White Desert Great Rann Kutch

Arr. Ahmedabad airport, met with our representative at arrival lounge (carrying the placard of your name) after finishing your visa and immigration formalities and collecting your baggage.

After greeting and meeting at airport, we shall proceed to hotel. Upon arrival, check in at hotel.

Ahmedabad, the former state capital of Gujarat, was founded in 1411 by king Ahmad Shah I. It is one of India’s most historic cities and one can still see the gates and walls of the original fortifications. It is also one of the best places to study the blend of Hindu and Islamic architecture known as Indo-Saracenic. The city has been called ‘Manchester of the East’ due to its textile industries.

Overnight stay at hotel.

After breakfast drive to Little Rann of Kutch en route visit Adalaj & Modhera (Sun temple).

Adalaj Stepwell or Rudabai Stepwell is a stepwell located in the village of Adalaj, close to Ahmedabad city and in Gandhinagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was built in 1498 by Rana Veer Singh of the Vaghela dynasty of Dandai Desh. It is a fine example of Indian architecture work.

After visit drive to Modhera to visit sun temple - The Sun Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the solar deity Surya located at Modhera village of Mehsana district, Gujarat, India. It is situated on the bank of the river Pushpavati. It was built after 1026-27 CE during the reign of Bhima I of the Chaulukya dynasty.

After visit drive to Little Rann of Kutch. Upon arrival, check-in at hotel.

Later proceed for jeep Safari of Little Rann of Kutch and experience beautiful sunset. One of the unique activities offered, is the cross-desert safari across the Little Rann of Kutch in open vehicles. The Rann of Kutch is a geographically unique landscape that was once an arm of the Arabian Sea. As the land separated from the sea by geological forces, it became a vast, featureless plain encrusted with salt that is inundated with water during the rains. The safari across the Little Rann visits the 'bets', islands on the ancient seabed that are now higher grounds covered with grass and scrub. These 'bets' support a variety of wildlife including the 'Gudkhur' (Asiatic wild ass) that is not found elsewhere. The wild ass is a handsome chestnut brown member of the equus genus (horse family). Capable of reaching high speeds when galloping across the Rann, the wild ass is usually seen in small herds. The elegant blackbuck (Indian antelope), nilgai or blue bull (India's largest antelope) and the graceful chinkara (Indian gazelle) are other mammals seen at the bets. The main carnivores of the Little Rann of Kutch are the endangered Indian wolf, desert fox, Indian fox, jackals, desert and jungle cats, and a few hyenas. Smaller mammals like hares, gerbilles and hedgehogs, and reptiles like spiny tailed lizard, monitor, red and common sand boa, saw-scaled viper, cobra, dhaman (Indian rat snake), etc, could also be seen during the safaris in the Rann.

Overnight stay at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel drive to Dholavira.

The Rann region makes for great sightings – the landscapes are unlike any you will see. At once you will see great swatches of white salt, brown sand or just water. You will stop with a start when you will noticed what looked like a sheet of ice half-way between Rapar and Dholavira. Only these were crystals of salt stretching far into the horizon. The landscape of the Rann in Dholavira itself is very beautiful. It is white and watery with a rough path for cars going through it. After crossing Rann you will enter into the island of Khadir. This is a journey inspired by so many others that we have read online and in print. It is also partly inspired by the history and geography books that we've read in school.

Upon arrival, check-in at hotel.

Dholavira - A slice of Harappa in Gujarat. The magnificent ruins of Dholavira throw light on Harappan culture and reveal the planning and architecture that maps the rise and fall of this magnificent civilisation. Located on an island surrounded by the Greater Rann of Kutch, the remains of Dholavira are an example of the marvels of hydro-engineering mastered by the ancient.

Overnight stay at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel drive to Hodka via Bhuj.

