Shimmering White Salt Flats And Its Enchanting Rann Utsav

Starting from the first week of November, the salt plains of the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat are lined with bedecked camels, colourful turbans and tents to accommodate the numerous people who come to enjoy the three month cultural extravaganza. The Rann Utsav is when Gujarat’s warm hospitality and excellent cuisines are easily noticeable in the temporary city called the Tent City spread across an area of 5,00,000 sq. mts. making it the largest tent accommodation in India.

A holiday flavoured with traditional dances, food, music and surreal views of the White Rann is nothing short of a beautiful dream. A festival filled with excitement and energy of colossal proportions. Handicraft bazaars, pottery sheds and live embroidery work are showcased. With multitude of activities to choose from – music and dance performances, spa centres, meditation pavilions, gaming zones, camel cart rides, dirt biking and paramotoring; the guests are offered various choices. These are sure to keep one busy during the festival.

Rann Utsav comes to its liveliest form during the full moon when the carnival of dance, music and mesmerising landscapes of the white desert in the glittery bright moonlight makes it one of the splendours that Kutch offers to its travellers. This year Rann Utsav would begin from 1st of November 2017 to 20th of February 2018.

GETTING TO THE RANN UTSAV

Rann Utsav is organised at the gateway of the ‘White Desert’, in a small village called Dhordo. Bleak topography of the village is infused with colour and excitement in the days that run up to the festival. The village of Dhordo is best approached via Bhuj. Bhuj is connected by railways with trains coming in and heading out to various important stations like Mumbai and Kolkata. Bhuj is also connected by air with flights coming in from Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Bhopal and Chennai making it easier to reach Dhordo which is 86 kms from Bhuj Airport. Taxis are available too from the airport.

THE TENT CITY

A temporary city is created close to the village of Dhordo where luxurious temporary tents are set up to house guests. These tents are arranged in C-shaped clusters filled with modern amenities. The tent city has additional space for the sprawling dining halls dishing out some of the best Gujarati delicacies, a reception to welcome the guests, a conference hall for large gatherings, a well-equipped indoor sports club house, a café and a rejuvenation centre. The setup also has ample provision for handicraft bazaar which provides a great platform for local artisans to showcase their skills through various art forms. Along with all these amenities and recreation facilities the setup also has an activity area which is used for a range of performances and entertainment shows.

THE EXQUISITE KUTCHI HANDICRAFTS

With a glorious past captured in its traditions this is a culture that not only preserves its essence but also celebrates it with a vast ocean of cultural beauty. A unique craft that has been mastered over centuries by the talented and uniquely artistic people of Kutch.

Kutch is known for its mirrored embroideriy inherited by the kutchi people who weave their dreams in these forms. While the women work meticulously on the embroideries the men have mastered the wood carving skill. Lacquer art is an art form done by carving splendid designs on various wooden objects especially wooden household items like jewellery boxes and kitchen utensils. They are known to last for more than 35 years. With the men working on the intricate part of the art, the women too leave their mark by providing the base colour and by selling the artwork. Women also enjoy depicting their dreams through mud wall paintings. The art involves mixing clay and camel dung to create paintings of peacocks, parrots and fans to name a few. While the dreams of the people are depicted on a wall which turns their house into a living museum; a strong lineage in Kutch is busy making some of the finest nutcrackers and pen knives, thereby, giving it a personalised feel and a peculiar Kutchi touch. Rogan Art, an art form which has its routes in Persia is one of the most highly practiced art forms in Kutch. The art work involves filling up the paint or the Rogan on the cloth. The Rogan thread has to be led with great precision to give it the desired shape. The Kutchis are also known for making copper bells for several generations and are passionately taking the art forward.

OTHER PLACES TO VISIT

Kutch is filled with majestic palaces, beaches and temples. Vijay Vilas Palace is one name which can never be missed. Built in 1929 for Rao Vijayaraji; the palace is an archetype of fusion architecture with a mix of Rajasthani, Bengali and Kutchi style. The interior is magnificently filled with Rajputana art, which is fascinating to one and all. Next to the palace is the beautiful Mandvi beach. The private beach offers some of the most deluxe camps at the shore of sun-kissed sand and cool breezy waters making Mandvi beach a great destination for honeymooners and family celebrations. Besides beautiful beaches there are also exquisite temples such as the Swami Narayan Temple. This temple marks the spot where Lord Swamitravellers from across the globe. Dattatraya temple at Kalo Dungar is a great place too. This place is one of a kind that gives you a beautiful panoramic view of the White Desert. Situated 95 kms from the city of Bhuj, it is one of the most beautiful places in Kutch to enjoy a beautiful sunset.

ADVENTURE SPORTS IN KUTCH

There are variety of recreational and adventure sports activities at Rann Utsav. The activities are setup keeping in mind the broader age group.

The adventurous have the ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) to enjoy off-roading or Paramotoring, for a panoramic view of the beautiful Rann Utsav festival arena and the White Desert. The experience and the view is so very majestic and so very unforgettable.

For the non-adventurous they have the Trike Ride or a Three Wheeled Scooter which can be used to commute around various arenas in Rann Utsav. A great combination of fitness with a cool ride. For the sportier kind they have Paintball and Net Cricket.

In a nutshell, whatever your reason — sports, beaches, white sands, handicrafts, wildlife or just interacting with the local people and getting a closer look at their unique lifestyle — a visit to Rann Utsav is a must if you want an experience that soothes your mind, body and the soul. Plus as someone famous says — Kuch Din to Guzaariye Gujarat mein