Complete Travel Guide on How To Reach Rann of Kutch from Mumbai 2022
In this travel guide your will know how to reach rann of kutch from Mumbai 2022. Rann of Kutch is a surreal and mesmerizing expanse of land which is white as far as the eyes can see located in Kutch, Gujarat, India. It is really a vast expanse of nothingness; the salt marshes. It is a beautiful sight to behold. The great white expanse of salt flats in the Rann of Kutch equals the magnificent salt flats of Bolivia. Trip to Rann of Kutch from mumbai was my best road trip ever.Come experience the mesmerising culture of Gujarat. We have made a complete travel guide for you with all the information about how to reach Rann of Kutch from Mumbai 2022.
Getting ready yourself about how to reach Rann of Kutch from Mumbai 2022
How to reach rann of kutch from Mumbai 2022, This is a common question for a traveller. Bhuj is the closest city to Kutch which is approximately 74km away or roughly 2 hours away. So ideally, you should first get to Bhuj and then to Kutch.
Reach to Bhuj by Flight:
The fastest way to reach Bhuj is by flight by getting to the airport which is a 4 km away from the city. All major cities in India have direct flights to Bhuj as compared to other cities. Since frequency of flights to Bhuj is lesser due to not many tourists flying in, the airfares might be a little costly so it is best to plan ahead.
Reach to Bhuj by Road:
This is a great way to reach Bhuj/Kutch since the roads in Gujarat are fantastic. You could have your own transport, or get a sleeper/Volvo bus from any destination. Assuming you are already in Gujarat, it will take 6 hours from Ahmedabad and 7 hours from Vadodara.
Reach to Bhuj by Train:
While trains are a great option to reach Bhuj, you might not get a direct train to Bhuj from your destination; getting to Ahmedabad initially and exploring around there before traveling to Bhuj is a safe bet.
Bhuj to Kutch:
After getting to Bhuj, there are various ways to get to Kutch. You could travel by your own vehicle. If you do not have your own transport and are travelling solo and would like to meet more people, you could opt for a travel package that varies from 1000-1500 Rupees depending on the tour operator which includes trips to Rann of Kutch as well as Kalo Dungar. They usually group a few people together so that is a great way to meet people.
Another way is to hire a cab, which is not recommended unless you are with a group of friends or family as it is the most expensive option costing around 3000 to 4000 Rupees. However, renting a scooter or motorbike is a budget friendly option which costs around 500-600 rupees to 1200 rupees for a day, respectively.
Permit for trip to Rann of Kutch from Mumbai
One requires a permit to enter the area. Before Covid it would require some effort, but now they have made it very easy as it is possible to get it online.
The website for the online permit- https://www.rannpermit.com/ Do note that this website is only applicable to Indian Tourists. Foreign tourists have to visit the check post in person to get their Rann Permit.
If you prefer to get it done in person, then the Bhirandiyara check post is where you will have to go to. You will need to carry ID proof with you, it could be your Voters ID, Aadhar Card, Passport etc.
A single permit costs 100 Rupees per day and 25 rupees for a bike or 50 for a 4 wheeler. Once you submit the form with the number of days you require the permit for, you will receive the permit in 5 minutes. Do note that the check post opens after 11am. From there, it takes roughly 45 minutes to get to the Great White Lands or Kalo Dungar.
Things to do in our trip to rann of Kutch from Mumbai
You may wonder, what to do when we reach the great expanse? One of the best things to do is to walk around, in fact, you will see many other people doing the same thing too. Since the desert is so huge, it is possible to get some solitude away from people. It is beautiful and intimidating at the same time, the more you move away from the city.
Click great photos! Rann offers amazing landscapes for photography and makes for amazing portraits as well!
Stay at the White Rann Resort! Albeit on the expensive side, the White Rann Resort is beautiful and extravagant. Apart from delicious meals, they also offer mesmerizing cultural performances. It is recommended to stay here to witness the moonrise, sunrise and sunset too. The sunsets here are surreal and out of the world, as when it happens, the sky turns orange and the salt flats reflect a bluish tinge, a wonderful play of colors.
One of the biggest highlights to visiting Rann is the Rann Utsav wherein there are plenty of stalls where you can shop for Gujarati accessories and clothes and also relish the famous Thali. It is fun to walk through all the shops and people watch too. This is one of the most recommended activities.
I previously mentioned the Kalo Dungar which is a collection of black hills. From here, you get to see a landscape of the entire desert, and even Pakistan if you have binoculars.
Best time to visit:
Rann of Kutch is only open from November to March as the weather is pleasant during this time. It becomes unbearably hot in the days during summer. During the monsoons it becomes muddy and wet and the place loses its charm. Thus, November to March is the best time to visit the salt flats and view the desert in its entirety as the water dries up by then. The Rann Utsav Festival also happens around this time; it is held from the end of December to the end of February.
The festival guarantees lip smacking food to gorge on, watch the cultural performances and shopping for everything culturally Gujarati at a reasonable price. I would highly recommend arriving here on a Full Moon day or a day before, as it is one of the most beautiful sights to witness that night.
Best places to stay in our trip to Rann of Kutch from Mumbai
There are various options to stay at in Rann of Kutch. Let’s take a look at all the options below:
Luxury:
The most expensive option would be in of the tents or resorts near the great Rann of Kutch. While it is expensive, it is absolutely luxurious and worth the money. If you do not wish to spend individually for everything, it is possible to opt for all inclusive packages which cost anywhere between 8000-50000 Rupees (for two people, depending on the dates you travel on, plus the duration).
This all-inclusive package includes your stay, three meals a day and usually even complimentary sightseeing. Bonus being that the places like Rann Utsav Tent City, White Rann Resort etc that have these packages, will also arrange and cover for the permits if you book to stay with them so you do not have to worry about doing that separately. They usually also cover complimentary sightseeing in and around Bhuj as well. That being said, the costs will be higher during full moon nights so plan accordingly.
Moderate:
If you are looking for more budget friendly options, there are a lot of homestays and camping areas within 10-15km of the vicinity. Rann Homestay Resort is a popular choice for people to stay at, where it is possible to stay in 5000-6000 Rupees for two people inclusive of all three meals, depending on the date and season.
There are also other hotels and resorts which charge around the same costs. However, do note that they will not arrange for your permit and you will have to do that yourself if you want to visit the great Rann.
Stay in Bhuj:
Staying in the villages of Dhordo is also an option. Unless you have your own vehicle though, commuting will be a problem as there is no public transport and no taxis etc. If you stay here, it would make sense to go to Kutch for day visits. Renting a vehicle here is an option.
As for accommodation, there are many homestays and guest houses which charge around 400-500 per night. I stayed at the Royal Guest house, which is clean and a nice place to stay at.
To conclude, I would highly suggest you to visit the great Rann of Kutch specially on or before the full moon as it is an experience of a lifetime, one will you bring back loads of stories and memories from.
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