We need to ride back to Rapar and then take right towards Bhachau and then to NH for Bhuj. It will be a smooth drive. After crossing Bhuj, approximately 1.5 hrs drive, you will see the vast and arid expanse that is the Great Rann of Kutch lies to the north of the Tropic of Cancer, at the top of the Kutch district. Dhordo, is north of Bhuj, is being developed by the Gujarat government as the Gateway to the Rann. Dhordo is on the edge of the salt desert. It's most convenient to stay there, or nearby Hodka.

The Rann of Kutch, also known as the Great Rann of Kutch (there's a Little Rann of Kutch as well), is a remarkable place to visit in Gujarat. Much of it consists of the world's largest salt desert, measuring around 10,000 square kilometers. What makes it even more amazing is that the salt desert is underwater during the main monsoon season in India. For the remaining eight months of the year, it's an enormous stretch of packed white salt.

The Rann of Kutch is a sensitive area, due to its proximity to the Pakistani border. Therefore, written permission is required to visit the salt desert. This can be obtained on the way at the Bhirandiyara village (famous for mawa, a sweet made from milk) checkpoint, around 55 kilometers from Bhuj. The cost is 100 rupees per person and 50 rupees for a car. You'll need to submit a photocopy of your ID, plus show the original.

Upon arrival, check-in at hotel.

Overnight stay at hotel

After breakfast at hotel drive to the same day excursion of Kalo Dungar.

Kalo Dungar or Black Hill is the highest point in Kutch, Gujarat, India, at 462 m. It is located at 97 km from District headquarters of Bhuj and 25 km from nearest town Khavda. This is probably the only place in Kachchh from where a panoramic view of the Great Rann of Kutch is possible [best sunset point].

Back to hotel.

Later proceed towards the white desert to enjoy sunset.

Overnight stay at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel drive to Morbi via Bhuj.

Bhuj connects you to a range of civilizations and important events in South Asian history through prehistoric archaeological finds, remnants of the Indus Valley Civilization (Harappans), places associated with the Mahabharata and Alexander the Great's march into India and tombs, palaces and other buildings from the rule of the Naga chiefs, the Jadeja Rajputs, the Gujarat Sultans and the British Raj. Over the 4000-year inhabitation of Kutch it developed trading and migratory relationships with ancient civilizations as far abroad as Zanzibar, the Middle East and Greece, fostering a unique ethnic mix of peoples and traditions in the region. In a walk around Bhuj, you can see the Hall of Mirrors at the Aina Mahal; climb the bell tower of the Prag Mahal next door; stroll through the produce market; have a famous Kutchi pau bhaji for lunch; examine the 2000-year-old Kshatrapa inscriptions in the Kutch Museum; admire the sculptures of Ramayana characters at the Ramakund stepwell; walk around Hamirsar Lake and watch children jumping into it from the lake walls as the hot afternoon sun subsides; and catch the sunset among the chhatardis of the Kutchi royal family in a peaceful field outside the center of town.

Visit Shri Swaminarayan Temple and Aina Mahal.

Later proceed to Morbi – situated on the banks of the river Machhu, Morbi provides a marvellous example of the fusion of traditional and the European style of architecture. The Suspension Bridge through which one approaches the city was built during the British era and is an example of the technological advancement of that era. The city has three gates, and from all these three, the city-centre Green Chowk can easily be accessed because the city planning was done by imitating the European style. Right across the bridge is the Darbargadh or the Old Palace which has a beautifully carved front gate and has been currently converted into a Heritage Hotel. Other than this is the Mani Mandir which is a Hindu temple where idols of Laxmi Narayan, Mahakali, Ramchandraji, Radha-Krishna and Shiva are worshipped. This temple is made of Jaipur stone and has many carvings done in Rajasthani style.

Upon arrival, check-in at hotel.

Overnight stay at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel drive to Ahmedabad.

It would be a smooth NH drive. Upon arrival, check-in at hotel.

Day for your own, enjoy and share the though from your team member about your tour.

Overnight stay at hotel.

On time proceed to airport to board the flight for your own journey.