Starting from today i.e. 1st November 2017, the white deserts of the Rann of Kutch will be hosting the Rann Utsav. It’s a cultural gala involving music, art, dance, crafts, and much more. The fest will go on until 20th February 2018 featuring Gujarat’s vibrant colors and heart-warming hospitality.
Amidst the temporarily-built Tent City spread across 5,00,000 square meters, visitors will be welcomed by a lineup of camels adorned with accessories, stalls selling handicrafts, and people flaunting colorful traditional attire.
Taking a Tour of the Rann Utsav
The aesthetic setup of the white deserts is not just a treat to the eyes but it also offers a range of activities to keep you busy throughout the entire festival. Listed here is a compiled set of information about Gujarat’s biggest cultural extravaganza that attracts thousands of tourists every year.
Rann Utsav Accommodation
Image Courtesy: rannutsav.com
The accommodation facility for the guests of Rann Utsav is organized in the form of a temporary tent city. It’s is created in the Dhordo village in semi-circle shaped clusters. Apart from residential amenities, visitors are also given dining space, conference hall, sports club, handicraft bazaar, and an activity area for entertainment shows.
Rann Utsav Preparations
There are four categories for accommodation facility with two differential tariffs. The charges begin at INR 5,000 to INR 8,100 for November and February respectively, offering 15% discount. Meanwhile, for December and January, the charges will be fixed at the starting price of INR 5,500 and INR 9,100 respectively.
In addition, a variety of facilities like tourist facilitation centre, a 30-meter high watch tower will also be there. This tower has been designed by Ahmedabad architect Jayesh Parekh and the incurred cost is INR 75 Lakhs. It will be inaugurated on December 13 on the occasion of Dattatreya Jayanti. Moreover, six neighboring villages will also offer home stays for the tourists visiting the desert festival.
Rann Utsav Handicrafts
Image Courtesy: rannutsav.info
When it comes to the art of Kutchi people, the men and women are experts at various handicrafts sold in the form of paintings, kitchen utensils, pen knives, nutcrackers, etc. Be it, Lacquer Art that involves wood carving or mirror embroidery on clothes, the work is quite impressive. Women also prepare mud wall paintings by mixing clay and cow dung to creating mesmerizing paintings. Then there is Rogan Art, a highly practiced art from Persia that involves a lot of precision.
Rann Utsav Activities
Image Courtesy: Adventure Nation
For tourists visiting the Rann Utsav, there is a wide range of activities to choose from. These include dirt biking, paramotoring, paintball, net cricket, and a three-wheeled scooter ride to take a tour of all the areas of the fest.
