We all have heard of the Rann Utsav in Kutch Gujarat. But, there’s often a lot of confusion around how to visit the Rann Utsav, where to stay to attend the Rann Utsav, how to book for the Rann Utsav etc. If you search the internet, it is full of information on the Rann Utsav Tent stays. So sometimes it gets confusing to the extent that you will feel Rann Utsav is synonym to staying in a tent. But its so not true. So, after visiting the Rann and participating in the Rann Utsav during our two weeks Gujarat road trip, I could understand fully how easy it is to plan a trip to Rann Utsav. If you have the right information. So, I am compiling here a complete guide to the Rann Utsav in Kutch Gujarat which will help you plan your trip to the Rann Utsav like a breeze.
An introduction to the Rann Utsav in Kutch Gujarat
The Rann Utsav is an annual cultural festival held in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, India. It’s one of the most popular and vibrant festivals in India, attracting tourists from all over the world. The festival showcases the rich cultural heritage of Kutch, including music, dance, crafts, and local traditions, all set against the backdrop of the vast salt desert that is the Rann of Kutch.
The Rann Utsav celebrates the cultural diversity of the Kutch region and offers visitors an immersive experience of Kutchi traditions. It’s a unique blend of local culture, natural beauty, and traditional craftsmanship, making it a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many travelers. While during the Rann Utsav, the Rann of Kutch itself is the most distinctive feature. Its white salt desert glows under the moonlight, especially during the full moon, which gives the region an ethereal, magical appearance. This makes the Rann Utsav even more enchanting, especially at night.
The Rann Utsav is particularly famous for it’s wonderful representation of the diverse culture of Kutch, from traditional dances to crafts, festivals, and culinary traditions. Alongside it’s stunning landscape that include the vast white salt desert of the Rann of Kutch, especially during the full moon, creates an almost otherworldly atmosphere. The desert, combined with the cultural celebrations, makes this event truly unique.
Activities and Attractions During Rann Utsav
The festival offers a wide variety of activities that visitors can enjoy, including:
Cultural Performances
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Traditional Folk Dances: You can watch performances of Garba, Dandiya, Kutchi dances, Bhavai, and other regional dances. The vibrant costumes and rhythms are a feast for the eyes and ears.
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Music: Traditional Kutchi music, including folk songs and instrumental performances, is a highlight of the festival.
Crafts and Handicrafts
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Kutch is famous for its handicrafts. At the Rann Utsav, you can explore local markets where artisans showcase their embroidered textiles, bandhani (tie-dye), Kutchhi pottery, wooden crafts, mirror work, and more.
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The festival is a great opportunity to buy authentic Kutchi handicrafts as souvenirs.
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Craft stalls are allocated to local artists on a rotation basis at the Rann Utsav campus and also inside the tent cities to exhibit their craftmanship to the visitors. Thus giving a larger exposure to their crafts and arts. And also opening new markets to them.
Culinary Delights
Kutchi cuisine is a major part of the festival experience. You can savor local dishes such as Khaman, Dabeli, Kutchi Biryani, Sev Tameta, and Bhakri. The food is usually spicy and full of bold flavors, and there are various food stalls during the festival.
Camel and Jeep Safaris
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Explore the Rann of Kutch through camel rides and jeep safaris. These safaris take you through the salt desert, where you can see the wide expanse of the Rann and enjoy sunrise and sunset views over the white land.
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The sunset views over the Rann, particularly during the full moon, are absolutely mesmerizing.
Adventure Activities
The festival also includes some adventure sports, such as paragliding, dune bashing, and mud activities, which give a more thrilling experience amidst the desert.
Star Gazing and Photography
The clear, open skies in the Rann of Kutch, especially during the full moon, are perfect for star gazing and night photography. The moonlit salt desert under the stars creates an almost ethereal ambiance that’s perfect for photographers and nature lovers.
Stay in the Tent City
During the Rann Utsav, a luxury tent city is set up in Dhordo to accommodate visitors. These well-equipped tents offer a unique experience of staying in the heart of the desert while enjoying modern amenities like air conditioning, hot water, and electricity.
