Shankheshwar Parshwanath Jain
Temple and the Modhera Sun
Temple that are also located within
a drivable distance. Every January,
the 11th-century Sun Temple at
Modhera becomes the backdrop for
a classical dance festival, attracting
performers and troupes from
different parts of India. Dhordo,
also a few hours away, has become
popular for its white desert, bird
watching, and craft villages that are
set up during the Rann Utsav, held
annually from December to January.Things To Buy
From exquisite embroidery to
wonderful weaves, the handicrafts
from this region are worthy
purchases. The most popular
of the lot is the ikat weave,
especially double ikat that is used
to make patola sarees. You may also
buy shawls and stoles made with
another unique weave of this
region—tangalio, which has motifs
and fi gures in a dotted pattern
on the woven fabric. Herringbone
stitches interspersed with small
mirrors by the women of the
Kharapat Rabari community
are made into wall decorations
including toran, chakla, and pardo,
women’s chaniya-choli-odhni, and
even cushion covers. The beaded
necklaces and bangles made
by the Mirs of Dasada are great
souvenirs too.WATCH THE SUNSET FROM
A SALT PAN, WHERE THE
REFLECTIONS OF THE SKY ADD
A NEW DIMENSION TO THE
MESMERISING SIGHT.
DON'T
MISS!
Clockwise: American flamingoes migrate to the Little Rann of Kutch
every year from October onwards; Rann Riders has eco-friendly cottages;
white-footed fox in the Wild Ass Sanctuary.For more information, please visit gujarattourism.com