Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination

Tripoto
22nd Dec 2018
Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath

Ranutsav is a festival organized by the Gujarat Government at a place known as Kutch,near Bhuj. It starts from mid November and goes on till the end of February.

The day started with a trip to Mandvi beach and the nearby localities which are approximately 150kms from the Tent city (2-3hrs driving distance one way). So we left at around 9am and reached the 1st destination at around 12noon.

Day 2

Reached Ahmedabad at 6.30am (on-time). We had hired a taxi from Ahmedabad railway station for the entire journey. So we head towards the main part of the journey that is Bhuj. After reaching around lunch time and relaxing for a bit we went for some local sightseeing but unfortunately as it was Sunday most of the places were closed. But we still managed to visit the Swami Narayan Mandir.

The entrance to the temple

Photo of Bhuj by Nishtha Nath

A night view of the temple.

Photo of Bhuj by Nishtha Nath
Day 3

Day 3 started with our departure for the Tent city of Dhordo, the main place where we are going to reside for the next 3-4 days. Rann Utsav has various packages,it depends upon our budget to choose the package. So we chose the last package that is for 3N/4D. The team provides transportation to and fro from Bhuj railway station or airport at a particular time slot. But we decided to proceed further with our taxi directly to the Tent city.

There are these hoardings placed on both the corners of the road which builds our enthusiasm more and more.

Photo of Rann Utsav - The Tent City by Nishtha Nath

On the way to the Tent City, we visit a handicraft village famous for its handloom works by the villagers.

Photo of Rann Utsav - The Tent City by Nishtha Nath

You can buy some cool and traditional stuffs over here at a reasonable cost.

Photo of Rann Utsav - The Tent City by Nishtha Nath

The hut in the village where the ladies were weaving blankets and bedsheets all by themselves.

Photo of Rann Utsav - The Tent City by Nishtha Nath

And we have finally arrive at the location.

Photo of Rann Utsav - The Tent City by Nishtha Nath

The grand entrance to the city.

Photo of Rann Utsav - The Tent City by Nishtha Nath

And we are welcomed with a traditional song and a dance in this costume.

Photo of Rann Utsav - The Tent City by Nishtha Nath

The reception area. 1st day is reserved only for the check-in formalities and the various in-house activities with a visit to the Great Rann of Kutch in the evening for Sunset.

Photo of Rann Utsav - The Tent City by Nishtha Nath

The dining area. Let's check the main area of concern for a gourmand. There was a buffet system for all the meals (breakfast,lunch,evening tea,dinner) which is all included in the package.

Photo of Rann Utsav - The Tent City by Nishtha Nath

The main Tent city where we are going to stay for the next 4 days.

Photo of Rann Utsav - The Tent City by Nishtha Nath

Segway Ride : After the lunch we decide to explore the place and do some activities till the time we are headed towards the Great Rann of Kutch for sunset.

Photo of Rann Utsav - The Tent City by Nishtha Nath

En route The Great Rann of Kutch (White Desert). The means of transport is a Camel Cart. You can also travel by your own vehicle upto the White Desert.

Photo of Rann Utsav - The Tent City by Nishtha Nath

The White Desert

Photo of Rann Utsav - The Tent City by Nishtha Nath

Witnessing the Grandeur of Sunset on the White Desert.

Photo of Rann Utsav - The Tent City by Nishtha Nath

You can rent out these Kutchi attire for an hour or two to click the perfect traditional pics on the Desert.

Photo of Rann Utsav - The Tent City by Nishtha Nath
Day 5

The last day at the Rann Utsav started with enjoying some of the in-house activities followed by a trip organised to Kala Dungar (Black Hill), the highest peak in Kutch.

Some of the in-house activities were - Para-motoring, para-sailing, pendulum jump etc. These activities were chargeable as it was not included in the package. The other activities were - Mud art, pottery, wood carving.

Once we returned back to the Tent city, I got indulged in some Photography as the place at night is all illuminated with lights everywhere.

It started with some cycling to strengthen the muscles. There is a separate bike station from where you can take a cycle to ride around the place.

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath
Day 6

We checked out from the Tent City and headed to our next destination that was Dwarka. It's almost 500-600kms from the Tent city to Dwarka, so it took almost 7-8hrs for us to reach कृष्णनगरी. By evening we reached our hotel and got relaxed after a whole day journey.

Day 8

This was the day when the return journey to Ahmedabad had started which is also approximately 500-600kms from Dwarka. It took us the whole day to reach Ahmedabad and to relax for the day as we had our train to Pune the next day.

