Untitled - Rann Riders

Welcome to Rann Riders
R
ann Riders is an ethnically designed eco-resort, set among
agricultural fields and wetlands, near the village of Dasada. It is an
ideal base to explore the Little Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary,
picturesque villages and pastoral settlements, the handlooms and handicrafts
of Surendranagar district, and architectural masterpieces like Modhera and
Patan.
Rann Riders is owned and managed by the descendants of the former rulers
of Dasada. The family is knowledgeable about the history, culture and
wildlife of the area.
About the Resort
R
ann Riders is an eco-friendly resort imaginatively designed using
local materials to recreate the appearance of a village. The resort has
cottages, resembling the kooba houses of the Bajania community
of Dasada and the bhunga houses of the Rabaris of Kutch, decorated with
mirrors, mud-plaster work and embroideries. Inside, the cottages are a
superb hybrid of traditional decor and modern comforts. The furnishings
are mostly embroidered linen and cushion covers from the nearby villages.
Each of the cottages has an a/c twin-bedroom, with a comfortable cane bed,
a dry dressing area and a tiled bathroom with western-style toilet fittings
and hot-and-cold showers.
Rann Riders has an attractive dining hall, with bolsters, cushions,
embroideries and other regional handicrafts. The ethnically-designed
kitchen offers a range of cuisine including regional specialities, with large
choices for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians, using mainly fresh local
produce.
Mammals
R
ann Riders has a fleet of open vehicles for cross-country safaris in the
Little Rann of Kutch, a 4950 sq km wildlife sanctuary comprising
a huge expanse of saline desert wilderness interspersed with grassand-scrublands and marshes.
The Little Rann of Kutch is well-known as the remaining habitat of the
endangered Indian Wild Ass, a magnificent member of the horse family.
The range of the Indian Wild Ass once extended from western India,
through Sindh and Baluchistan, Afghanistan, and south-eastern Iran but
now has its last refuge in and around the Little Rann of Kutch. It is reddish
grey, fawn or pale chestnut, with white underparts, and has an erect, dark
mane which runs from the back of the head and along the neck followed by
a dark brown stripe running along the back, to the root of the tail. All guests
of Rann Riders have got to see the Indian wild ass, often in large family
herds. Nilgai (blue bull), the largest antelope in India, are easily sighted in
and around Dasada, and during the safaris.
Many Rann Riders guests have seen Indian and White-footed Desert Foxes,
Golden Jackal, Chinkara (Indian Gazelle), the endangered Indian Wolf,
Desert, Jungle and Fishing Cats, and Striped Hyena. The Little Rann of
Kutch is a good place to see small mammals like hares, hedgehogs, gerbil
and field mice, and bats.
The Little Rann is inhabited by desert-dwelling reptiles including the Spinytailed Lizard.
Birds
D
asada is ideally situated for birdwatchers. About 380 species of
birds have been recorded in and around the Little Rann Sanctuary.
Birdwatchers have seen more than 140 species of birds in a single
day while staying at Dasada.
The Little Rann Sanctuary is declared an Important Bird Area by Birdlife
International. Many characteristic birds of the Saharo-Sindian Desert region
like Chestnut Belled, Spotted and Painted Sandgrouse, a dozen species of
Lark, Desert and Variable Wheatears, and White-eared Bulbul. Among
the key species that can be seen here are Macqueen’s Bustard, Stolizka’s
Bushchat, Syke’s Lark, Crested Lark, Greater Hoopoe Lark and Sociable
Lapwing.
The wetlands in and around Dasada are a paradise for wetland birds. Even
those who are not birdwatchers will enjoy seeing the large flocks of Greater
and Lesser Flamingos, Spoonbill, White Pelican and other magnificently
coloured birds that can be seen at Tundi Tower wetlands, Nawa Talao,
Vanod and other lakes. Huge flocks of ducks and geese can be seen at these
wetlands in winter. Several thousand Demoiselle and Common Cranes visit
the Little Rann during the winter months. Small and Collared Pratincole,
Kentish Plover, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit and other waders can be seen
at the shallow wetlands of the Little Rann.
The Little Rann Sanctuary is also good for raptors including Aquila eagles,
three species of harrier, buzzards and a variety of falcons.
