Kutch nahi dekha to kuch nahi dekha - so true it is!!!

                                                     Kutch nahi dekha to kuch nahi dekha!!!

This trip has been long due especially after we all having seen Mr. Amitabh Bachan doing the promotion for the Rann of Kutch. Finally, we got a chance and I planned a trip during the new year holidays. 

We started our journey from Delhi and reached Ahmedabad. The first thing we visited this time was the Atal Bridge. It is a foot-bridge recently built and looks just amazing. We can compare it with the gardens by the bay, especially because there was a flower festival organized just next to the bridge and it looked nice. 

 

Atal Bridge, Ahmedabad

View from a distance                                     Myself at Atal Bridge

After having spent time at the atal bridge, being a tea-lover I decided to have a cup of tea at Bagh Bakri Lounge, situated at Atal Bridge.

Following day, we started for Bhuj and reached there post lunch. The first thing that we wanted to visit was the Earthquake Museum.

                                                    Samriti Van - Earthquake Museum, Bhuj

The Earthquake Museum has been set up in the memory of the victims who lost their lives during the earthquake. This museum has seven floors, each floor depicting a different aspect of life. The top floor i.e. seventh floor has a simulator which runs for 20 minutes and gives the feeling of a real earthquake, is a must visit place when in Bhuj.  

It is a great place to hang out and one needs at least 2 -3 hours just to see the museum. There is a lot of open space to roam around if you have more time, and even a sunrise/ sunset point for the nature lovers with well maintained gardens. 

We decided to call if for the day as we had travelled from Ahmedabad. After having dinner at the hotel, we took rest to recharge ourselves for the next day. 

The first thing we visited on the following day were the Parag Mahal and Aaina Mahal. 

Parag Mahal and Aaina Mahal, Bhuj

Some of the parts of the Palace were destroyed during the earthquake. 

The famous Lagaan Movie was shot here. These are located in the streets of Bhuj but in the vicinity. 1-2 hours is enough to enjoy both these places. Parag Mahal also had a room with different mirrors giving different looks - long, short, without face, fat, slim, and so on. One such image is captured below. 

Bhuj Museum was in the vicinity. We had a chance to see the utensils, houses, and the lifestyle of the kutch villagers. The entry fee was just Rs 5 and it was located next to large manmade lake. If visited in the evening there would be a lot of food stalls and it is a place to take an evening stroll. 

                                                                        Bhuj Museum

The next place to visit for Chattedi. This is actually a burial ground for the royal families. 

Hum Dil de chuke Sanam movie has a few shots taken at this location. Salman and Aishwarya are seeing doing romance at this location in the movie. 

                                                                                     Chattedi

                                                                           

We came to know about a place where sound and light show takes place and decided to explore the same. This is Vande Matram Memorial and was around 4 kms from our hotel.  This place is a must watch especially in the evening. The Museum has a show which runs for 1.5 hours. Post that, at 7:30 pm there is a sound and light show which is quite entertaining as well.  

The Memorial has large Mahatma Gandhi Statue and also statues of our freedom fighters which look as if they are real and alive. 

 

This was a place to visit. We were filled with energy, excitement, and patriotism after visiting this place. We were tired and called it for the day. 

Next day, we started for Mandvi which is around 60 Kms from Bhuj. 

On the way from Bhuj to Mandvi, we could see a huge Adiyogi Statue and decided to spend a few minutes there. 

Mandvi has one of the cleanest beaches in India. This was precisely the reason for us to visit this place. 

There were benches on the beach so that one can sit and watch the sun rise / sun set. The wind mills were also there on the beach giving an beautiful look. The sea water was calm and it was safe to take a dip in the water. 

This beach was clean and the water sports were available at reasonable prices. We went to beach at 6 am in the morning to enjoy the sun rise, and ended up doing all the water sports as there was no rush and the prices offered for most of the rides - camel ride, sand biking, speed boat, normal boating were very reasonable. 

We also had a chance to see a ship being built, though it looked like it was a demo piece. This was just next to the hotel we were staying in. 

                                                                Vijay Villas Palace, Mandvi 

This palace was home to Nandini (Aishwarya Rai) in the movie Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. 

Myself posing at the top of the place 

The above picture has the same dinning table where Salman Khan had lunch with Aishwarya's family in Hum Dil de Chuke Sanam. The right picture has few shots from the same movie clicked here. 

