Rann of Kutch: Explore India’s largest salt desert

By Kate Springer, CNN
7 minute read
Updated 10:02 PM EDT, Sun July 8, 2018
<strong>Rann of Kutch:</strong> As India's largest salt marsh, the Rann of Kutch draws travelers from all over the world. The Great Rann is home to surreal, silvery landscapes and the Little Rann is a hub of wildlife and salt farming. We asked travelers, tour guides and residents to share their favorite experiences in the region.
Rann of Kutch: As India's largest salt marsh, the Rann of Kutch draws travelers from all over the world. The Great Rann is home to surreal, silvery landscapes and the Little Rann is a hub of wildlife and salt farming. We asked travelers, tour guides and residents to share their favorite experiences in the region.
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<strong>A full moon:</strong> "I first saw the Great Rann in January 2016. I highly recommend going on a full moon night," Shilpa Gautam, an investment banker based in Hong Kong, tells CNN Travel. "The white salt surface sparkled under the moonlit sky and it was ethereal."
A full moon: "I first saw the Great Rann in January 2016. I highly recommend going on a full moon night," Shilpa Gautam, an investment banker based in Hong Kong, tells CNN Travel. "The white salt surface sparkled under the moonlit sky and it was ethereal."
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<strong>First impressions:</strong> "(In the Great Rann), it's amazing how beautiful nothingness is and how much the scene changes in the shifting light, especially sunset to a full moon," Katie Bhujwala, joint owner of local hotel The Bhuj House, tells CNN Travel.
First impressions: "(In the Great Rann), it's amazing how beautiful nothingness is and how much the scene changes in the shifting light, especially sunset to a full moon," Katie Bhujwala, joint owner of local hotel The Bhuj House, tells CNN Travel.
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<strong>Rann Ustav: </strong>The entry gate of Great Rann of Kutch -- also known as Rann Utsav -- in Gujarat, India.
Rann Ustav: The entry gate of Great Rann of Kutch -- also known as Rann Utsav -- in Gujarat, India.
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<strong>Getting there:</strong> Accessible via the main city of Bhuj, the Great Rann and Little Rann are best explored on days trips with experts like <a href="https://www.jacadatravel.com/?apac" target="_blank" target="_blank">Jacada Travel</a> or <a href="http://www.kutchtourguide.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Kutch Tour Guide</a>.
Getting there: Accessible via the main city of Bhuj, the Great Rann and Little Rann are best explored on days trips with experts like Jacada Travel or Kutch Tour Guide.
From The Bhuj House
<strong>Salt production:</strong> "The first time I visited (the Great Rann), I was working on a photography project," says Shuchi Kapoor, a photojournalist and social documentarian based in India. "The next 10 days were spent in the barren, dusty and minimalistic environs, sipping sweet black tea in broken saucers offered generously by the salt workers."
Salt production: "The first time I visited (the Great Rann), I was working on a photography project," says Shuchi Kapoor, a photojournalist and social documentarian based in India. "The next 10 days were spent in the barren, dusty and minimalistic environs, sipping sweet black tea in broken saucers offered generously by the salt workers."
From The Bhuj House