THE WHITE RANN

Full Moon night

The full moon night revives the century-old traditional music, dance, and traditional vocal art, an experience worth a lifetime- astoundingly beautiful. If the moon is near full, the white desert and its surrounding sparkles with bright stars and there is no need for artificial light. The white chalk landscape is known for its spectacular scenery. The brilliant panorama of the white desert is thrust up from the surface of the desert, intensified by the clear light of the moon, shimmering gold at sunset or black end and shrunken in a cloud- filled day. The silence is immense and there is a feeling of unreality as through walking on the surface of Moon. A white desert is a place that that is very hard to leave. It’s truly a magical experience.

AINA MAHAL

Aina Mahal is among one of the wonders of Gujarat. The Mahal was erected in 18th the century. The layout, interior and embellishments of Bhuj Aina Mahal were highly directed by a royal fantasy that had eventually been converted into reality by an extremely deft craftsman - Ramsinh Malam. It is located in the old part of the city. In 2001, a sudden convolution of the land had disfigured the mahal yet a lot was preserved back and later, the Mahal was converted into a museum. The main attraction at Aina Mahal is the HALL OF MIRRORS. The palace looks like any other ordinary old structure but when you enter you would be thrilled with the visual sight of an enormous chariot on display, a weighing machine of those times, a 14 feet long painting on a single canvas.

PRAG MAHAL

Prag Mahal is one of the engineering wonders of Gujarat. The Mahal is situated just next to the Aina Mahal. It took 12 long years to build Prag Mahal.

A princely 19th-century palace, now converted into a museum gives you an aura of the regal times of the bygone era. The 2001 Gujarat earthquake severely damaged the palace. Later the palace was burgled with thieves stealing antiques worth millions. Today, the palace is in a ghostly state. The beautiful picturesque stairway leads to the corridor that opens into a large hall with huge broken chandeliers hanging low. There are two rooms along the hall open for visitors that were in decay state. The palace indeed was shaken to the core by the earthquake and here laid the evidence of the catastrophe.

MANDVI BEACH

The Land Of Boats, Mandvi is a perfect one-day excursion for those who are seeking some “Aqua time”. The Mandvi district lies at a distance of an hour or two maximum from the main city of Bhuj. Not known to most, Mandvi was a major port of India during the British era. It is also the hub of wooden boat making in our country. One can actually see the spectacle that goes into making these wooden boats as we enter the town area. The close proximity of the beach to the town as well as the Vijay Vilas Palace aka Kutch palace let you enjoy the sunset on the beach with the beautiful seagulls that migrate here for winters, without wasting the whole day. Whether it’s a quiet camel ride on the beach or the perspective alignment of windmills that line up on your way to Mandvi, this place has a lot to offer for those hidden "Pirates of deserts" in you.

Kalo Dungar

Kalo Dungar is the highest point (462 mts) of Kutch district, and it is one of the only ways which offer the majestic panoramic view of the famous White Rann (desert) of Kutch. The high pick gives you one of the best views you can get in life, the panoramic view of the White Rann with the absolute blue sky. It looks like the blue and white were merging together and yes it is among one of those few places in the world where you can see horizon meeting (except for sea!)

KACHCHH MUSEUM

Kutch Museum in Bhuj is the ancient museum of Gujarat. It was founded on 1 July 1877. The museum was earlier known as Fergusson Museum. It is located opposite to Hamirsar Lake in Bhuj, Kutch. The museum has almost 11 sections. The archaeological section has Indus seals and variant stone tablets. The painting showing the different vocations of Kutch are on the display. There is also an excellent section, which covers classical and musical instruments like Nagfani, Morchang and many others of that period. A section of the museum is devoted to tribal cultures, with many examples of ancient artefacts, folk arts and crafts and information about tribal peoples. The museum also exhibits embroidery, paintings, arms, musical instruments, sculpture and precious metalwork.

SWAMI NARAYAN TEMPLE

Swami Narayan Temple is an absolute marvel and is must visit. This place is closest to Bhuj and attracts devotees and travellers from across the world.

Demolished due to the earthquake in the year 2001, the entire temple was reerected with the contribution of devotees from across the world. Stationed just down the road from the Ramkund step well and the Alfred High school, the temple marks the spot where Swaminarayan sat with local holy men when he came through Bhuj. Here, the architecture exudes serenity. The visit here promises a truly quality time. As the weather cools, the streets near the temple begin to sparkle with festive lights, and the atmosphere offers a cosy retreat. Surprisingly rich in attractions and certainly worth a visit, this temple is a real residence of a sovereign!

VIJAY VILAS PALACE

Vijay Vilas Palace is an epitome of graceful curves built in the fusion architectural style of local Kutch, Rajasthan and Bengal. The palace is nestled in 450 acres of lush greenery, with a 2-km stretch of private beach. It was made with red sandstone in the Rajput style, with a main central dome and coloured glass windows. You could probably recognise the palace as it has been featured in a number of Bollywood films such as Lagaan and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Visiting Vijay Vilas Palace is a glimpse into the life of the Royals.