Our next destination was Mata Na Madh. This is a religious place and it is said that Goddess Annapurna completes all our wishes. The place was around 130 Kms from Mandvi. We visited the temple and also had lunch which was offered free of cost at the temple premises. 

Mata Na Madh

It was a simple temple and the visit was also easy. There was not much crowd and it was peaceful to be there. It took us less than 30 minutes for darshan. 

Post darshan, we visited Lakhpat Fort which took us 1 hour to reach. The fort has not been in best of shape. It is just a boundary wall as of now. But we enjoyed the natural beauty of the place. There were hardly any tourists around. We were all on our own and behind the fort wall is a huge desert. We walked for more than 1 km in the desert and it was a great view as we could just find ourselves in the middle of nowhere. 

                        
                                                        

In the same compound was Lakhpat Gurudwara. This was the place from where Guru Nanak Dev ji left for his journey towards Mecca. The gurudwara also offers Langar seva to its devotees. We also had a chance to get prasad from there. 

The much awaited Rann of Kutchchh was next place to visit. We started for the Rann so that we can reach there by around 5 pm or so. The timing was perfect as we could reach before the sun set. On reaching there, we realized that there is also a sound and light show at 7:00 pm for 20 minutes. We were fortunate to see that as well. 

We did a camel cart ride to and fro. There were many stalls and musical program organized in the Rann itself. Many people were have proper photo shoots. The environment was just to be felt and enjoyed. We were just mesmerized with the beauty and the environment of the place. 

There was a watch tower which had closed the entry for the time being. Now, the same tower is used for hosting the sound and light show. 

There was an entire market set up, along with a lot of food stalls just next to the Rann of Kutch. After spending a few hours, we reached our hotel for taking rest. 

It is not possible that we talk about Rann but do not mention anything about the salt. We witnessed heaps of salt on the way to the Rann of Kutch. It was unbelievable that we could see salt in this huge quantity - the same salt that we use at our homes. 

Next day, we started for India Bridge. Going beyond this point, one needs a permission which needs to be taken from Bhuj. After crossing the bridge, there is a war memorial and a fort which are defended by our Border Security Forces. 

Our next point was Kalo Dunger. This is the highest point of Bhuj. The surrounding areas can be seen with binoculars, which includes the check post, India Bridge, last village of India, and Hanuman Temple. 

                                                                            Magnetic Hills

This is the second place in India where I could feel it. First was in Leh, on the way to Sangam. This magnetic zone was on the way to Kalo Dungar and the car could climb uphill while in neutral gear without any race, which is a pleasure to feel. We could also see even bus or heavy vehicles climb uphill without any race on the accelerator. 

The attraction for today was the Road to Heaven. This road takes you to Dholavira and is 31 Kms long. It has stretch where there is a single road while sea is there on both sides of the road. Futher ahead, there would be sand on both sides while a single road continues to Dholavira. 

Dholavira  - popularly known as Harappan civilization in our history books was the first planned city. There are still some remains which show the drainage system, water reservoir, storage tanks as if it is designed by an modern architect. 

                                                                        Harappan Civilization

In addition to the Harappan city, there is a fossil park, and a flamingo viewpoint. 

Next day, we left for Rani Ka Vaav. This place is the same as we can see on our 100 Rupee note. It was great to visit this place as it was very well maintained. There was a beautiful park leading to the Rani ka Vaav. 

Next in line was Modhera Sun Temple. This is just second to Konark Sun temple, Orrisa. There is a sound and light show here as well at 6:30 pm in the evening every day. 

Our last destination was Amba ji Shaktipeeth. 

We took blessings of Maa Amba ji. There were also another temple on Gabbar hills, which can be reached by a rope way or by climbing 999 steps. It is exciting to visit both the temples as they are just 3 kms apart and both of of Goddess Amba ji. 

We enjoyed staying in both modern hotels as well as traditional houses of Kutch which are called Bhungas. These bhungas are earthquate resistant homes and are also warm from inside. 

                                                                    Random pictures 

I hope that this blog will motivate you to make a travel to the Kutch district of Gujarat very soon. I am a passionate traveler and want that more and more people should leverage my experience. I would be happy if I can assist in any possible way to plan the itinerary. 

If you want any advice, do not hesitate to reach out to me at amitbansal71812@gmail.com.  This is my passion and not any paid service. So, feel free to drop you queries, if any.