Great Rann of Kutch

Rann of Kutch on the top left in turquoise colour. The Gulf of Kutch is further down below the Kutch region. Image: NASA Earth Observatory

Map of Gujarat showing the Greater Rann of Kutch and Little Rann of Kutch

Rann of Kutch - Highest Point

Rann of Kutch - White Desert

Rann of Kutch - White Desert 2

Tropic of Cancer - a few miles from Rann of Kutch

The Great Rann of Kutch is a seasonal salt marsh located in the Thar Desert in the Kutch District of Gujarat, India and the Sindh province of Pakistan. It is about 7,505.22 square kilometres (2,897.78 sq mi) in size and is reputed to be one of the largest salt desert in the world.^[1] This area has been inhabited by the Kutchi people.^[2]

The name "Rann" comes from the Hindi word ran (रण) meaning "desert". The Hindi word is derived from Sanskrit/Vedic word iriṇa (इरिण) attested in the Rigveda and Mahābhārata. As early as 325 BCE, Alexander the Great was aware of the area.^[3]

Location and description

The Great Rann of Kutch, along with the Little Rann of Kutch and the Banni grasslands on its southern edge, is situated in the district of Kutch and comprises some 30,000 square kilometres (10,000 sq mi) between the Gulf of Kutch and the mouth of the Indus River in southern Pakistan. The marsh can be accessed from the village of Kharaghoda in Surendranagar District.^[4]

In India's summer monsoon, the flat desert of salty clay and mudflats, which average 15 meters above sea level, fills with standing water. In very wet years, the wetland extends from the Gulf of Kutch on the west through to the Gulf of Cambay on the east.^[5]

The area was a vast shallow of the Arabian Sea until continuing geological uplift closed off the connection with the sea, creating a vast lake that was still navigable during the time of Alexander the Great. The Ghaggar River, which presently empties into the desert of northern Rajasthan, formerly emptied into the Rann of Kutch, but the lower reaches of the river dried up as its upstream tributaries were captured by the Indus and Ganges thousands of years ago. Traces of the delta and its distributary channels on the northern boundary of the Rann of Kutch were documented by the Geological Survey of India in 2000.

The Luni River, which originates in Rajasthan, drains into the desert in the northeast corner of the Rann. Other rivers feeding into the marsh include the Rupen from the east and the West Banas River from the northeast.^[6]

There are sandy islets of thorny scrub, forming a wildlife sanctuary^[6] and a breeding ground for some of the largest flocks of greater and lesser flamingos. Wildlife, including the Indian wild ass, shelter on islands of higher ground, called bets, during the flooding.

Climate

This is one of the hottest areas of India - with summer temperatures averaging and peaking at 49.5 °C. Winter temperatures reduce dramatically and can go below 0 °C (32 °F).^[7]

Religions

Many religions are found here, including Hinduism, Islam, Jainism & Sikhism.

Threats and preservation

Although most of the marsh is in protected areas, the habitats are vulnerable to cattle grazing, firewood collection and salt extraction operations, all of which may involve transportation that disturbs wildlife. There are several wildlife sanctuaries and protected reserves on the Indian side in the Rann of Kutch region. From the city of Bhuj, various ecologically rich and wildlife conservation areas of the Kutch/Kachchh district can be visited such as Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary, Kutch Bustard Sanctuary, Banni Grasslands Reserve and Chari-Dhand Wetland Conservation Reserve.

Indo-Pakistan international border

Creeks in Great Rann of Kutch area

In India the northern boundary of the Greater Rann of Kutch forms the International Border between India and Pakistan, it is heavily patrolled by India's Border Security Force (BSF) and Indian Army conducts exercises here to acclimatize its troops to this harsh terrain.^[8]

This inhospitable salty lowland, rich in natural gas, was one scene of perennial border disputes between India and Pakistan that, in April 1965, contributed to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. Later the same year, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Harold Wilson persuaded the combatants to end hostilities and establish a tribunal to resolve the dispute. A verdict was reached in 1968 which saw Pakistan getting 10% of its claim of 9,100 square kilometres (3,500 sq mi). 90% was awarded to India, although India claimed 100% of the region. Tensions spurted again in 1999 during the Atlantique Incident.^[9]

