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13th February 2025, 22:15
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| Newbie Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Thane
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| Four Chaddi Dosts, One Skoda Kodiaq, and an Unforgettable Kutch Road Trip In January, four close friends decided to embark on an epic road trip from Mumbai to the Rann of Kutch in an almost brand-new Skoda Kodiaq. The journey kicked off on February 7th, and unlike our previous trips, this one turned out to be a completely different experience. The car had barely seen any action, with just 1,680 km on the odometer over the past four months. By the end of the week, we had added another 2,210 km to that count!  Day 1: Mumbai to Ahmedabad We hit the road at 5 AM, expecting a smooth drive, but heavy traffic, road repairs, and a couple of chai and lunch breaks stretched the 535 km to a 12 hours journey.  Despite the rough patches, the Kodiaq's comfort and performance stood out, making the long haul much easier. We had pre-booked an airbnb apartment and walked to a nice restaurant for an early dinner and called it a day for the adventure to unfold in the coming days. Day 2: Ahmedabad to Kutch We kicked off the day with a Zomato-ordered breakfast before setting out for Bhuj, a city that bore the brunt of the devastating 2001 earthquake. As the headquarters of Kutch—the largest district in India, spanning an immense 45,674 sq. km—Bhuj holds deep historical and cultural significance. Our first stop was Prag Mahal, followed by the adjoining Aina Mahal. We were fortunate to have an experienced senior guide who walked us through the rich history of these architectural marvels in great detail, making the two-hour tour truly immersive.   Prag Mahal was commissioned by King Pragmalji in the 1860s, was designed in the Italian Gothic style by Colonel Henry Saint Wilkins and stands prominently in the heart of Bhuj. Right next to it, Aina Mahal was built in the 18th century by Ram Singh Malam during the reign of Lakhpatji. Both palaces house a stunning collection of artifacts, coins, paintings, and intricate architectural details, reflecting the grandeur of a bygone era. Despite the catastrophic earthquake, these historic structures largely withstood the damage, with restoration efforts preserving their legacy. We stayed at an independant house/ homestay. That evening, we had some wonderful local cuisine at the dhaaba styled Maru Gamdu ( My Village).  Day 03: Bhuj to Dhordo ( Rann Utsav tent City) After breakfast, we had a wonderful ride to the tented city~ Rann Utsav, which is a collaboration of a private entity and Gujarat Tourism. The infrastructure there is amazingly good and we had a lovely stay with an all-inclusive 1 night package which includes stay in a tent, all meals and so also the experience of the sunset at zero point which entails a coach ride plus a camel cart ride in the White Rann. The experience is something surreal!       The food was grand, tasty and after dinner there's cultural programmes until 10;30 pm. One can short around, see the textile and painting exhibitions. The best part is there are ev buggies to move you around within the large complex/ city. This city would be operating until March 15th and then most of the infra would be dismantled until October when the winter begins. One must visit and experience this at-least once in one's lifetime! Day 04: Rann Utsav- India Bridge - Dholavira - Gorewali Though not part of our package, we were allowed to travel in the coach to view the sunrise at the zero point. The camel cart was not part of this trip. The sunrise at 7:30 am was a sight to watch and truly mesmerising. Post break-fast we checked out and drove the India bridge. One can go beyond only if one has taken a permit from the BSF in Bhuj. Since photography is strictly prohibited, we did not any pics. However, it offers an amazing view of the white desert. Enroute to Dholavira, one has to drive on the beautiful " Road to Heaven" which is every tourist and photographer's delight. There are about 8 viewpoints on this 35 kms stretch. On both sides is the white Rann.    Next we went to the Dattatreya Temple before visiting the Dholavira civilisation site. This area is severely prone to earthquakes and contains the ruins of the ancient city of the Indus Valley Civilisation. We engaged a guide and learnt quite a lot of its history. However, it was discovered only in mid 60's and is the fifth largest of eight major Harappan sites. We had a good lunch at the Evoke restaurant and we then drove down to Gorewali village near Rann Utsav and checked-in into a pre-booked village homestay. We had an amazing home-made local dinner before resting for the night. Day 05: Gorewali- Ahmedabad- Mumbai Starting at 4am, we drove down to Mumbai via Ahmedabad and the drive was uneventful though a very long drive. The Skoda Kodiaq was superb offering great comfort and never felt tired though we clocked 2,210 kms on this very satisfying trip! Kutch is something different and extraordinary and worth a visit once in one's lifetime. Do not miss it! |
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14th February 2025, 16:54
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| BHPian Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: NCR
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