Day 1

Our journey started from the city of Peshwas, Pune. We had reached Pune in the afternoon and we were supposed to board the Duronto express from Pune to Ahmedabad at 9.30pm. With a whole day in hand, we decided to do some street shopping at the most famous market of Pune, The FC Road. After the low-budget shopping we decided to satisfy our stomach at some famous food joints around the place and then head back to the station and start our journey.

Photo of Pune by Nishtha Nath

A full AC train with a time duration of only 8hrs(overnight journey) and a comfortable one.

Photo of Pune by Nishtha Nath

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The day started with a trip to Mandvi beach and the nearby localities which are approximately 150kms from the Tent city (2-3hrs driving distance one way). So we left at around 9am and reached the 1st destination at around 12noon.

The 1st place visited for the day was Viiayvilas palace which was built by the King for his grandchildren to spend their summer vacations at this place

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath

A place where the most famous film of Salman Khan - 'Hum Dil de Chuke Sanam' was shot.

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath

The next on the list was a Jain temple.

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath

And the last for the day was Mandvi beach where we had our lunch and evening tea arranged by Rann Utsav. We almost spent the entire afternoon at the beach and left at around 5pm for the return journey to our tents.

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath

Activity Area : Every evening there are some or the other cultural activities organised to entertain the tourists during their stay which gets concluded by the DJ night. This is the main area where it takes place.

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath

A stage like structure created to help the travellers sit around and njoy the show.

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath
Day 5

Other than the cycles there are these type of vehicles which are driven around to help the travellers commute within the city.

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath

Gandhinugam Handicraft village - After lunch we were taken to this another handicraft village.

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath

Shopping area for women

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath

Kala Dungar

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath
Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath

One can rent out these pagdis at just Rs 10 or 20 from the locals to experiment their culture.

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath

The white patch that is somewhat visible is the white desert and beyond that is a marshy area which is the Pakistan border. At this border there's no land which is connected so it's not possible to visit the same.

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath

Sunset at the Highest point.

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath

The main Tent area

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath

A meeting area near the tents

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath

Business area

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath

Rejuvenation centre

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath

Handloom shops

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath

The main entrance

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath

Reception area

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath

The dining area

Photo of Planning a Trip to Ranutsav? Here's a complete guide for your next travel destination by Nishtha Nath
Day 7

Then the next day we got ready to take the darshan of the main द्वारकाधीश मंदिर which is considered as Lord Krishna's Workplace from where He ruled His Kingdom.

Bet Dwarka - Its the residence of Lord Krishna. One can travel to Bet Dwarka by a ferry from a place called Okha which is 30kms away from the main Dwarka city.

After visiting the main Temples of the city, we went to the 12th ज्योतिर्लिंग (नागेश्वर मंदिर).

The last thing we did for the day was to go to the Dwarka beach to witness the sunset.

द्वारकाधीश मंदिर

Photo of Dwarka by Nishtha Nath

On the way to Bet Dwarka.

Photo of Dwarka by Nishtha Nath

Gopinath mandir

Photo of Dwarka by Nishtha Nath

Nageshwar jyotirlinga

Photo of Dwarka by Nishtha Nath
Photo of Dwarka by Nishtha Nath

Dwarka beach - The last point on the Western Coast.

Photo of Dwarka by Nishtha Nath
Day 9

We had the entire day with us to explore the places nearby Ahmedabad as our train was there at 10.30 pm. So we decided to go to Rani ki Vav which is a world heritage site, situated at a place called Patan about 100kms away from Ahmedabad. The monument was built as a 7 storey stepwell.

Next we came to know that at 25kms there is a Modhera Sun temple, so we decided to visit the same.

The last destination for the day and for the trip was Akshardham temple situated in Gandhinagar (capital city of Gujarat) which is about 100kms from the Sun Temple. At Akshardham,mobile phones are not allowed inside the premises, so there are lockers where you can submit your phone and take them back while returning. But there are professional photographers who are there to take your picture with the temple in the background. P.S. - This is chargeable.

After returning from the Akshardham Temple we reached the Ahmedabad station at around 8.30, had our dinner and started our return journey with Duronto Express.

Rani ki Vav

Photo of Rani Ki Vav by Nishtha Nath

The architectural view of the monument

Photo of Rani Ki Vav by Nishtha Nath

The monument has been printed on the new Rs.100 note.

Photo of Rani Ki Vav by Nishtha Nath

Modhera Sun temple

Photo of Rani Ki Vav by Nishtha Nath

A Vav (well) situated in front of the Sun Temple.

Photo of Rani Ki Vav by Nishtha Nath
Photo of Rani Ki Vav by Nishtha Nath

Akshardham Temple

Photo of Rani Ki Vav by Nishtha Nath