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 hose who feel that Kutchh is no more a destination
worth visiting after devastating
earthquake of January 26, 2001 need to think again. Kutchh never boasted of any particular monument or a location as its signature.
Kutch is a harsh land. Water has always been scarce and soil is saline. Annually large area of Kutchh gets submerged when monsoon runoffs from North meets the sea at the south.
Kutchh, then becomes a virtual island when for miles nothing can be seen except saline water. History reveals of entire armies
having perished in
the Great Rann of Kutchh. Winters are cold leaving open barren land an inhospitable place. Summers are so hot and dry that an unaimed expedition without the knowledge about source of water is bound to
prove fatal. Kutchh’s illusionary mirage s are dangerous. Top of all is the history of cyclones and earthquakes that
have struck Kutchh many times.
History, however, never found this land of destruction as the land of the dead. Building and rebuilding of Kutch have been witnessed many times. The spirit and ‘never say die’ attitude of the Kutchhi people never let any destruction override them. A faith and a smile on every Kutchhi face tell the entire story of their victory.
Ku tchh the people and not Kutchh the land is the destination. Without its people,
Kutchh is just a barren land.
The people of Kutchh excel in every field, from business to art. Yet they retain their trademark simplicity and
hospitality. Interestingly,
Kutchhis are not Gujaratis only, they form a mix of migrated races from as far as Sind, Rajasthan and
Bal uchistan hence rightly making this land as melting pot of civilizations. The costumes, features and customs of various races and tribes are very much different from each other. Nevertheless each one is interesting and overwhelmingly colorful. Kutchhi costumes are colorfully embroidered and ornaments elaborate. In fact the people of Kutchh are experts in handicrafts. Each village has its own trademark craft such as
embroidery, tie and dye fabrics, leatherwork, appliqué and silver smithy. The villages are typical, consisting of circular huts known as
Bhunga that are decorated with small pieces of mirrors from inside.
Kutchhi cuisine is also something to relish for a long time. A mixture of spicy and sweet, it is elaborate and filling. Kutchh
society is multi-religious. There are many colorful
Swami Narayan temples worth a peep inside; there is no dearth of
Sufi Dargah also. People of Kutchh make very beautiful cities- lively, busy and bustling. Compact settlements, lively bazaars, unique
arc hitecture, traditionally designed homes and palaces are part of every
c ity of Kutchh. The cities of
Bhuj and Mandavi have each of their street soaked in heritage and character.
Kutchh has a lot more. Like the endangered Asiatic wild ass that survives in the harsh landscape of the Rann. Also, the flamingoes that migrate in
great numbers to its marshes. Kutchh still offers a lot more reading in its
history, heritage and culture.
Above everything is the undying spirit of Kutchh that must be known. Those who think otherwise must think again.
| QUICK FACTS |
| Getting there |
Bhuj is main city in Kutchh having its own airport linked with Mumbai. New Bhuj railway station as well as Gandhidham nearby have several rail connections with rest of India. Good highways and roads link parts of Kutchh district with each other as well as with rest of India. |
| Best time to visit |
Very hot and dry during summer months. Monsoon rains make the district swampy and treacherous. Winter are warm though nights can be chilly. |
| Important |
This is a sensitive border area near Pakistan, permits may be required to visit many villages. The place has also experienced very severe earthquake on January 26, 2001, several buildings are now destroyed like Aina Mahal, Kutchh Museum and Swami Narayan Temple. Kutchh still has a lot to showcase as rebuilding is the basic character of Kutchhi spirit. |
| Excursions |
Lakhpat, Narayan Sarovar, Mandavi, Bhuj, Zainabad and
Little Rann. |
| TOURS TO KUTCHH | |
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