Places to visit in Kutch for a complete vacation

The district of Kutch in Gujarat is a prime tourist destination not only in western India but also the nation as a whole. The Gulf of Kutch and the Arabian Sea borders it in south and west parts; whereas northern and eastern parts are covered by the Great and Little Rann. Kutch is a border area and naturally it has an army and air force base camp. Bhuj is the most important city here and the Bhuj Airport connects Kutch to the rest of the country on the aerial route. The presence of many unique places to visit in Kutch makes it a tourist hub. Kutch sightseeing include destinations from deserts to urban area, from pre historic excavation sites to wildlife havens.

The Rann of Kutch is arguably the best known and most popular tourist attraction in the region. The word rann means desert in Hindi and this place is a different sort of desert. Divided into two parts, the Rann of Kutch is a magical place made of salt marshes which looks like a page out of a fairy tale on a moonlit night. The Great Rann covers an area of 7,850 sq kms and the Little Rann is spread across 4,950 sq kms. You have to be here to understand the real essence of this place.
When in Kutch make sure you pay a visit to Bhuj, often referred to as the Jaisalmer of Gujarat. A very important city in the Kutch region, Bhuj came to national interest in 2001 when a massive earthquake hit the area. The city happened to be the past capital of the former princely state of Kutch. Named after the Bhujiyo Dungar hillock, Bhuj is a maze of alleys. The houses and temples here bear true testimony to the mastery of past artisans of Gujarat. When in Bhuj, make sure that you visit places like Aina Mahal, bell tower in Prag Mahal and the Kutch museum.


Located in Bhuj, Narayan Sarovar is a very important place for Hindus. Five holy lakes of Hinduism namely Man Sarovar, Pampa Sarovar, Bindu Sarovar, Narayan Sarovar and Pushkar Sarovar have their presence here.

Are you into past civilisation and their lost glory? If yes, then Dholavira is your destination! Located in the Khadir Bet Island in Kutch, Dholavira is home to one of the largest excavation sites of the Indus Valley Civilization. Also known as ‘Kotada timba’, Dholavira has been a favourite of Archaeological Survey of India thanks to the discovery of the remains of the Indus valley civilization. Going by expert observation, it is assumed that this place is in existence from around 2650 BC to 1450 BC!


Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary is a massive wilderness spread over a land area of 7505 sq kms. Often referred to as one of the largest seasonal saline wetland areas of the country, Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary is home to many rare species. Greater flamingo, Indian porcupine, spiny tailed lizard, black-necked storks, wild ass and Indian cormorant are some of the easily spotted animals in this sanctuary. The winters are considered to be the best time to visit this place.

Situated 60 kms away from Bhuj, Mandvi is another important place to visit in Kutch region. Essentially a fortified town, Mandvi is known for its beaches. Apart from this, people can also visit the Vijay Vilas Palace. Built in 1940, this stunning mansion is a must visit in Mandvi.