Woman from the Marwada Meghwal Harijan tribe

Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

Kachchh (Kutch)

Kachchh, India’s wild west, is a geographic phenomenon. The flat, tortoise-shaped land, edged by the Gulf of Kachchh and Great and Little Ranns, is a seasonal island. During the dry season, the Ranns are vast expanses of dried mud and blinding-white salt. Come the monsoon, they’re flooded first by seawater, then by fresh river water. The salt in the soil makes the low-lying marsh area almost completely barren. Only on scattered ‘islands’ above the salt level is there coarse grass, which provides fodder for the region’s wildlife.


Attractions

Must-see attractions for your itinerary

Guidebooks

Purchase our award-winning guidebooks

Get to the heart of Kachchh (Kutch) with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.