As it is that time of the year for the Rann Utsav and Festa De Diu, RoadtoTaste brings to you the 5 day itinerary of the two grand magical celebrations of art, music and cultural extravaganza from the last year. We were married for 11 months in December, 2015 and as our anniversary was approaching, we decided to celebrate this special week of togetherness in Rann of Kutch and Diu exploring the much talked about Rann Utsav and Festa De Diu.
Managing our travel plans along with a full time job has always been difficult for us but as they say, luck favors the brave; we don't miss out on our trips at all. We sneaked out of our workplace a bit early and rushed directly to the airport to board a flight to Ahmedabad.
It was a 5 road trip exploring Gujarat along with Diu. We started early morning from Ahmedabad for Dhordo Village. This is the place which hosts the TentCity, a city made of tent houses on a land in the middle of a huge backdrop. The first feel when you get while entering the tent city is that of a princely state in the middle of a desert. The Rann Utsav is celebrated from October to March every year and is a perfect amalgamation of art and culture showcasing the ethnicity of Gujarat on a grand scale.
We reached Dhordo village around 3pm in the afternoon and was welcomed warmly by the staff. The way we swiftly managed to check in showed the efficient management by the event management company Lallu Lal and Sons. We had our lunch before we started again for a quick tour of the city. The points of attraction included the Kala Dongar and the White Desert for watching the sunset. The tent city was lit up beautifully in the night and had some entertaining cultural programs for its guests. We spent the day well and enjoyed their lovely dinner before calling it a day as we had to start for Diu the next morning.
The journey from Dhordo to Diu was a good 12 hours journey which was covered through Somnath. We took a stopover at the Somnath temple for seeking the blessings of the divinity before we reached Diu around 10 in the night. As we were dead tired by the long journey throughout the day, we quickly retired to get some much required rest and sleep. The next day was special as it was our anniversary and we had completed 1 year of togetherness! Time actually flies!
We checked into our stay at the Festa De Diu Village and we were welcomed again with the same hospitality and warmth as was in Kutch. The same company managed everything here too, this time right at the beach. It was splendid to be staying just at an arm's distance from the beach in a tent full of luxury. We spent some time at the beach, relaxing, playing, unwinding before we had our lunch. We started to explore Diu city after the lunch and reached the Naida Caves. We roamed through the city and visited the Goghla Beach before returning to the base as we had to change for the special dinner. We went for an amazing dine-in experience at the Resort.
The next day was dedicated for returning to Ahmedabad for a flight to Delhi. The journey was mesmerizing as you get to see the well maintained highways, expressways and the scenic landscapes throughout the road trip. This was one road journey that made us travel through different terrains from desert to beaches and as we say Road to Taste is about the roads traveled and experiences garnered, the experiences garnered from this trip were etched in our hearts for the lifetime.
It is definitely worth visiting the Rann Utsav and Festa de Diu to enjoy the amazing hospitality and the beauty of Gujarat and Diu. It made our first anniversary the way it should have been, EXTRA SPECIAL!
Have you been to Rann Utsav and Festa de Diu? Do share your experiences with us!
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This blog was originally published on Road to Taste.