Most of us have seen the brown desert of Rajasthan, but how many of you have seen the great white desert of Gujarat? The white salt desert of Kutch in Gujarat is a wetland which submerges in water during monsoon and becomes dry during other seasons. The region has come to limelight due to its expansive salt flats and distinct culture which is a mix of neighboring Rajasthan and Gujarat. The district encompasses more than a thousand villages, few of the famous ones are – Dhordo, Hodka, Bhirandiyara and Khavda.
Order Food at Gandhidham station
Here is my list of experiences that you get to do only in Kutch.
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Camel Safari on the white salt desert of Kutch
White Desert was certainly one of the must-do experiences in my bucket list which I needed to strike off. It is the sole reason why people visit Kutch. Imagine 7,500 km of endless white desert with no entity in sight brings both awe inspiring and frightening sentiments to me. I wouldn’t suggest visiting it during day time but setting sun against the white backdrop is treat to the eyes. People say a full moon night is even better.
Unfortunately, the best months to visit this place from November to February get swarmed with tourists due to Rann Utsav. But avoiding some obvious public holidays can give respite from the crowd.
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Stay with local family
As you enter Kutch, the rounded mud homes locally known as Bhungas with colorful elaborated patterns on walls add freshness to the otherwise dry landscape. You can either choose to stay in touristy Bhungas where you’ll get comfortable amenities but less interaction with locals or in a homestay. I chose to stay with a lovely joint family who had let out one of their huts on Gujarat Tourism website.
The accommodation and food provided in a homestay is basic yet authentic local. The families haven’t been trained to serve guests but they will do their best to make your stay comfortable. On the other hand, you get ample interaction with the family and sneak peak in Kutchi life.
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Eat unlimited. Fixed Price
I liked how the small dhabas here have fixed menu and will feed you till you belch and can’t eat anymore. The food in Kutch is extremely simple, since the majority of population is rural the food even in restaurants is very home-cooked.
Khechdi (or Khichri):
Khichri which is eaten normally during illness is staple food here. Kutchi Khechdi is less dilute and is normally eaten with jaggery.
Rotla:
A thicker form of roti made of millet and sorghum is eaten with ghee and jaggery. It’s a healthy and tasty option to wheat rotis.
Chaas:
Kutchi people drink chaas (i.e. buttermilk) as refreshment almost all day. Before you order food, a jug of chaas will be placed in front of you. You can ask for even more!
Kadi:
Kutchi Kadi, unlike northern kadi, spicy and is cooked with vegetables. It looks more white due to less or no turmeric.
One annoying thing that I witnessed was when tourists from the other parts of India assumed that like other parts of Gujarat, Kutchi food, will also be sweet. They would create a nuisance by sternly directing Dhaba owners to not serve sweet food without even tasting it! A word of advice here, respect the local people and their food when traveling. How will you feel when somebody comes to your home and directs your cooking according to their taste?
Order food at Gandhidham station
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Witness Flamingos
Flamingos are the migratory birds making Kutch the biggest breeding ground for them, which is why it’s also called as Flamingo City. The breeding season runs from August to October and if you are lucky you can view hundreds of flamingos at Hanj Bet near Khavda village.
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Kutchi Handicrafts
Kutchi people definitely know how to live it up. Men in their multi color turbans and women in shiny outfits add so much to this discolored canvas. They dress up like it is a festival every day. Most of the locals are skilled artisans and are engaged in weaving, printing, mirror work, embroidery, pottery, leather art, wood carving etc. most of which is visible in their attire.
It is interesting to see that most of the handicraft work is done by women of the families while men do the selling part. The state government and NGOs have an important role to uplift this industry in Kutch. You can buy knick knacks to support local people.
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Ride on Chakdas
Decorated like a bride, riding on these differently styled rickshaws would be one thing you would want to do instantly when you see them. Chakda is a common mode of local transport. Since villages are located in vicinity to each other and very few locals own cars here, Chakdas is a way of life in Kutchi villages.
Best time to visit: November to February
How to reach: Gandhidham and Bhuj are the two major stations in Kutch district
Feature Image source: Nagarjun Kandukuru, Flickr CC
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