Crafts and Culture
A
tour of Dasada and its surrounding villages offers an insight into
a variety of cultures and handicrafts. The pastoral Kharapat and
Vadiyara Rabaris are known for their exquisite embroidery with
herringbone stitches interspersed with small mirrors, using occasional chain
stitch for peacocks and other fabrics. The borders of their veil-like head
coverings have large embroidered dots. Kharapat Rabaris live in thirty-five
villages between Sankeshwar and Kharagodha and continue to herd cattle
and live by dairy farming. According to their local lore, Dasada was founded
by the Kharapat Rabaris. Both men and women also traditionally wore a
boat shaped gold pendant called vankdi dodi.
The Bharwads are colourfully dressed pastoral people, usually shepherds and
goatherds. Bharvad men are famed for their flamboyant style. They wear red
turban, embroidered clothes, gold upper earrings, both tansiya (rings) and
phul (umbrella-like studs), and silver kadu (bracelets) and kanduro (belt).
Closely associated with the Bharvads are the Dangasia, traditional weavers.
Dasada falls in Surendranagar district, which is known for its weavers.
A unique weaving technique here is called Tangalio. Woven on a narrow
width pit loom, the Tangalio has a single warp but the weft has extra knots
which is why the weave is called Tangalio (knots in Gujarati). Single ikat
weaving also thrives in the area.
On the periphery of Dasada lives a community of 15 families of nomadic
Mirs. Their dress is Rajasthani, their homes are temporary. They make
artistic bangles.
Places to Visit
Modhera Sun Temple (40 km)
The 11th century Sun temple of Modhera is easily one of the finest examples
of devotional architecture in western India. The exterior of temple is carved
with traditional erotic scenes and images of many gods and goddesses, while
inside are friezes from epics like the Mahabharata portrayed on the pillars.
Patan (70 km)
The Rani-ki-Vav stepwell at Patan, built in the mid-11th century, is the
oldest and perhaps the grandest among the 120 odd step wells in Gujarat.
Its sculptures are impressive in quality and quantity. Patan is also a centre
for double ikat weaving, a technique used by only a few families to produce
valuable Patola fabrics, and Mashru weaving.
Jhinjhwada (19 km)
Jhinjhwada has the remains of an old fort of the Solanki dynasty that ruled
the area in the 11th and 12th centuries. The most impressive relic of the
fort is a huge gateway separating the village from the Rann of Kutch with
superb sandstone carvings.
Munsar Tank (30 km)
This 12th century tank on the outskirts of the walled town of Viramgam is
enclosed by scores of intricately carved temples.
Balaram-Ambaji
Sanctuary
Jessore
Wildlife Sanctuary
Desert
Sanctuary
INDIA
Palanpur
Rann of Kutch
Narayan Sarovar
Sanctuary
Patan
Wild Ass
Sanctuary
Bhuj
Little Rann of Kutch
DASADA
Thol
Bird Sanctuary
Kandla
Kutch Bustard
Sanctuary
Mandvi
Ahmedabad
Nalsarovar
Bird Sanctuary
Marine
National Park
Khijadia
Bird Sanctuary
Rajkot
Marine
Sanctuary
Jambughoda
Sanctuary
GUJARAT
Rampara
Sanctuary
Jamnagar
Gaga
Great Indian Bustard
Sanctuary
Mehsana
Ratanmahals
Sanctuary
Vadodara
Velavadar
National Park
Hingolgadh Nature
Education Sanctuary
Barda
Sanctuary
Porbandar
Porbandar
Bird Sanctuary
Bharuch
Bhavnagar
Shoolpaneshwar
Sanctuary
Junagadh
Gir
Sanctuary
Surat
Gir
National Park
Navsari
Rann Riders
Dasada 382750, District - Surendranagar,
Gujarat, India
Cell: +91 9925236014
Telefax: +91 2757 280257/280457
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Website: www.rannriders.com, www.littlerannofkutch.com
Valsad
Credits:
Photographs:
Dhritiman Mukherjee
Dinesh Shukla
Melwyn Patel
Yogendra Shah
Text:
Anil Mulchandani
Design:
Melwyn Patel
Culture and crafts Information:
Judy Frater
Printed:
Patel Printing Press
Purna
Sanctuary
Vansada
National Park