The Great Rann of Kutch is a salt marsh in the Thar Desert in the Kutch District of Gujarat, India. It is about 7500 km² in the area and is known to be one of the largest salt deserts in the world. As India's largest salt marsh, the Rann of Kutch draws travellers from all over the world. The region is divided into two distinct areas -- the Great Rann and the Little Rann -- each offering different experiences. (Rann means "desert" in Hindi.) The former is best known for its spectacular landscapes, while the latter destination is a hub of wildlife and salt farming. It's amazing how beautiful nothingness is, and how much the scene changes in the shifting light, especially between sunset to a full moon. The region is called Kutch -- meaning "intermittently wet and dry" -- for good reason. The Rann, which cover some 10,800 square miles, are bone-dry all winter, and then totally flooded in the summer because of heavy rainfall. Given the tempestuous climate, most travellers visit the Great Rann in winter for the best chance to see the lunar-like landscapes. The Rann of Kutch is also India’s only nesting ground for the greater flamingo.
While most people enter the Great Rann via Bhuj, it's also possible to approach from Khadir Bet in the east. Rising out of the desert, this island is home to a 5,000-year-old Indus Valley civilization site known as Dholavira. Walking out into that featureless, lunar landscape at sunrise from the fossil park on Khadir Bet will count for one of the most unforgettable experiences one can have. More than 4000 years ago, Dholavira was one of the largest cities of its time and also one of the oldest, in continuous occupation for over 1200 years. Spread over an area on 100 hectares, the site shows a continuous evolution and studies here have brought some interesting facts about the ancient Harappan civilization.
Bhuj, a city, north-western Gujarat state, is situated in the lowlands between the Rann (marsh) and the Gulf of Kachchh (Kutch). The Aina Mahal, a palace built by Rao Lakhpatji in the 18th century and now a museum, is one of Bhuj’s major tourist destinations. The city is a commercial center for wheat, barley, cattle, cotton, and salt produced in the hinterland. Handicrafts include the manufacture of cotton cloth and silver items. Bhuj is the site of the country’s first large-scale experiment with solar pond technology (a means of collecting solar energy using brine ponds).
Come, explore the colourful Rann of Kutch with Leading Edge and explore the hidden treasures.