After riding from Ahmedabad to Kalo Dungar and spending an adventurous day at Vighakot Fort, we spent a peaceful evening watching the sunset on a small hill near our hotel at the foot of the magnetic hill. With an incredible view of the Rann and the sun’s reflection on the creek, we could stay there forever.

Staying on Kalo Dungar

Kalo Dungar or Black Hill is the highest point in Kutch, Gujarat. This is the only point in Kutch from where you can see the whole Rann of Kutch. It is believed that Kalo Dungar defies gravity. To experience this put your vehicle on neutral and experience the wonder.

I experienced this first-hand and couldn’t believe it. Before I had gone to the magnetic hill in Leh, Ladakh but that seemed phoney because nothing really happened there.

We were staying at Kiaayo Resort, located at the foot of the Kalo Dungar. The location of the hotel is unbelievable. A few feet away is a small arrangement uphill to enjoy the view. The hotel staff was very friendly. The rooms had all the facilities like heater, geyser, and kettle. The property was clean and the food was delicious.

Early morning on Magnetic Hill

Early next morning, we decided to watch the sunrise from the top of Kalo Dungar. There is a 400-year-old Dattatreya temple on the top. You definitely needed warm clothes to ride as it was cold. A man tying head turbans for 50 Rupees gave a surprise welcome. He tied them in literally 3 seconds.

We relished some chai with cool breeze and sun shining on our faces and headed back to our hotel for the rest of the adventure.

Rann of Kutch – Salt Desert

Rann of Kutch was a once a part of the Arabian Sea. Multiple earthquakes moved the sea further ahead, leaving a vast land of salt and changing the geography. During monsoons, the land fills up with water and dries up during the winter till the summers.

Rann Utsav – The Tent City

Rann Utsav is more famous than the Rann of Kutch itself. The festival is the brand of Rann of Kutch.

Rann Utsav is a colorful and vibrant festival at Rann of Kutch which takes place during the winters. Live folk dance and music, a little flea market and a lot of other cultural activities are set in the middle of the White Salt Desert.

They also arrange tours with transport, accommodations, meals, and guided sightseeing. The Tent City has approximately 400 tents, both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned ones. Depending on the package you choose, the prices can be between 5000 to 25000 Rupees.

An evening well spent

We didn’t stay at the Tent City as it was crowded and we thought it was overpriced. Our hotel was a few kilometers away from the Rann Utsav venue. Our hotel had live cultural music performance and bon-fire for all the guests.

After sunset, we rode to the middle of nowhere to soak in a silent desert shining orange with the setting sun. We parked our bikes and lay on the desert staring as the stars crept in. Chills ran up our spine as the breeze became cooler and the place turned dark.

Those who are looking for a memorable holiday in Gujarat should definitely include Kutch in their itinerary. Stay tuned to read more about more things to do in Kutch. Until then Live your Life. Live your Dream.