Intricate handicrafts, magnificent old palaces, pristine beaches, and of course the endless white salt plains of the Great Rann are just some of our memories of Kutch.
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A few years ago, my wife wanted to visit Kutch in Gujarat as a sourcing trip for her ethnic gifts business, so we decided we would turn it into our annual new year’s holiday. We spent close to two weeks in Bhuj and its surroundings (home to arguably India’s highest concentration of high-quality textile handicraft producers), investigated lots of towns and villages, and took in India’s great white salt desert, the Great Rann of Kutch.
The resident one-winged pelican of Hamirsar LakeSparrow (one of many) at the Prag Mahal palaceCurious chipmunk at the Prag Mahal palaceA pillar’s cornice at the Prag Mahal palace
Looking up at the Aina Mahal palaceCat nap, as seen from our lodge Resting cow on the roadDreaming at the Khamir Craft Resource Center
More pups, in the sunset at Khamir The loom of a traditional weaver called Ramji in BhujodiThis tea stall owner at the Bhujodi bus stop seemed happy to be photographed while turning his bellowsProud weavers at Hiralakshmi Craft Park, Bhujodi
Unfinished at Hiralakshmi Craft Park A blue door – Hiralakshmi Craft Park Cowbells at Hiralakshmi Craft ParkA tassled shawl (which we later bought) at Hiralakshmi Craft ParkAn old Enfield Taurus motorcycle repurposed as a three-wheeled taxi in Bhujodi
The Great Rann of Kutch
Striding through the endless salt desert Quite a feet!Double troubleReflected sunset
Salt crystalsLookout at Kalo DungarEmbroidery in the at the Rann Utsav festival in DhordoBand of night singers
Mandvi and the beach
Work in progress at the ancient Mandvi shipyardTransport, both old and new Flamingos fish in a canalGrey heron in the surf on Mandvi beachSolitude
Khavda and its pottery
A potter’s home in KhavdaLady in yellowFamily home DIY toy truck
Generations in Ratnal
Happy youngsters Rabari matriarchShy girl
…and more
Intricate leather wall hanging (now in our bedroom) in NakhatranaAhir matriarch – Nakhatrana
Our cottage at Devpur Homestay in DevparThe entrance of Devpur homestay looks misleadingly spooky at nightBlock printing in progress at AjrakhpurOld Ajrakh printing blocks
A sacred baobab in the middle of nowhereThe intricate tomb of Sufi saint Pir Ghaus Mohammad, inside Lakhpat FortTerritorial doggie on the ramparts of Lakhpat Fort