Where to stay during the Rann Utsav in Kutch Gujarat
There are two options to stay during the Rann Utsav in Kutch –
The tent city at Rann Utsav
Where all-inclusive tents are setup especially for the duration of the Rann Utsav. These tent cities are setup by partner resorts of the Rann Utsav in partnership with the government of Gujarat. Like the White Rann Resort tent city and the Parveg Tent City at White Rann. Staying within the tent city gives you the following advantage –
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The option to stay right in the middle of all the celebrations and excitement of the Rann Utsav festival.
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Easy access to the nearby White Rann desert. Which makes it easier for staying till late in the evening to watch sunset, early morning to watch sunrise etc.
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Lots of stalls are setup inside and around the tent cities, selling local crafts and fabrics and delicious food. There are also cultural performances arranged inside the tent cities exclusively for the guests. Overall staying in a tent in the White Rann will definitely give one the vibe of the celebration that Rann Utsav stands for.
Staying in a homestay in Rann of Kutch
You can be very much a part of the Rann Utsav by staying in a homestay in one of the nearby villages. Like how we stayed at Hodka, Which was hardly 5km from the White Desert and the Rann Utsav starting point. The advantages of staying in a homestay are –
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Authentic village stay experience in local houses with enjoying local cuisines.
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It comes at a much lower cost than the tents at the tent city and more lucrative cancellation options.
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You can still enjoy everything at the Rann Utsav like the rides and sports at the White Desert, the stalls setup at the Rann Utsav entry point for food and crafts, and everything else except for a stay in a tent at the White Rann.
In my opinion the best option is to book the Tent City stay for a night and a stay in a homestay for another couple of nights. This way, you get to enjoy the Rann Utsav without paying a premium. And you also get both the experiences – staying in a tent in the white desert. And staying in an authentic homestay in the Kutch village.
How to reach the Rann Utsav Gujarat
Bhuj is the central town of the Kutch region of Gujarat. And it won’t be wrong if I called it the “Gateway to Rann Utsav” as well. As, the nearest airport to the Rann Utsav is the Bhuj Airport. Dhordo, the primary base for Rann Utsav, which is around 80 km (1.5 to 2 hours) away from Bhuj.
From Bhuj, you can easily book taxi for drop to the Rann Utsav. Or, even book private cars or tour packages for your entire trip duration in the Rann of Kutch including the Rann Utsav.
Again, if you are traveling by train then Bhuj Railway Station is the nearest one.
Finally, the Rann of Kutch is well connected by road from nearby cities like Bhuj and Ahmedabad. The distance from Ahmedabad to Dhordo is around 400 km (about 7–8 hours by road). You can drive or hire a taxi from Ahmedabad to Dhordo. The route is scenic, and you can enjoy the drive through Gujarat’s countryside and small towns. We also drove from Ahmedabad to Hodka, the village near Dhordo where we stayed in a homestay – Rann Bhoomi Homestay. The route is indeed scenic. Particularly near Bhuj where you pass through salt refineries. And the road passes through a vast stretch of marshland on both the sides – a very unique landscape. And then the last 50-60km from Bhuj to Rann where the road conditions are excellent and there is hardly any habitation around.
What is the best time to visit the Rann Utsav in Kutch Gujarat
The Rann Utsav is held from November to February. However, the months of November and February are less crowded than December and January owing to the year end vacations and Sankrani Celebrations in January. But, you can plan to visit in any of these months. During this time, the days are warm to hot. While the nights are very cold. So, you should carry woolen cloths for the nights. And comfortable cotton cloths for the day. Do carry your sunscreens and sunglasses with you as well.
What are the other places I can visit along with Rann Utsav
Since the Rann Utsav happens in the Rann of Kutch. There are many other places in the area that you might want to cover. If you are booking one of the packaged tour to the Rann of Kutch, chances are many of these places might already be included in your itinerary. Some of the top places include –
Dholavira
Dholavira is an ancient Harappan (Indus Valley Civilization) site located on the Kutch peninsula in the western Indian state of Gujarat. It is one of the most significant archaeological sites of the Indus Valley Civilization, and it is known for its advanced urban planning, sophisticated water management systems, and unique artifacts. Here’s a deeper look at what makes Dholavira particularly famous for it’s well laid township of the ancient times, the canal systems, the massive stone gateways and grid patterns, step wells and water reservoirs.
