Travel Blogging: 2017

A grand celebration of epic magnitude takes place in one in every of the most important salt deserts of the globe, Rann of Kutch. “Let the white desert drench you in its eclectic colours” is the right analogy for the festivity known as the Rann Utsav. The seemingly barren land comes alive, flaunting the region's culture and vibrancy, at this 4-month long event from Nov to Feb.

What and Where: A handy guide

'Dhordo' is that the village close to which a whole Tent City, complete with every last detail, magically seems, as if out of thin air. Kudos to Gujarat Tourism for resurrecting it each year on this ochre land.

What to Expect:

As you enter the city, you may notice yourself mystified by the cultural illustration of art and craft, food and flavours, and the hospitality, after all.

Where to Stay:

Camp under the celebs in Swiss Tents which exemplify the right mix of up to date conveniences cocooned in luxury and extravagance. Once settling down in your tent, go around exploring this sojourn which has therefore much in store.

What to Buy:

The looking arena incorporates a show of handicraft product that include iron bells, engraved silver jewelry, sea shell toys, hand-carved wood items, Bandhani sarees, three hundred-year old Rogan art textiles, hand embroidered wraps of designs of Suf, Khaarek, Paako, Rabari, Garasia Jat and Mutava, and several additional attention-grabbing gifts and souvenirs.

What to Eat:

Relish the delightful selection of authentic Gujarati cuisines and snacks including the Kutchi specialities. Do strive masala cone, Dabeli and double roti.

What to Witness:

As the evening descends, musical notes from the Manjira and Morchay enchant you while people dances cast a hypnotising spell whenever you set your eyes on the stage. And throughout the change of acts, you'll see the stars through a telescope free.

What Activities to Try:

Expanding the list of choices for indulgence, Triker, Golf Cart, ATV Ride, Camel Cart Excursion, Paramotoring, Meditation and Yoga hall, Spa and Kids zone are also obtainable. Take an exciting hot air balloon ride since the aerial view is that the cherry on the top of the cake known as Rann.

Kala Dungar

It is a black rock mountain where you'll get a mesmerising panoramic view of the Rann. Witness the sheer magnificence of dusk turning into night and therefore the highlight of this transcendental experience is the 5 min sunset, whose beauty is just inexpressible in words. Also, take trip to determine the Dattatreya temple and India Bridge where the distance between Indo-Pak border is that the shortest.

Mandavi Beach

The beach is a dreamy affair throughout the Kite Flying Festival on Jan 14, Makar Sankranti. You get to work out colourful kites flying within the sky of various sizes and shapes calling out to the child in you. The Irony: It is probably the sole beach that has a graveyard at the doorway of the lane leading to it.

Bhuj

Bhuj, being the district headquarter of Kutch, is that the gateway town to the Rann Utsav. What you definitely ought to tick off your bucket list are the 18th century Aina Mahal and Prag Mahal.

Additionally, try to suit these in your itinerary : Nirona Village, Bhujodi, Handicraft Village and Craft Park , where you can see for yourself the magic that goes into creating the beautiful handicraft works. Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary within the Little Rann of Kutch is definitely a treat for the wildlife enthusiasts.

Make this rann utsav festival more special and memorable, to book rann utsav tour packages, You can call at Akshar tours on Toll free number 1800 233 9008, also mail us at sales@akshartours.com

Thursday, 13 July 2017

Insight into Rann Utsav at Great Rann of Kutch

When it comes to counting colors, moods, moments & occasions, no alternative place in India, if not the globe, is additional versatile than Gujarat. Blessed with rare geographical diversity & rich flora & fauna, Gujarat additionally attracts tourists for its ethnic, colourful folks.

There are some things in life as colourful because the desert- hidden in this barren land may be a riot of colors, reflecting in the folks who live there. A highlight to the present is the tribal community of the hauntingly stunning Rann of Kutch, that is still committed to tradition, rituals, and customs & after all, Festivals. Here is my attempt at familiarizing the intrepid traveler with one of Gujarat's Biggest & most standard honest-festival: The Rann Utsav. This festive extravaganza is the best tribute to the sweetness & spirit of this glorious region that's known for enveloping the state in a frenzy that may put the most effective vocabulary to shame.

