Travel freaks, there’s a reason we call ourselves that. Out of nowhere, we decided to drive down to Kutch and then one of us said, no point if we aren’t there on a full moon. Well, full moon was close to Christmas December 22nd, 2018, so, a lot of planning and search happened because fitting things in budget around Christmas is a challenge. Is it? 😉
Lets get a clear picture of distances first:
Pune – Vadodara (547 KM): Even though Google map says 09 hours and 40 minutes, don’t forget that you have Mumbai and its traffic in between. So, plan your departure time accordingly. Leave a day or two in advance and halt at more places on your way if you want. We left Pune around 02:30 PM and reached Vadodara by 01:00 AM of 21st December 2018. Long stretch yes, but we pull these stunts cause thankfully one of us is a highly skilled devil when it comes to driving. 🙂 ❤
Vadodara – Mandvi Beach (493 KM): Again Google maps will tell you 08 hours and 30 minutes, but this time we made it before the stipulated time. We left Vadodara at 07:30 AM on 21st December 2018 and reached Mandvi around 04:00 PM.
Mandvi Accomodation
There could be hotels in the city but if you want to experience living in a village hut, look for options within a 10KM perimeter from Mandvi city center. We chose a resort located on Mandvi-Bhuj highway.
Its optional though, so you can pick whatever suits your budget and agenda.
Mandvi Beach
Halting at Mandvi also happened because we love beaches! I must say I was super impressed by the cleanliness here. It has a decent number or visitors. But still you cant call it crowded. You can always find a spot to be alone here 🙂
Mandvi – Kutch (154 KM): The distance will tell you why we chose to be at Mandvi on the night on 21st December 2018. You can easily cover this distance in less than 3 hours. On the way to Kutch we recommend that you visit the following two destinations:
Rakshak Van
Rakshak Van is dedicated to the valor of women who rebuilt the airstrip at Bhuj airport overnight during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Approximately 15 KM from Bhuj, its a large lush green garden; quiet and beautiful. You will find people visiting the van for a day picnic also.
Kalo Dungar
Kalo Dungar translates to the black mountain. Its a peak where you can go and marvel at the span of the great white rann. It is about 90 KM from Bhuj and a little beyond Kutch. There is a left turn after approximately 70 KM from Bhuj that will take you to the white rann. However, we recommend that you continue straight and visit Kalo Dungar first.
The road till the base of the mountain is narrow but beautiful. Once you get to the base you need to walk to the hill top.
Getting a parking spot gets harder as you ascend to the base of Kalo Dungar. It is a task in itself. So, please keep an eye for space and park wisely, so that getting out is also easy.
On your way to the peak, please don’t fall prey and rent any binoculars. Chances are they will be damaged, but most importantly, you don’t need them. If you must then carry your own.
The view of the Great Rann from Kalo Dungar breathtaking!
Here’s a short video of the entire stretch 🙂
The Great Rann of Kutch
The Great White Rann is approximately 50 KM from Kalo Dungar. If you are visiting Kutch on a full moon night then please do take rest in the afternoon. In the evening, especially during the Rann Utsav, it is extremely crowded. The Rann Utsav is like a huge funfair. So if you plan to visit the funfair, finish before 06:00 PM. The funfair is about a kilometer from the Rann entrance. Beyond the entrance too you will need to walk for about 2 KMs. You fill find camel ride assistance here in case you don’t want to walk.
Full moon at the great rann is a one of a kind sight. We recommend that you don’t miss the phases when the moon reaches at its peak, which is close to midnight. It looks like a large LED bulb enough to light up the entire Rann.
Important: There is no need to stay inside Kutch entrance and main gate in those expensive tents. While we were there, we collected a lot of feedback from fellow travellers who lived in those popular and expensive tents. Most of them didn’t have a good experience to narrate.
There are better options in 4 to 5 KM perimeter from the Great Rann. Again you can choose whatever suits your time, budget, and agenda. But is quiet, peaceful, chilly, and beautiful outside 🙂
We hope this helps you to plan your road trip to the majestic white rann during a full moon.
Cheers!
Life of road trips 