Dholavira is not just an archaeological site; it is a window into the past, offering a rare glimpse of the Indus Valley Civilization’s advanced society. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a traveler, or someone interested in ancient engineering marvels, Dholavira is a fascinating place to visit.
Dhordo
The village where the Rann Utsav is held is Dhordo. But, it has much more to offer apart from the White Rann Utsav. Visiting Dhordo provides the opportunity to interact with local artisans, watch them work, and purchase exquisite handicrafts as souvenirs. The village is home to some of the best handmade textiles, traditional jewelry, and woven items. You can even book a stay in a homestay outside of the tent city, to have an authentic Kutchhi village stay experience.
Road to Heaven
The “Road to Heaven” in Kutch, Gujarat, refers to a scenic highway located near Dhordo, which leads to the famous Rann of Kutch. The term is often used by travelers and locals due to the breathtaking views along the route. It connects Dhordo to Dholavira. The road to heaven is a road build with the White Rann on one side and the Kutch Lake on the other. As such the vastness of the white salt marsh, combined with the clear sky, creates a surreal and almost ethereal experience driving along the road to heaven. The name likely comes from the sense of awe travelers feel as they approach the Rann of Kutch and take in the unique and seemingly endless landscape. It is a must drive if you like scenic drives.
Kalo Dungra
Kalo Dungar, also known as Black Hill, is the highest point in the Kutch region of Gujarat, India. It is located close to the White Desert. From the summit, you get a spectacular 360-degree view of the surrounding area, including the vast expanse of the Rann of Kutch and the White Rann (salt marsh). The sight of the Rann stretching out under the sun or moon is nothing short of mesmerizing. In fact, on a clear day, you can see as far as the Pakistan Border from here.
At the summit of Kalo Dungar, there is a small but important temple dedicated to Lord Dattatreya, a deity in Hinduism who is considered a combination of the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Also, the hill is believed to exhibit magnetic properties. According to legend, vehicles that are parked in neutral gear near the top of the hill seem to roll uphill on their own.
The artist villages of Rann of Kutch
Kutch is also known as the “Land of Crafts” . Since there is not one but several art forms, practiced in the Rann of Kutch region. Each village specialises in a unique artwork. You can plan to visit some of these villages which are located very close to the White Rann. Some of these include –
- Pottery painting of Khavda Village, Bhuj
- Applique art in Sumrasar Sheikh
- Rogan art, bell making and lacquer art in Nirona Village
- Leather art and Kutchi embroidary in Hodka village
- Mutva art in Sinyaro – a famous mud art
- Hari Zari in Bhadroi
- Gandhi Nu Gaam for it’s rich embriodary
You can see the artists working from their homes, creating these wonderful traditional art. And you can also directly buy from them.
Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary
This wildlife sanctuary lies in the proximity of Dhordo. It is a significant area for wildlife enthusiasts. The sanctuary is home to the Indian Wild Ass (Khur), which is an endangered species. The sanctuary also offers birdwatching opportunities, as it is an important site for migratory birds, including flamingos, especially during the winter months. A visit to Dhordo provides an opportunity to explore the wildlife of the desert region. There is also a wild ass sanctuary in the region, which is one of it’s kind.
General tips on attending the Rann Utsav in Kutch Gujarat
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For visiting the Rann of Kutch region, you need a Rann permit which can be obtained from the Rann of Kutch official website here. It comes at a cost of INR 50 per person and INR 100 for a four wheeler. The permit is valid for a day. So you need to take it from the day of your entry into the Rann of Kutch region to the day of your exit from here.
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Plan to carry winter cloths when visiting here in the month of December and January as it gets pretty chilly at night. With the temperature dropping to close to zero degrees.
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Keep your fuel tank always full. As there are not many petrol pumps in the region. And the ones that are there tend to get crowded. We didn’t get the fuel in time as there was a huge queue at the fuel station. And thought we can get fuel at another station or come back later. But couldn’t find another fuel station in the vicinity or come back. So, we had to run on economy mode which our vehicle provides to conserve fuel. Without that, we might have run out of fuel!!
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PS: There is a tent city setup in Dholavira as well. But it is far from the White Rann and the main point of Rann Utsav. The Rann Utsav is primarily held in the Dhordo village. Which is situated right on the Great White Desert – the largest salt desert in the world!! So, if you plan to book a tent stay at the Rann Utsav, book it at Dhordo only.