Rann of Kutch - A Journey of 1,000+ Kms (Part 2)

“Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason.” – Jerry Seinfeld

If we were to come across this statement before the trip began, we would take time and ponder; is it a sign? Would 1,000 km of drive be too ambitious? What if we get lost?

Today, as we complete the trip with fulfillment do we understand what Jerry Seinfeld really meant.

Roadtrips, as adventurous as they may sound, teach you a lot about traveling differently, you are forced to learn patience, maintain composure, appreciate the journey more, to be ready to become a new person, one step at a time.

The journey from Ahemdabad to Rann of Kutch was definitely challenging, full of detours, long driving times, but nevertheless beautiful!

Our day from Ahmedabad began by getting up a 4 am, we had a huge journey, to begin with. We booked our vehicle - A Ford Ecosport with Zoomcar, which arrived at 12 am at our Heritage House.

So, on getting ready and bidding the house goodbye, we left for our dreamy destination - Rann of Kutch at 5.30 am in morning.

Sharing a few glimpses and a possible itinerary that can be followed:

18th Dec 2021: Day 3 - Ahmedabad to Rann of Kutch

The ideal road travel from Ahmedabad to Rann of Kutch is approx. 400 km, but we wanted to add a short detour to our plan, so we decided to stop by The Modhera Sun Temple, which was en-route to Kutch. Pro-trip: If your group people are someone who loves to take the long roads and detours on a road trip, make sure you have ample friends who can drive, taking turns at the steering wheel.

The journey from Ahmedabad to Rann of Kutch is a straight road ahead, however, the road from Modhera goes through smaller bylanes. Also, there are chances you might encounter some traffic on the road from Bhuj to Kutch if you decide to travel during the peak season of December - January.

Plan your trip accordingly and keep your arrival time flexible.

Although, detours could be one of the best decisions you end up taking, and here are all the reasons why:

First Stop: Modhera Sun Temple

Listed amongst the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Modhera Sun Temple is situated in the village of Modhera in Mehsana district, located about 100 km from Ahmedabad. Amongst the 12 other sun temples of India, Modhera stands right after our very prestigious Sun Temple of Konark because of its stunning architecture and the eternal peace this place offers.

If you happen to visit Gujrat or Kutch, make sure you plan a pit-stop at the Modhera Temple.

The vibe of this place has a magical aura in itself. Another reason for stopping by this place is, the Modhera Temple even today stands in a much better condition as compared to its other counterparts, the saline weather has taken a slight toll on the Sun Temple at Konark and much so, the Martand Sun Temple in Kashmir is almost in ruins. The Modhera Sun Temple lying strong would allow you to take a much closer look at its intricate architecture, only to leave you more mesmerized about the rich history our country has to offer.

Pro-Tip: During the 3rd weekend of January, Gujarat Tourism hosts a three-day dance festival every year, known as the Uttarardha Mahotsav/Modhera Dance Festival, at the temple after Makar Sankranti festival to showcase the artistic talent of India.

You can plan your travel to Modhera and Rann Utsav accordingly.

It would take about 1-2 hours to take a complete look at the temple, even more, if your group loves to hoard memories and click pictures at every nook and corner (which mine definitely did!). We later decided to stop by a small restaurant just beside the temple for lunch, a much-deserved break too.

Second Stop: Rann Homestay resort, Kutch

The journey from Modhera Sun Temple to Kutch is almost an 8-hour drive, traffic conditions could make it 10 hours too.

The road trip is definitely a long one, somehow a bunch of 'we can keep singing songs to keep the motivation high' kind of friends kept our enthusiasm going.

We stopped by at regular intervals for switches on the steering wheel and much required, rather demanded breaks. Well, sometimes we even stopped because certain locations resembled Bollywood movie scenes, so there's no harm making reels with your group, right?

The last few hours were tiring, we realized we were out on the road for 12 hours now.

