About:
Dr. Bharatkumar Bhate is M.S. General Surgeon (Gold Medalist) by qualification,
with an experience of 30,000+ operations, and is based at Rajkot, Gujarat. He
is an avid reader and a passionate writer. In this blog, he shares his travel
experiences and creative reflections.
Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrBhateRajkot
🌴 Blog 01 of 03 |
Introduction – Little Rann of Kutch (LRK), Gujarat
By Dr. Bharatkumar Bhate
Visited in February 2026
This is the first blog in my 3-part LRK travel series, based
on my visit to this fabulous place in February 2026, organized by the
Association of Surgeons of Rajkot.
The Association of Surgeons of Rajkot (ASR) is known not
only for its academic excellence through lectures, workshops, seminars, and
conferences, but also for its vibrant social and cultural activities. From
festival celebrations and family gatherings to stage performances, sports
tournaments, trekking, and outdoor picnics — the association truly believes in
bonding beyond the operation theatre.
Continuing this beautiful tradition, ASR organized an
overnight picnic to the Little Rann of Kutch on 14th and 15th February 2026
under the able leadership of my dear colleagues and brilliant doctors, namely
Dr. Sanjay Popat (President) and Dr. Jigen Gohel (Secretary). I cannot resist
expressing my heartfelt congratulations to them for their wholehearted efforts
and meticulous planning.
Families, along with excited children and elderly parents, gathered in high spirits and departed from Rajkot on 14th February 2026 (Saturday) afternoon in an AC luxury bus. We returned the next evening around 7:30 pm, carrying back unforgettable memories. The journey itself was filled with laughter, tea and coffee breaks, jokes, songs, quizzes and prizes, and lively conversations. Our night halt was at a pre-booked resort arranged well in advance by the organizing team, ensuring a comfortable and completely hassle-free stay.
ABOUT LITTLE RANN OF KUTCH (LRK)
The Little Rann of Kutch (LRK) is truly an extraordinary
place — something that must be seen and experienced to be fully appreciated.
For me, it was nothing short of a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I have visited
several national parks, multiple deserts, and many wildlife sanctuaries across
the globe. Yet, after witnessing LRK, I can confidently say that this terrain
is uniquely dramatic in its character and visual impact.
If you are looking for an offbeat travel experience, LRK is
undoubtedly one of the most distinctive landscapes in our country.
Unlike safaris conducted in dense forests, LRK presents an
open wilderness where the horizon appears endless and nature unfolds in its
rawest and most unfiltered form. It is a surreal, cracked landscape of salt
crust stretching toward the horizon until the earth seems to merge with the sky
in a shimmering mirage.
Unlike a desert safari in Dubai, there are no towering sand
dunes, no adventure sports, and no restaurants with belly dance performances.
Unlike the Great Desert of Kutch, there are no tents or shopping zones within
LRK. The silence here is profound, and the vastness almost meditative.
During winter, we could see immense stretches of cracked
earth extending endlessly in all directions, occasionally dotted with hardy
thorny shrubs — a striking reminder of nature’s resilience in extreme
conditions.
Geographically, the Little Rann spreads across five
districts of Gujarat — Surendranagar, Banaskantha, Patan, Kutch, and Rajkot. It
was established primarily to conserve the endangered Indian Wild Ass (Equus
hemionus khur), a species found almost exclusively in this region.
Ecologically, LRK is distinct from the vast Great White
Desert of Kutch. Though called “Little,” the name is rather deceptive. The
Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary (IWAS), established in 1971 and spread over 4,953 sq
km, is in fact the largest wildlife sanctuary in India — a fact that often
surprises visitors.
The Little Rann of Kutch is essentially a seasonal salt
marsh desert known for its surreal white, salt-encrusted landscape, which
becomes especially magical under moonlight. During the monsoon, it transforms
into a vast wetland. As winter arrives and the water gradually evaporates, it
reverts into an endless cracked desert — a dramatic seasonal metamorphosis.
Interestingly, around 350+ elevated patches known as “bets”
(small hilltops) are scattered across the Rann. During the monsoon, when the
surrounding plains get submerged, only these bets remain above water and serve
as crucial shelters for wildlife.
Some saucer-shaped depressions continue to retain water even
in winter, forming shallow as well as deep wetlands. These water bodies support
a rich micro-ecosystem of insects and small organisms, providing ample food for
migratory birds. Watching these visiting birds against the stark white backdrop
is truly a mesmerizing experience.
The third unique feature of the Little Rann of Kutch is its
extensive Salt Farms. Nearly half of India’s salt requirement is fulfilled by
this region, providing livelihood to approximately 5,000 people. The sight of
salt pans blending with the desert landscape adds yet another dimension to this
remarkable ecosystem.
Concluding by saying that whether you are a wildlife
enthusiast, a photography nerd, a bird-watching admirer, or simply someone who
wishes to feel as though you have landed on another planet, LRK is an
underrated gem that unquestionably deserves a place on your bucket list.
Here I take a brief pause. In my next blog on LRK, I will
describe the mesmerizing sunset, our visit to the Swaminarayan temple, and our
stay at Bhavna Resort.
Stay tuned for Blog 02 of 03 of the LRK trip series.