The
Great Rann of Kutch, is a seasonal salt marsh located in the Thar Desert in the
Kutch District of Gujarat, India and the Sindh province of Pakistan. It is
about 7,505.22 square kilometres (2,897.78 sq mi) in size and is reputed to be
the largest salt desert in the world.
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 Rann of Kutch is a unique and largest seasonal wetland of
its type in India without any counterparts elsewhere in the world. The Rann of
Kutch is divided into the Greater Rann of Kutch and the Little Rann of Kutch. The
Greater Rann of Kutch spans an area of 7505.22 Sq. km and is comparatively
larger than the Little Rann of Kutch. The greater Rann Of Kutch is home to a
wide array of flora and fauna. The Little Rann Of Kutch occupies 4,953 sq. kms
and is spread out in the districts of Surendranagar, Banasakantha, Patan, Kutch
and Rajkot in Gujarat.
The
Great Rann of Kutch, along with the Little Rann of Kutch and the Banni
grasslands on its southern edge, is situated in the district of Kutch and
comprises some 30,000 square kilometres (10,000 sq mi) between the Gulf of
Kutch and the mouth of the Indus River in southern Pakistan. The marsh can be
accessed from the village of Kharaghoda in Surendranagar District.
This
is one of the hottest areas of India - with summer temperatures averaging 44 °C
(111 °F) and peaking at 50 °C (122 °F). Winter temperatures reduce dramatically
and can go below 0 °C (32 °F). Winter temperatures reduce dramatically and can
go below 0 °C (32 °F).
It's
best to head out into the Rann of Kutch only in the early morning or evening,
otherwise the salt can be blinding. The full moon is the best time of month to
see it. A moonlight Rann camel safari is magical. The Government of Gujarat
hosts an annual 3 day festival called the Rann Utsav (festival of the Rann),
where tourists can see the various sights of the Rann as well as get a taste of
the local culture, cuisine and hospitality. Specially built local houses are also
used to house tourists to give them a taste of them.
I don’t claim the information to be my own. The information is compiled from different sources
