Experiences
Little Rann of Kutch: Explore the salt flats, beautiful sunsets, the wild ass, the pink colonies of flamingos and the immense cultural heritage. One of the recommended walks takes you through the forested grounds of Rann Riders by Kaafila to experience the landscape with its species of native trees, wetlands, fields, irrigation canals and lakes dotting the fields. These walks give insight into smaller birdlife, agricultural practices of the local community, the farmers’ simple lifestyles, and spotting a variety of butterflies and dragonflies that contribute to this ecosystem. Walking the “Rann ki Kaanti” or the edge of the Rann on one of the scrub islands is organised by the team, while night walks within the property are also an option for those keen on exploring the outdoors under the stars in search of owls, civets, bats, porcupines and small carnivores like foxes and jungle cats.
Communities of the Rann: The communities of the Rann are culturally unique and village safaris are designed to help engage with the communities, observe their unique weaving practices and explore the region’s handicrafts. One of the highlights is listening to stories from Sarfaraz Malik in his house, a member of the old jagirdars of Dasada. He has a fascinating repository of knowledge about every aspect of the Rann – from its history to details about raptors of the region, having himself been an expert falconer.
Art & Crafts: Wander on foot or by vehicle to explore local communities’ traditional arts and crafts like the weaves of the Kharapat Rabari women at their houses or watch the Mirs work with beads to create braids, tassels and necklaces. A unique weave of this region is the Tangalio, where weavers are adept at adding extra knots on the weft, which create motifs and figures in a dotted pattern on the woven fabric.
Horse Safaris & Camel Rides: You can go on horse safaris on indigenous breeds of horses, including the award-winning Kathiawadi and Marwari mares available at the resort or enjoy cycling through open country, which is rich in wildlife and cultural attractions. Camel Safaris can also be organised for village visits and among the salt flats. Off-roading experiences for adventure enthusiasts into the Rann and beyond are a must, where you can set yourself up on mobile camps to soak in the outdoors.
Curated experiences and workshops conducted by experts such as Yoga, meditation, local weaving arts and crafts led by the Mir women, pottery, culinary arts and even workshops focused on wellness and Ayurveda are exclusively set up near the pool area.
Get a pulse of the local culture by participating in local festivals, such as fairs held at the historic shrine of Tarnetar (Trineteshwar), a holy site locally believed to have been the original course of the river Ganga. Attend the Ravechi Mela, one of the most important fairs for the Rabari community of Kutch, where people are dressed in their colourful best.
Excursions: day trips to nearby sites such as the Nalsarover Bird Sanctuary, the largest wetland bird sanctuary in India and the only Ramsar Site in Gujarat, to explore the wetlands by boat and drive around to various grassland hotspots. Day trips to visit the Harappan site at Dholavira, set among the largest islands in the Rann, Khadir Bet, can be coupled with an exciting cross country safari drive across the Rann. You can also visit the Modera Sun temple, the historic town of Ahilwada Patan – the region’s capital between the 8th-14th century, the Munsar tank with its intricately carved temples and the 12th-century Jain temple at Sankeshwar.
