Mesmerising Salt Flats of Rann of Kutch

While on our road trip from Goa to Delhi last year, we stopped at Rann of Kutch for a night. Kutch had been on my wish list for quite some time as they are the largest salt flats in the world. It was “mesmerising” if I have to describe Rann of Kutch in one word. The salt dessert spread across the land till as much as you can see is breathtaking. On the best days you will need a few of seconds to figure out where the horizon is. The sky was reflected with such perfection on the day when we visited the Rann that it seemed like the sky and the land are one. From a distance it may seem like a blanket of snow but the warmth in air brings you back to the reality.

After we parked our car we were taken a few km inside desert via bus that the authorities run over there. After this there was about a 1 km walk that took us to a viewing spot. Though the salt flats look beautiful even if you do not climb the viewing pedestal but from the top the view is simply breathtaking. We spent around 3-4 hours gazing into nothingness and absorbing this marvel of nature. Post sunset we started walking back. The breeze had started becoming colder by this time and by the time we reached our car we had to take out thin jackets as it was cold. And then we headed to the Rann Utsav.

Rann Utsav is one of the most colourful time in Rann of Kutch. It gets visitors from across the world as visiting Rann at time of celebration gives them a taste of the local culture. We stayed in Bhuj which is less than an hour’s drive from Rann but there are options of staying in tents that they have set up for the Rann Utsav. There is a cultural program that happens here in the evening with folk dance and local music performances, you too can groove in the music. And as no Indian location is complete with some lip smacking delicacies, they have stalls of Kutchi food as well as food from other parts of Gujarat. There are other shops (Read: kiosks/stalls) where one can buy souvenirs and handicraft that is local to the region.

We too enjoyed their staple rotlas made of bajra with buttermilk and dal. This was followed by some shopping and Ashima could not have enough of dupattas, skirts, salwars and bags. A couple of shops had fixed price items while at others you can bargain to bring down the asking price down by 2 or 3 times.

Nature has made so many distinct wonders for us to explore, Mountains, Beaches, Jungle Safaris and desserts are the most preferred locations, add this to your list as there is nothing even close that you would have seen if you have not visited Rann of Kutch. You would not regret a visit to the Salt dessert.