Rann of Kutch

The Great Rann of Kutch is a salt marsh the size of a small state that dries into a flat white sheet every winter. On a full-moon night it is one of the most striking landscapes in India, and it only exists in this form for about four months of the year.

When to go

The white desert is walkable from roughly November to February, once the monsoon water has evaporated. The Rann Utsav tent city runs across these months and is the easiest option for a group — accommodation, food and transfers come as one package. Outside the festival window the Rann is either underwater or brutally hot.

Beyond the white desert

Bhuj is the base and deserves a day of its own — Aina Mahal, Prag Mahal and the Kutch Museum. The craft villages around it, Nirona for Rogan art and Bhujodi for weaving, are the reason many groups extend the trip. Kalo Dungar gives the widest view over the Rann, and Mandvi beach is a two-hour drive if the group wants a slower last day.

Planning notes

Foreign nationals and, at times, all visitors need a permit for the Rann, issued at Bhirandiyara on the way. Full-moon weekends book out months in advance and cost noticeably more. Nights get cold in December and January, so pack accordingly.