Rann of Kutch Tourism

This Jain temple is dedicated to Shri Chandra Prabhu Bhagwan. The temple is managed by a trust and also features an eatery and lodging place. The temple is a famous pilgrimage spot for Jain pilgrims. 

Narayan Sarovar is one of the most important religious places in Kutch. The lake is one of the fiveholiest lakes for Hindus. According to legend, lake was created by Lord Vishnu with waters from the Man Sarovar, PushkarSarovar, Pampa Sarovar and BinduSarovar. The lake was made to end a draught in the area following the prayers from the devotees. There are a few temples in the vicinity of the lake, the most important being the Narayan Temple. The Lake is also the location of an annual fair held in November-December; which attracts a lot of tourists and pilgrims.

Children love to visit wildlife sanctuaries like Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, Kutch Bustard Sanctuary and Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary. Besides that you may take them to the local parks. There are no major amusements parks in Kutch except Kukma Water Park. However, the largest Amusement & Theme Park in Gujarat- Tirupati Rushivan is located about 176 kilometers from Gandhidham.

Many Rann of Kutch tour packages will include a visit to this amazing monument. This 11th century Sun Temple in Gandhidham is popular in Kutch for its fine and beautiful architecture. The temple is adorned with numerous carvings and statuettes. Modhera is placed between tranquil and serene surroundings.

Prag Mahal is famed for its lovely and delicate architecture. The palace is adorned by fragile filigree work and Corinthian pillars. There is also a bell tower and a beautiful small temple inside the complex.

For those who love historical places, visiting the ruins of an old city is one of the interesting things to do in Rann of Kutch. These are the ruins of an old city from the Indus Valley Civilization, which was discovered in the year 1968. The excavation site is located at Khadirbet in Bhachau tehsil and is a splendid place to see the heritage of the ancient Harrappan civilization in all its glory. There are a lot of well-preserved artefacts and fossils that are sure to fascinate archaeology enthusiasts and people who love history.

In Bhuj you could eat out at places like Yellow Chilli, Green Rock, Annapurna Restaurant and Saffrony Restaurant. For South Indian food, try Sankalp and for people who love non-vegetarian food Noorani Restaurant would be a good option. In Gandhidham try Waves, Mirch Masala, Asian Station Restaurant and Swagat Restaurant. Insomnia is a 24 hour café in Gandhidham which is frequented by a lot of youngsters. 

Most local dishes are either made of bajra (millet), wheat or milk. Do try Daabeli, Khari Bhaat and ChakrdaPakwan while in Kutch. You could also try other Gujarati food like thepla, dhokla and Khandvi etcetera.

There are no proper clubs and discos in Kutch, however you could visit Insomnia in Gandhidham, which is 24 hour café and is a hotspot for the people who like to part till the wee hours in the morning.

Consumption and selling alcohol is banned in the state of Gujarat. 

There are no proper flea markets in Kutch, except some makeshift shops in the major streets market. However there are certain places where you could buy good souvenirs, trinkets, fabrics and apparel of authenticity, at reasonable prices. Khamir, for example is an umbrella organization which has the sole motive of preserving the Kutchi handicrafts and arts. Shrujan which is 12 Kilometres form Bhuj and Kala Raksha are other popular places which also work with the artisans form the various villages in the region. 

Mehta Super Bazar, Ganesh Departmental Store and Gurunanak Super Market are some popular departmental stores in Gandhidham. In Bhuj you could visit Anant General Stores, Mahavir Departmental Stores and Prem Provision Store.

Shroff Bazaar in Bhuj is the most popular street market and you could almost everything of need and souvenirs in the market. You could also try Gandhi Market and Radhey Road Market I Gandhidham for your shopping. 

The best time to catch some live music in Kutch would be during the RannUtsav, the three month long festival which has numerous live performances from the singers in the region and dancers too. You could check out the event calendar from their official website and plan your trip accordingly. 

Navjivan Nature Cure Centre is 34 Kilometers from Bhuj and is an excellent place to rejuvenate and detoxify your body. Your body gets to relax by the means of treatments like hydrotherapy, massages, acupuncture, acupressure and ‘panchakarma’. You would also get to indulge in meditation and Yoga. 

