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Kutch – The Rejuvenating Hinterland

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Kutch district is a famous district of the Indian state of Gujarat. With an area of 45,674 km2, it is the largest district in India. The word “Kutch” means “island” in Sanskrit. Surrounded by the Gulf of Kutch to the south, the Arabian Sea in the west and southeast, and the Rann of Kutch to the north and northeast, Kutch is indeed a beautiful island. People speaking the Kutch language are found in Kutch, who are called Kutch. Gandhidham, named after Gandhiji, is the largest town in Kutch. Kutch is famous all over the world for its beauty and for the Kutch Festival organized here.

History

Harappan artifacts have been excavated from Khadir, an island of Kutch proving the existence of Kutch in ancient India. Kutch was ruled by the Rajput rulers of Sindh and later during Jadeja Rajput king Khengarji I, Bhuj became the capital of Kutch. During the Mughal era, in 1741, Lakhpatji I became the king of Kutch and ordered the construction of the widely renowned Aina Mahal palace. Lakhpatji was known for patronizing poets, dancers and singers and during his reign, Kutch prospered in all cultural aspects.

In 1815, the British captured the Bhujiyo Dungar hill, and Kutch became a British district. The Prag Mahal palace, the Ranjit Vilas palace, the Vijay Vilas palace in Mandvi were built in Kutch in this British period. As a princely state, lot of developmental work took place during this period till Kutch joined the newly independent India.

Tourist Places In And Around Kutch

On the outer side of the Rann of Kutch, the ecologically important Banni grasslands can be found. With Gulf of Kutch in the South and the Arabian Sea in the West, the northern and eastern parts of Kutch are inbound by the great and small Rann of Kutch. The Ranns are essentially wetlands. Kutch has two major ports Kandla and Mundra that are closest to the Gulf and Europe via sea route.

Culture

The frequently used language here is Kutchi and to some extent Gujarati, Sindhi, and Hindi. As the original script of the Kutchi language has become nonexistent, it is now written in the Gujarati script. There are various communities and groups residing in Kutch. Immigrants from neighbouring Marwar, Sindh, Afghanistan, etc., have mixed with the original Kutch people to create these groups.

To experience this extraordinary cultural variety and the unique geographical phenomenon of the Rann of Kutch, one really needs to visit this place while touring Gujarat.

How To Reach Kutch

The nearest airport to Kutch is the Bhuj Airport. The place is well connected by rail and road too.

Best Time To Visit Kutch

Winter is the best season to visit Kutch.

Kutch Weather

Best Season / Best Time to Visit Kutch

  • Jan
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How to Reach Kutch

  • By Road
    There are Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) buses available for different destinations in Kutch.
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  • By Train
    To reach Kutch the main gateway is Bhuj. Bhuj Station is connected to Ahmedabad and other different cities in Gujarat and to New Delhi and the neighbouring states of north-west and central part of India.
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  • By Air
    The main airport in Kutch is Bhuj Airport. Flights of all major airlines like Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Kingfisher, Go Air etc are available for different cities from this airport.
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