The Little Rann of Kutch, 5000 sq.m of expansive flat land
is spread as far as the eye can see and is an explorer’s paradise. Home to the last of the Indian Wild Ass and other fauna like foxes, nilgau's and a variety of birds, it makes an ideal
weekend getaway from the busy city of Ahmedabad.
Monsoons are not the best season to visit but since I am in
India currently, we decided to drive down and explore this strange
terrain.
We leave bright and early for Dasada that borders The Little Rann. It is raining so it
takes us around 2 hours to reach the resort. The roads are surprisingly clean
and smooth. Other than a few animal induced traffic jams on the way, it is a
pleasant drive.
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| Just a usual walk on the road! |
We finally reach the little village of Dasada. The RannRiders Resort is around twenty-five kilometres from The Little Rann. The resort
is green and widespread. It reminds me of a little village. Our rooms are tiny
mud huts. The hut verandah and its swing make an ideal place to snooze or read
a book. The interiors are modern and air-conditioned. There are no TV’s so you
are forced to explore the outside!
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| The Resort Entrance |
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| Home for the night |
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| The gardens |
The resort is home to a variety of animals and birds.
Surrounded by a lake on one side and endless farms on the other, it houses around ten well-bred horses, chickens, turkeys, emus, cows, peacocks
and lots of lazy dogs.
We walk around the resort to build a good appetite
for lunch. The staff is friendly and always smiling. They are happy to answer
questions regarding the animals and the village. The
stable caretaker will let you ride the horses if you know how to
ride.
Hungry from our long walk, we settle in the open communal
dinning room where we are served an extensive spread vegetarian
and non-vegetarian Indian dishes made with local produce. The food is hearty and is served with love
making it one of the best meals I have eaten in a while.
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| Look who came for lunch? |
After an hour-long siesta, we are ready for our safari. The
rain gods have heard our prayers and the sun is out!
It takes around forty minutes to reach The Little Rann. I am
hoping to see the usual cracked, dry surface but monsoons have played a trick
and though the land it flat, the cracks are filled and have sprouted lush,
green grass!
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| Driving through ancient villages |
We spot herds of Nilgau’s on the exterior of The Little
Rann. As we drive further into the land,
we finally find the endangered Indian Wild Asses. A cross between horses and
donkeys, these beautiful creatures have the strength of the donkey and are as
swift as horses. They can run at around 50 kilometers per hour. Our guide and
driver Ayub attempts quite a few races with them that are thrilling and fun.
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| The protected and endangered Indian Wild Asses |
We stop at the marshland in the middle of The Little Rann for a quick photo break and to watch hundreds of flamingos crowd the waters.
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| Bird watching can be a lot of fun! |
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| Salt pans |
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| A little patch of cracked earth |
Back at the dinning hall, we are served excellent barbecue and
an array of North Indian fare.
The next day, we are awakened with hundreds of chirping
birds and a bright blue sky. Piping hot breakfast of eggs made to order and fresh
juice is served stuffing us enough for our journey back home.
An impromptu dance by one of the peacocks makes a fitting
end to our twenty-four hours at The Rann Riders Resort.
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| The perfect goodbye! |
If the city has tired you and you want to take some time off to introspect, reflect and be amidst nature, get down to this rustic, simple place that reminds you all you have been missing in the daily city buzz. That is what it did for me!
The lowdown
Website – http://www.rannriders.com
How to get there – 90 km From Ahmedabad, the best way is to
drive. The closest railway stations are Dharangadra and Viramgam
Service – 5 stars! The staff is friendly, attentive and
caring
Rooms – If you are looking for 5 star comforts amidst nature
then this is not the place to go. Nevertheless, the rooms are clean, spacious
and air-conditioned. (But who is spending time indoors?)
Best time to visit – Just after the monsoons, September to
November
The damage – the 24 hours package including lodging for 2
people, 3 meals (water and soft drinks are unlimited), resort facilities
(riding, swimming) and a safari will burn a 7500 INR hole in the pocket
Extras – Apart from the usual safaris and horse riding, the
resort arranges visits to the village to see local artisans at work
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