The only option for a road trip like this is leaving very early from Ahmedabad, as during the nighttime, the visibility can be seriously affected, and we were right on the edge. We reached our Homestay around 10 pm, just before the night would get too dark.

We booked our stay with the Rann Homestay Resort, a beautiful, traditional-looking houses, which looked like a perfect resort for our tired souls.

The houses in Kutch are dome-shaped mud homes, goes by the name 'Bunga', they are constructed out of mud to keep them earthquake resistant, if it was to be hit by one, the walls of the houses fall outwards, keeping the people inside it safe. Another reason why they are constructed with mud is, the soil conditions near the White Desert does not allow any concrete construction to withhold. It's a marvel that in spite of these difficult conditions for constructing houses, the locals here not only manage to design a well-architectured house but manage to beautifully carve it with colorful painting and traditional symbols.

Soon after reaching, we dropped our luggage at our Bungas and flee to the dining area to fill our groaning tummies. The staff was kind enough to keep the buffet dinner arranged for our group even when it was post their serving time.

This place serves authentic Kutch homely food, which by the way, could be one of the most soothing experiences your pallette would encounter.

Soon after our heavenly meal, we crashed into our respective beds, the much-awaited White Desert was supposed to be on the agenda the next day!

19th Dec 2021: Day 4 - Exploring Kutch

If you happen to check Kutch on the map, surrounded by multiple borders - Rajasthan, Gujrat, Pakistan, and never-ending water body, you would only wonder what this tiny place has to offer, even the locals here would suggest you that spending a single day in Kutch on the White Desert is more than enough.

Dive a little deeper and you would be amazed at the versatility of places this tiny looking spot has to offer. Being tight on our schedule (and sanctioned office leaves), we could only pick a few spots to visit, however, listing all the places that one should definitely check if time restrictions allows you to. Places to visit in Kutch & Bhuj: 1. The White Desert, Rann Utsav

2. Kalo Dungar

3. Gandhi Nu Gaam

4. Kutch Desert Sanctuary

5. Dholavira, archeological heritage site

6. Kutch Museum, Bhuj

7. Mandvi Beach, Bhuj

8. Magnetic hill, Kutch

9. Grand Canyon of Kutch (Khari River)

We curated this list one month before we began our travel journey, sadly to drop some places out as well. If you have a few hours at hand but need to be picky about a place, try to accommodate Dholavira, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 4500 years old, and portrays the remains from Harappan Civilization.

First Stop: Kalo Dungar

We decided to take our first stop of the day here at the Kalo Dungar, it is a black hill, marked as the highest point of Kutch. The catch here is the entire top-view of the Rann of Kutch can be seen, you can actually see the Great Rann Lake as far as the horizon could stretch.

Also, if you happen to look closely, you can also get to see a glimpse of Pakistan, at least the border. One very important thing, as much as you feel tempted to record this moment and capture a high view drone shot, DO NOT! Drones are not allowed here due to border security concerns.

But sitting for long hours and enjoying the scenic view is not frowned upon, so do that to the fullest, you could catch an early morning sunrise from this location. The hills would only enhance the view further for you.

On the way to the hilltop, you would find local shops and artisans selling colorful souvenirs; stop by one of the shops if you want to have something memorable to carry along, OR dress up as locals with their traditional outfits and have a photoshoot of your own. What we did? We dressed up the guys in the traditional outfit and made them perform a signature step from the song 'Tattad Tattad'.....because why not!!!

Glimpse?

Second 'Accidental' Stop: Magnetic Hill

This extremely small signboard is very easy to miss. This marks the beginning of Magnetic hill point, which easily is a km drive of an anti-gravity pull. Turn off your car engine and keep the steering wheel sturdy, your car is going to experience a magical phenomenon here!

To make sure, you do not miss experiencing this little road stretch, keep your Google maps started soon as you leave from Kalo Dungar, and stop your car right where it warns 'Magnetic Hill', that's how we discovered the start point of this hill.

