Overview
The Great White Desert of Kutch is a seasonal salt marsh on the edge of the Thar Desert in the Kutch District of Gujarat, India. It covers about 7,500 km² (square kilometres) and is one of the largest salt deserts in the world.
Tribal Villages
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Metal bell-making in Nirona
The homes of the bell makers are just a five-minute walk from the Khatri house. They have mastery in the art of making bells from copper and passed on through generations. All bells have a distinct sound that is created by beating the metal in a particular way.
Cattle herders use such bells. They need a particular sound to identify their herd that ties the bell around their neck.
Scrap metal of the beaten sheets joined together by using a locking system. Welding work is not required to create the bells.
You can get a small-sized bell for ₹100 and the larger ones with metal belts for ₹300.
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Embroidery and woodwork at Gandhi Nu Gam
When you walk through the Gandhi Nu Gam, it will be a delight to your eyes to see the artwork that adorns the wall. The other things that strike you are the exquisite jewellery and traditional Kanjari blouses the womenfolk wear.
You can buy the beaded necklaces, armbands, embroidered purses and wallets for as little as ₹100. The embroidery has bright colour threads.
You can see it on the bed covers, cushion covers, dupattas and dress materials. The little girls will convince you to buy colourful and attractive hair ties.
The main occupation of men over here is carving the wooden furniture, and the women keep them occupied with making the accessories.
The traditional mud huts known as bhungas are brightly painted murals on the outside and mirrors on the inner walls. The village was re-developed after the earthquake.
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Rogan art in Nirona
Nirona is not a well-known name. It got a little fame when PM Mr Narendra Modi gifted an exquisite piece of Rogan to US President Barack Obama.
Rogan is a popular art form traditionally used in wedding ceremonies. Special paint with oil from the castor seeds makes the Rogan work. Castor is growing abundantly on the way from Bhuj to Nirona.
Wildlife
You can see one of the most stunning landscapes of the country in Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. The Rann Utsav is organised in the White Desert of Kutch in the months of winter.
Rann of Kutch is home to several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries that are worth a visit.
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Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary
Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary is a sprawling sanctuary located in the Little Rann. You will find the Indian wild ass (khur), locally called ghudkhar, roaming in its natural habitat. You can also see a hedgehog, fox, desert cat, jackal, jungle cat, wolf, blue bull, many species of birds and reptiles.
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Kutch Bustard Sanctuary
Kutch Bustard Sanctuary is also known as Lala-Parjan Sanctuary. This beautiful park conserves and preserves the Bustard. The great Indian bustard is a critically endangered bird.
You can explore harrier, common cranes, black partridges, sandgrouse, black and grey francolin, spotted Indian sandgrouse, quails, larks, shrikes, plover, flamingos, herons, egrets, and sandpipers.
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Marine National Park
India’s first marine national park, located in the Gulf of Kutch, is Marine National Park.
It is home to coral reefs and marine life like octopus, sea urchins, sea horses, starfish, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, green sea turtles and, occasionally, dugongs and whale sharks.
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Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary
Located in the Great Rann of Kutch, Desert Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in India by area.
It is a home of jackals, wild boar, porcupine, chinkara, desert fox, and spiny-tailed lizard.
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Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary
Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary is best known for protecting the chinkara (Indian gazelle).
Through the sanctuary, you can explore the water reservoirs, mangrove forests and two streams of Kapurasi and Kali. You can explore chinkara, Ghorad and desert foxes.
Conclusion
While there are options for all budgets, we recommend you to stay in the hotel near rann of kutch.
You can get packages by kutch rann utsav tent booking including safaris to the Rann of Kutch and excursions to other nearby attractions.