To get a kick of adrenaline you could do safaris in the Rann of Kutch using jeeps, quad bikes, camels or horses.  Bird Safaris and hiking through the Bajana Creek is also very popular. One of the most adventurous things one could perhaps undertake to enjoy Kutch is become a part of Royal Enfield Tour of Rann of Kutch. 

These palaces are situated in Bhuj, in the same complex, inside a walled compound called Darbargadh. These 18th Century palaces were built by the ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Kutch, Lakhpat Ji. Aina Mahal is one the oldest buildings in the region and you will witness the cultural and historical heritage of the rulers, carefully preserved in the palace.

The biggest attraction is the white deserts or Rann of Kutch. Bird watching, especially at Bajana Creek is a popular activity and enjoyed by the nature lovers. You could also go for picnics and nature walks in one of the wildlife sanctuaries or spend time in the parks.

Some famous landmarks in Bhuj are temples like Swami Narayan temple, Matnamadh and Bhujia Hill. You could also check out natural landmarks like Hamirsar Lake or Chattardi which is a popular place to do film shootings. Another place is Kutch Fossil Park if you have interest in archaeology. In Gandhidham the most popular landmarks are the Gandhi Market and the religious place Shri Chandra Prabh Labdhi Dham Teerth.

The biggest cultural attraction of the region is without any doubt the three month long Rann Utsav. The Festival starts during the winters (Usually in the month of December) in the Great Rann of Kutch and has the sole purpose of showcasing the rich cultural and artistic heritage of the Kutch and Gujarat. There are live performances, exhibitions-cum-sale of handicrafts and expeditions, which are organized for the large number of tourists who visit the Festival. The area is also famous for the Handicrafts, especially embroidered cloth. 

The region of Kutch boasts of the great Rann of Kutch and the small Rann of Kutch which are two salty marshlands from which the region got its name. These deserts have a beautiful landscape and attract a lot of tourists every year. The barren white Land of Kutch is shrouded in ethereal beauty. There are several Wildlife Sanctuaries in the area like the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, Kutch Bustard Sanctuary, Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary and the Biosphere Reserve are some other popular places where you will find abundant natural beauty. Also worth visiting is the Banni Grasslands reserve and the disputed Baan Ganga or Kori Creek. 

When you visit the Rann of Kutch, you could perhaps make it a trip to cover the most of the interesting places in Gujarat too. You could visit some exciting places like Gir, Ahmedabad and Jamnagar. You could also visit the religious places like Dwarka and Somnath, or check out the beaches in Diu. You could also cover places like Mount Abu and Udaipur in Rajasthan. 

There are a lot of parks in Bhuj as well as Gandhidham where you can go for an evening stroll and spend some quiet time with your family. In Bhuj you could go to Khengar Ji Park, Rajendra Park, Toral Garden and Hill Garden. In Gandhidham you could visit BalVatika Circle and Bhai Pratap Ghat. There are also some big and small local parks which could be explored with help of your guide or the local population in the major cities in Kutch district.

There are two major museums in Kutch. Bhuj in Kutch is home to the oldest Museum in Gujarat called the Kutch Museum. This museum was established in 1877 by Maharao Khengar Ji. The museum has some rare items like Kshatrapa inscriptions which belong to the 1 century AD and samples of the extinct Gujarati language Kutchi. There are also a host of other artefacts, old coins, art work and sculptures in the museum. You could also visit the Sharad Bagh Palace in Bhuj. 

This is an ancient temple between Bhuj and Gandhidham. The temple is dated back to either 9th or 10th centuries.The temple is extremely famous for its architecture and the sculptures and carvings. The temple holds importance for Jain and Hindu pilgrims. It is a fine example of ancient splendor and superior architectural skills. Swami Narayan Templein Bhuj is another popular temple which you can visit. 

This Jain temple is dedicated to Shri Chandra Prabhu Bhagwan. The temple is managed by a trust and also features an eatery and lodging place. The temple is a famous pilgrimage spot for Jain pilgrims.