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A Rendezvous with Kachchh
Like so many other regions of Gujarat, Kachchh (also
spelt as Kutch) has its own distinctive character. It
is, in fact, a peninsula, lying between the Sir River,
the Sir creek and great Rann of Kachchh on the northwest,
and the Gulf of Kachchh on the east.
The country is a somewhat bare wand wild, with some cultivated
field near the villages. It has a remarkably heterogeneous
population, who belong to 18 different tribes, each with
its own language and culture. Yet Kachchh, with its colourful
people, historic towns, and remarkable handicrafts, has
much of interest to offer visitors.
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JOURNEY INTO HISTORY
The Kachchh Utsav is a guided tour of the life and times
of Kachchh- its beauty, its nostalgia, its ethos, its
traditions, its history, its culture, its very inner
self.
The Tourism Corporation of Gujarat, Ltd. (TCGL), organised
this unusual tour of Kachchh, in response to the request
of many who wished to visit an area quite different
from urban India. This tour was called a Mahotsava,
or great festival, because of the great variety of sights
and scenes that are offered to visitors. The Mahotsava
consists of a six-day tour of Kachchh, in which all
requirements of the visitors are taken care of.
SIX DAYS OF COMPLETE EXPERIENCE
The Kachchh Utsav comprises six heady days of travel,
entertainment and cultural exposure: virgin sea beaches,
inscrutable desertlands, breathtaking landscape, thriving
wildlife, bird sanctuaries featuring exalted species
such as the flamingo, soul-stirring littoral tracts,
historic monuments, forts and palaces, pilgrim centers.
BHUJ ATTRACTIONS
Bhuj lies at the heart of Kachchh and is linked by many
roads to the rest of the peninsula. Also in Bhuj are
the Aina Mahal or Glass Palace, which was built in the
18th century, the Kachchh Museum - which is Gujarat's
oldest, and the Bharatiya Sanskruti Darshan complex,
which holds some remarkable frescoes depicting the RAM-LILA.
The rural bazaars of Bhuj sell its exquisite handicrafts.
Mata No Madh
Mata no Madh is an old temple believed to be 1,200 years
old. It is dedicated to the Mother Goddess. The temple
has many unusual features and its treatment of dimensions
and of space is unique.
Lakhpat
Lakhpat, once a flourishing post, and now deserted,
reminds one that in ancient times, ships sailed to West
Asia from Gujarat's West Coast, Time stands still at
Lakhpat, recalling to mind a era long past, through
the many sites in the city, including the Sikh Gurdwara,
and the 200-year tomb or Dargah of Ghaus Mohammed Kaba.
Narayan Sarovar
Narayan Sarovar means the Lake of Narayan, a name of
Vishnu. There are actually five sacred lakes here. A
temple complex is located on one of these. Narayan Sarovar
is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for orthodox
Hindus. The architecture is ancient and awe-inspiring.
Koteshwar, another place on the Mahotsava route, is
also a site which pilgrims invariably visit.
Bhadreshwar Temple
Bhadreshwar is not only considered an important religious
site by the Jain community, but it also has shrines,
mosques and temples, as well as unique an ancient step-well.
Anjar
Anjar, near Gandhidam, is famous for the Samadhi of
Jesal Toral, the Ajaypal Temple, and the shrine of Pinjora
Pir. The bungalow of James Macmurdo contains remarkable
examples of the art of Kachchh.
Mandvi
Mandvi in southern Kachchh, is a renowned holiday centre
with a beach overlooking the Arabian Sea. The Vijay
Vilas Palace evokes the royal splendour of the past.
Mandvi's Hawa Mahal is also imposing, and reminiscent
of similar palaces in Rajasthan. Banni and Khavda are
villages set like jewels in an expanse of desert. In
these villages live some of the most talented craftsmen
of Kachchh who practise their traditional skills, to
produce artistic masterpieces.
Dhola Veera
Dhola Veera was once an important part of the Harappan
Civilisation, proving that the Harappan culture extened
to Gujarat. Excavations are still in progress.
Dhrang
Dhrang is another location famous for its rural fair
ad for the handicrafts, traditional objects, hand-printed
and embroidered fabrics made and sold there. It is also
famous for the jewelley available there.
EXCURSIONS
The Kachchh Mahotsava is usually organised during February
and March each year. Other places of interest nearby
are Rajkot, in Saurashtra (16-km from Bhuj), Jamnagar
(189-km from Bhuj) Junagadh (260-km from Bhuj).
GETTING THERE
Bhuj has an airport with flights to different destinations.
Buses can carry visitors to Ahmedabad or anywhere else,
en route.
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