To get to the Rann one has to navigate
through the rough terrain that forms the border of the Rann and sometimes even
SUVs struggle to get in. But with the expertise of our guide we and our Hyundai
i20 got to the Rann without any problems. And when we finally stopped and
stepped outside the car it was magical. It was a full moon night and the entire
Rann was lit up by the moon light. Even though you cannot really gauge the
vastness of the Rann, you do get a fair idea about the size of this salty
desert. There are no words in the dictionary that can describe the feeling of
being in the middle of the Rann in the night with moon at its brightest. It is
simply surreal. After spending a few hours of gazing the vast empty Rann and
clicking pictures of the beautiful Fludic i20 under the moon we headed back to
Rann Riders for some shut eye.
Hyundai
i20 saloon
Next morning our guide was once again ready
to navigate us to the Rann. We grabbed a hearty breakfast at the Rann Riders
that was prepared especially for us and set out to have some fun in the i20.
The Rann is a completely different thing during the day and even at 9:00AM the
temperature is around 38° Celsius. It is during the day time that you can
really see the nothingness for kilometers. But the Rann is also the place where
you can have a ton of fun without hitting anything. The cracked surface of the
Rann is made up of clay and mud that is baked by the scorching sun throughout
the year. It hardly rains in the Rann of Kutch and for most time of the year
you can visit the Rann and have some fun. You can slide your car on the loose
surface or just drive in a straight line for kilometers on end. There is
nothing that can distract you here and even if you do manage to get distracted
you will never hit anything.
Hyundai
i20 interior
I had a blast in the i20 as it allowed me
do all sorts of things that are usually considered dangerous on public roads. I
was also impressed by its performance on loose surface. Despite having very
less grip the i20 never lost its composure. It always felt quite solid and
planted at all times, even while taking some really fast corners. But it was
the air conditioning that impressed us all the most. While I was having fun in
the i20 in the Rann, Rommel my photographer and colleagues Varun and Sayem were
outside clicking pictures. They braved the scorching sun for these superb
pictures and the i20 rewarded them with a nice cool and pleasant cabin after
the shoot.
Hyundai
i20 boot
In the end I was immensely impressed by the
i20’s performance in the peak of summer. It ran like clockwork and never felt
out of its comfort zone. Even after pushing the i20 to its limits with four
people in it we were able to get a decent fuel efficiency of 16 kmpl. One whole
tank of diesel lasted for a good 700 kilometer. The Hyundai i20 successfully
went to the Rann of Kutch and returned without any break downs or even
punctures. It kept all of comfortable at all times despite the extreme heat
outside the car. It proved that you don’t need a big car to enjoy the greatness
of a place like the Rann of Kutch. The i20 is more than enough to do so.
Things to do at the little Rann
The Little Rann of Kutch is a spectacular
place. You can see a lot of things if you visit it at the right time. There is
a wildlife sanctuary that you can visit inside the Rann where you can spot Wild
Ass, Desert Fox and migratory birds. You can also drive your vehicle in the
Rann however, be careful about the loose surface. Whenever you go to the Rann always
ensure that you are accompanied by an experienced guide who will help you
navigate through this wonderful patch of nothingness. To experience some local
culture and see how people live in this harsh terrain you can visit the
surrounding villages. Good time to visit the Little Rann of Kutch is from
October - March when the evenings are nice and pleasant and the day time
temperatures are manageable. Always carry a lot of water along with you to stay
hydrated.
Hyundai
i20 back
Stay at the rann riders resort
At Dasada our stay was arranged by Mr.
Malik who is the owner of the Rann Riders Resort and descendant of Baktiar-Uddin,
a great warrior from the 15th century. The hospitality and the warmness of the
staff at the Rann Riders Resort was simply amazing and we never felt that we
were away from home. It is a great resort that is located on the main road that
leads to Dasada junction and is a huge property with many amenities. On this
property you will find a horse stable, plenty of ducks, roosters and hens, two
very excited Emu and an artificial private lake. The rooms are constructed in
traditional style using clay and mud however, on the inside they are quite
luxurious.