Indus river floods

The Indus river had been flowing in to Rann of Kutch area and Rann of Kutch used to be its catchment area forming part of its delta.^[10][11] Indus river branch called Koree river, shifted its course after an earthquake in 1819 isolating Rann of Kutch from its delta.^[12] Pakistan has constructed Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD) project to bypass the saline and polluted water which is not fit for agriculture use to reach sea via Rann of Kutch area without passing through the Indus delta.^[13] The 500 km long LBOD, begins from northern Ghotki district in Sindh province of Pakistan and joins Rann of Kutch in Badin district of Sindh.^[14] Rann of Kutch is joint water body of India and Pakistan.^[15] Water released by the LBOD is enhancing the flooding in India and contaminating the quality of water bodies which are source of water to salt farms spread over vast area. The LBOD water is planned to join the sea via disputed Sir Creek but LBOD water is entering Indian territory due to many breaches in its left bank caused by floods^[16]

Chir Batti

At night, an unexplained strange dancing light phenomena known locally as Chir Batti (ghost lights) occurs in the Rann,^[17][18][19] the adjoining Banni grasslands, and the seasonal wetlands.^[20]

Tourism

City of tents during Rann Utsav

The Government of Gujarat hosts an annual 3 month long festival called the Rann Utsav (festival of the Rann), where tourists can see the various sights of the Rann as well as get a taste of the local culture, cuisine and hospitality. Specially built local houses are also used to house tourists to give them a taste of them.^[21] Many adventure clubs and travel clubs organize expeditions.

Handicrafts

The unique handicrafts of Kutch are world famous.^[22] A lot of women and young girls make their living by selling different types of embroidered cloths. The embroidery is of various styles such as Rabari, Ahir, Sindhi, Banni, Mutwa, Ari and Soof - and some styles include mirror or bead inlay.

Rann Utsav

Popular culture

J. P. Dutta's Bollywood film Refugee was shot in the Great Rann of Kutch along with other locations in the Kachchh district. It is said to have been inspired from the story by Keki N. Daruwalla based around the Great Rann of Kutch titled Love Across the Salt Desert.^{[23][24][25][26][27][28][29]}

Amitabh Bachchan in his promotions for Gujarat Tourism titled Khushboo Gujarat Ki has also extensively shot in the Rann of kutch.^[30] Several scenes in Salman Rushdie's Booker Prize winning novel Midnight's Children take place in the Rann of Kutch, including a scene where the protagonist faints from heat stroke in the Rann's brutal climate. Some scenes or song sequences in Indian films like Magadheera, D-Day, R... Rajkumar, Gori Tere Pyaar Mein, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, Lagaan, The Good Road and Dookudu were shot in the area.^[31]

See also

References

• World Wildlife Fund (2001). "Rann of Kutch seasonal salt marsh". WildWorld Ecoregion Profile. National Geographic Society. Archived from the original on 2010-03-08. 
•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rann of Kutch.

• Gujarat Tourism official website
• "World Wildlife Fund:". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.  Terrestrial Ecoregions: Rann of Kutch
• Satellite views comparing summer and winter conditions in the Rann of Kutch
• Desert (Rann of Kutch) wetlands; 6 February 2003; WWF Global website
• KACHCHH PENINSULA AND THE GREAT RANN; The Geological Survey of India, Ministry of Mines, Government of India
• Archived news articles from the India Environmental Portal on: Rann of Kutch
• Archived news articles from the India Environmental Portal for a Search made for: Banni grasslands

Protected areas of Pakistan National parks Ayub Ayubia Broghil Valley Central Karakoram Chinji Chitral Gol Deosai Hazarganji-Chiltan Hingol Khunjerab Kirthar Lal Suhanra Lulusar-Dodipat Machiara Margalla Hills Saiful Malook Shiekh Buddin Toli Pir Wildlife sanctuaries Astore Bajwat Baltistan Chashma Lake Cholistan Chumbi Surla Hab Dam Lehri Nature Park Naltar Nara Desert Runn of Kutch Game reserves Head Qadirabad Machiara Protected wetlands Astola Island Chashma Barrage Drigh Lake Great Rann of Kutch Haleji Lake Hawke's Bay Beach Hingol River Hub Dam Indus River Delta Jiwani Coastal Wetland Jubho Lagoon Keti Bandar Khanpur Dam Kinjhar Lake Miani Hor Lagoon Ormara Turtle Beaches Rasul Barrage Rawal Lake Sandspit Beach Tanda Dam Taunsa Barrage Thanedar Wala Uchhali Complex Natural monuments Bazar Caves Chandragup Chitarwata Formation Hingol Mud Volcano Kashmir Smast Paradise Point Protected forests Ziarat Juniper Forest Changa Manga Forest Chichawatni Plantation Biosphere reserves Lal Suhanra

Coordinates: 24°05′11″N 70°38′16″E / 24.08639°N 70.63778°E / 24.08639; 70.63778