Rann Utsav:Witness the White beauty! 

Tripoto
28th Nov 2017
Photo of Rann Utsav:Witness the White beauty! by Swati Keshri
Day 1

This is one place I wanted to go for since quite long! Finally, we got a good deal at official Rann Utsav's site and packed our bags! There are many operators guaranteeing good deals but we went with the Gujarat tourism program as it had excellent ratings and pricing was also decent compared to other operators. We left from Bhopal on the 27th night and reached Ahmedabad on 28th morning, from where we took a cab to Bhuj. The entire journey takes ~5.5. hours. The Rann Utsav's officials wait at airport/railway station of Bhuj for picking up the tourists. From here, Dhordo tent city is another 1.5 hrs. As you near Dhordo, one can see some salt factories on either side. It seems like one big salt desert!

Once we reach the tent city, we immediately left for witnessing the sunset in the white desert.

Entrance of the tent city

Photo of Rann Utsav ,The Tent City, Dhordo, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri

Our tent with attached bathroom.

Photo of Rann Utsav ,The Tent City, Dhordo, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri

Shopping area inside the tent city.

Photo of Rann Utsav ,The Tent City, Dhordo, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri
Photo of White Rann, Kutch, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri
Photo of White Rann, Kutch, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri

Sunset in the White desert

Photo of White Rann, Kutch, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri

After sunset in the white desert.

Photo of White Rann, Kutch, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri

The white desert.

Photo of White Rann, Kutch, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri
Photo of Rann Utsav ,The Tent City, Dhordo, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri
Photo of Rann Utsav ,The Tent City, Dhordo, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri

Puppet show inside the tent city.

Photo of Rann Utsav ,The Tent City, Dhordo, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri

The mighty moon as seen from a telescope in the tent city.

Photo of Rann Utsav ,The Tent City, Dhordo, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri

Tent city in the night!

Photo of Rann Utsav ,The Tent City, Dhordo, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri

Area outside our tents.

Photo of Rann Utsav ,The Tent City, Dhordo, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri

The Dinner Hall!

Photo of Rann Utsav ,The Tent City, Dhordo, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri

Mini huts.

Photo of Rann Utsav ,The Tent City, Dhordo, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri

Mandvi is an important beach famous among travellers for peace and solitude. Mandvi has beautiful white sand, serene locales and enchanting sunset views. Distance from the Tent City is approx. 140 km one way.

Photo of Mandvi Beach, Mandvi Rural, Gujarat by Swati Keshri
Photo of Mandvi Beach, Mandvi Rural, Gujarat by Swati Keshri
Photo of Mandvi Beach, Mandvi Rural, Gujarat by Swati Keshri
Photo of Mandvi Beach, Mandvi Rural, Gujarat by Swati Keshri
Day 2

The great palace of Mandvi was built in 1929 by highness Maharao Khengarji, The Maharao of Kutch, as a summer resort. This palace has a domed terrace that gives a panoramic view of the sea. It presents an eccentric blend of architectural styles. It has interiors made like offices where the king used to work, it has rooms for entertainment and loyal living quarters.

Photo of Vijay Vilas Palace, Mandvi Rural, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri
Photo of Vijay Vilas Palace, Mandvi Rural, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri
Photo of Vijay Vilas Palace, Mandvi Rural, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri
Photo of Vijay Vilas Palace, Mandvi Rural, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri

One another nice place to explore nearby is Shyamji Krishna Varma Memorial. He was one of the foremost freedom fighters in the history of freedom movement of India. He had organized a revolutionary center in “India House” at London and propagated the cause of India’s independence through his writings. The memorial’s objective is to pay him tribute and also to educate the young generation about the great Indians who sacrificed everything for the country’s freedom.

Today, we left early morning for White Rann to witness the grandeur of Sunrise. The viewing point is made in the form of the salt molecule. Such ingenuity!

Details on the viewing tower.

Photo of Shyamji Krishna Varma Memorial, Kutch, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri
Photo of Shyamji Krishna Varma Memorial, Kutch, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri
Photo of Shyamji Krishna Varma Memorial, Kutch, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri
Photo of Shyamji Krishna Varma Memorial, Kutch, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri
Photo of Shyamji Krishna Varma Memorial, Kutch, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri
Photo of Shyamji Krishna Varma Memorial, Kutch, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri
Day 3

Post spending some time in the tent city, we left for Kala Dungar post lunch. Kala Dungar or Black Hill is the highest point in Kutch. It was an hour journey from the tent city.

Photo of Kalo Dungar, Gujarat by Swati Keshri
Photo of Kalo Dungar, Gujarat by Swati Keshri

En route we visited Handicraft Village “Gandhi Nu Gaam”. This is the handicraft village where one can purchase intricately designed objects of daily necessities at a very cheap rate.

A lady selling beautiful hand-made items.

Photo of School, Gandhi Nu Gam, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri
Photo of School, Gandhi Nu Gam, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri
Day 4

Today, was the last day in the tent city. After breakfast, we covered Kutch Museum, Hiralaxmi Craft Park in Bhujodi and Sri Swami Narayan Temple. The temple was getting renovated when we went. All these spots were complimentary to the Rann Utsav package and we travelled by their bus post which we were dropped at airport/railway station.

Photo of Kutch, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri
Photo of Kutch, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri
Photo of Kutch, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri
Photo of Kutch, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri
Photo of Kutch, Gujarat, India by Swati Keshri

This marked the end of 4 days amazingly spent in the tent city which is an entire city hallmarked with sumptuous local delicacies and a wide gamut of cultural programs. The excellent hospitality by Rann Utsav team was incredible, and one should surely witness the grandeur of the White Desert with them.