We were absolutely amazed to have a hands-on experience with this anti-gravity pull, one would also imagine that the vehicle would move slightly, but NO, it takes up a good momentum and speeds its way out! Fact Check: The reality of this slope is actually an optical illusion, which is the same as the one experienced in Ladakh, this optical illusion is the absence of horizon, which makes judging the slope of the surface difficult as the reference is missing. The road is actually titled if a broader version is seen, it's only an illusion that makes it look like an uphill journey.

But honestly, forget the science and unleash your inner kid to believe that 'everything here is magical'

Third Stop: The White Desert

No pictures...I repeat NO PICTURES are going to do justice to what the actual Great Rann of Kutch looks like!! It's an absolute out-of-the-world experience.

When I entered Rann of Kutch, it seemed that someone has literally transported me to another dimension. A place where time stops - automatically. It is a fantasy land that is far better than what the Disney world curated for you as a child! It is beyond the fairy tale lands!

My advice to you would be, to stop clicking pictures and keep your gadgets aside, however tempting it seems; pause for the moment to watch the SUNSET; watch it from the moment it is high up in the evening sky to the time it disappears on the horizon. I promise you, nothing could match this moment and calmness!

Try Parasailing here just before the sunset, the view would be rather amazing!

I am actually falling short of adjectives to describe this place, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience, please add this to the travel wishlist!

Pro-tip: Be very sure that you have the right footwear while visiting The White Desert, sport shoes are great, anything else is an absolute NO!

Reason being, the salt formation at some places is very thin, with high chances of your foot getting caught and sliding into it. In spite of us wearing sports shoes, the path was still tricky.

Also, try tasting the salt directly from the ground. It will taste hideous, but the memory would be worth!

The White Desert remains open until 7 pm, after that since it gets very dark, it would not be safe to stay here.

Plan an early morning or evening visit here, or both! My suggestion would be an evening visit because the sunset here is one of a kind.

If you are someone who loves stargazing, download a stargazing app on your phone (My pick: Star Chart). Since the sky is too clear and pollution-free, you will end up spotting almost all the planets up there.

Also, I am not sure, if I mentioned this before, but try accommodating your dates on a Full Moon night, it is mesmerizing. The sight of a full moon is too beautiful to be missed. During late evening, just before sunset, you would be able to witness the sunset and a full moon on opposite ends of the horizon, that moment is so fulfilling that you could end up feeling too emotional witnessing its beauty.

Towards the exit, you can stop by to watch the cultural events hosted by Rann Utsav. A colorful event with a perfect stage set for its grandeur.

20th Dec 2021: Day 5 - The return journey

The saddest part of the trip is the last day. knowing that one part of the journey is coming to an end and it is going to take a couple of days to actually shed off the trip experience mentally.

But nevertheless, we ended the trip beautifully by also adding a small detour yet again!

Last Stop: Grand Canyon of Kutch

Khari Nadi George. also known by the name Great Canyon of Kutch is another destination you would want to stop by.

This is a completely dry river, with a lot of crescent-like rock formation, it's beautiful and would be one of a kind in India, yet unexplored much. The rocks here have formed their unique shape and canyon-like structure due to erosion that took place centuries ago, due to the salty water of the lake.

This entire structure is a 2-3km stretch, which can be covered with ease. The only advice would be to avoid this place during the peak afternoon time. The sun is unbearable and harsh, and this is the exact mistake that we made. Hence, we decided to get some quick photos and leave the place for our journey back home!

In the 5 days' time, we tried adding as many places as we could to our journey. But as they say, one cannot have it all. As sad as it is, living in the moment is also essential. I made some very beautiful memories, got introduced to an amazing bunch of people, made friends for a lifetime, and got a sneak peek to another side of India!

My suggestion would be to list down the places that interest you, get hold of your dearest people and take a road trip to this Great Rann of Kutch!

Adios, until next time!