A unique geographical feature of Kutch is the Great Rann of Kutch, an expanse of concerning 30,00zero sq km of salt desert & seasonal marshland that lies between the Gulf of Kutch & the Indus River. The area was once the shallows of the Arabian Ocean before geological uplift closed off the association of the sea, let alone an enormous lake which turns into a desert.

The Rann Utsav, an annual competition, offers an unimaginable chance to explore the Great Rann of Kutch & the Banni grassland to the north of Bhuj. In December-January, an enormous tented village near Dhorodo village is founded by the Gujarat tourist authorities to accommodate tourists for the festival. Because the evening shadows lengthen, camel carts are readied to take tourists into the salt flats & marshes of the Great Rann of Kutch. You'll be able to witness the sensible sunset from the camel carts. After disembarking, trudge on the salt flats to relish a excellent read of the white desert shimmering in the moonlight. The atmosphere is especially breathtaking on a full moon night. Food is served within the desert wilderness & musicians sing folk songs of the region, known for its Sindhi 'bhajans' & Sufi music.

Another distinctive expertise of the Rann Utsav is that the trip to Kala Dungar, literally Black Hills, of Kutch. The drive lands up the hill to the Dattatray Temple which incorporates a singularly lovely view of the vast expanses of the salt desert of the Great Rann of Kutch stretching towards the India-Pakistanborder. The surrounding scrub vegetation trills with the decision of birds. When the priests of the temple decision, 'Lo-Aang', packs of jackals come back out from the scrubland to feast on the temple offerings laid out for them.

Dhorodo lies in the heart of the Banni grassland where pastoral villages turn out some of india's finest hand-embroidery with a selection of styles that differ from one community to another. You'll be able to tour the gamut of villages that dot the grasslands like Sumrasar Sheikh, Bhirendiaro, Hodka, Gorewali, Dhorodo, Ludia, etc. to observe women doing embroidery. You'll be able to keep at Shaam-e-Sarhad, an endogenous tourism resort in Hodka designed using local craft skills.

Northwest of Bhuj, the villages of Zura & Nirona are home to several lesser known craft skills. At both these places, it is doable to observe 'luhar' (blacksmiths) hand-casting melodic bells. These villages are also known for his or her lacquered woodcrafts. The people art that's currently restricted to only one family is 'rogan', which involves an intricate method of creating colours by mixing pigments with castor oils. Southwest from Bhuj, Mundra is that the centre for 'namada', the art of felting. Dhamadka may be a traditional centre for 'ajrakh' block-printing. For daring embroidery of the Ahir community, visit the villages of Dhaneti & Padhhar.

In conjunction with craft villages & the distinctive salt desert landscape of the Great Rann of Kutch, the Rann & its adjacent Banni grasslands are pleasant for bird watching. Flocks of flamingos & storks mingle concerning the pristine fresh-water lakes & salt marshes, together with a sensible number of larks, eagles, falcons & alternative raptors.

A visit to Bhuj is an expertise of its types. Though the 2001 earthquake devastated Bhuj & destroyed its grand palaces, it's still one amongst the simplest places to get an introduction to Kutch with fine monuments, museums & markets.

Tera at Kutch could be a heritage village with a scattering of mosques, temples, stepwells, havellis & a medieval fort with Ramayan-themed frescoes within. A notable feature of Tera's havelis is the gateway- carved wooden doors framed by ornate stonework that includes Indian & western motifs.

The north western tip of Kutch, with its fortified villages, was once an necessary centre for sea trade & the villages here grew prosperous from the maritime activities.

The pageant additionally features folk performances, competitions & handicraft demonstrations. Choose from excursions organised to varied sites, from the archaeological website at Dholavira to the holy lake of Narayan Sarovar.