Kutch

Kutch is indeed the crème de la crème of the places if you want to explore Gujarat. The sumptuous cuisine, cultural marvel, and architectural grandeur make it difficult for you to leave the city. Since Kutch lies on the India-Pakistan border, you can see parts of Pakistan from here.

Winters is the best time to visit Kutch, from November to February. The long winter evenings reflect the moon's light on white sands, giving it an artistic appeal. In addition, the famous Rann of Kutch festival takes place, boasting its remarkable glory.

The second most important determinant of how your trip goes, after climate, is where you should go. Be it for a short period or a long one, there are places in Kutch that must be visited for a memorable sojourn into a cultural lifestyle.

You must have heard about the Rann of Kutch in your geography classes, but seldom did they cover the humbling beauty of the place. The massive deposits of salt in the area give it a surreal appeal. One can spot the beautiful city in various Bollywood films like Ramleela and Refugee.

Kutch Museum has some extinct scripts like the Kutchi Script and ancient coins in its inventory if you want to explore Kutch from a historical viewpoint. There are also paintings, arms, and embroidered pieces marveling at the cultural lifestyle.

The Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary inhabits animals like cormorants, wild boards, porcupines, and black-necked storks, making it a popular tourist attraction. There are also jeep safaris available here. Another reason to visit Kutch is the Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary, which is the largest saline wetland area. It preserves several species of birds, wild ass, and flamingos.

History of Kutch

The history of Kutch takes us back to prehistoric times. Several sites are related to the Indus valley civilization in the region, and it is in Hindu mythology. The region gets its mention in Greek writings during the reign of Alexander the Great. It was ruled by Menander I of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom, which was then overthrown by Indo-Scythians. The region was later under the Maurya Empire and Sakas.

For three centuries, Kutch was divided and ruled by three different branches of the Jadeja brothers. In the sixteenth century, Kutch was unified under Rao Khengarji I of these branches, and his direct descendants ruled for two centuries and had a good relationship with the Gujarat Sultanate and Mughals. One of his descendants, Rayadhan II, left three sons, of whom two died, and a third son, Pragmal Ji took over the state and founded the current lineage of rulers at the start of the seventeenth century. 

The state accepted the sovereignty of the British East India Company in 1819 when Kutch was defeated in battle. That same year, the state was devastated by an earthquake. The state stabilized and flourished in business under subsequent rulers. Upon the independence of India in 1947, Kutch acceded unto the dominion of India and was constituted an independent commissionaire. It was made a state within the union of India in 1950.

Culture and Food

The language spoken predominantly in the Kutch district is Kutchi, classified as a dialect of Sindhi. A common misconception is that it is a dialect of Gujarati. The script of the Kutchi language has become extinct. It is now mainly written in the Gujarati script. Samples of Kutch script are available in the Kutch Museum. The increased use of the Gujarati language is primarily because it is a medium of instruction in schools.

Because most of the population of the Kutch district is Hindu or Jain, the food of the region is mainly vegetarian. Jains also refrain from eating root vegetables (kandmool in Hindi) such as potatoes, garlic, onions, and yams. The district also features a sizeable population of Muslims, who eat vegetables, chicken, mutton, and occasionally camel meat. In the villages of the district, staple foods include kadi-khichdi, milk, and Bajra (pearl millet). 

Art of Kutch City

Kutch is one of the most prolific regions in India in the area of textile art. Kutch embroidery is dense with motifs, and a variation with mirrors into the embroidery is one of the signature arts of this region.

Within the category of Kutch embroidery, there are several sub-categories as each tribe and sub-tribe produces a unique signature form of art.

Kutch embroidery is an evolving expression of the craft and textile traditions of the Rabaris, a nomadic tribe in Gujarat. Kutch embroidery is unique in the sense that a net is woven on a cloth using thread. The net is then filled in using the same thread by intricate interlocking stitches. The patterns are usually built around geometric shapes. This embroidery follows its own traditional design logic and juxtaposition of colors and motifs. 

The Rohanas tribals of Kutch specialize in skirt work. The Sodhas use a geometric style for their embroidery. The Garacia Jats are experts in tiny embroidery on the yoke, which intermingles with red, orange, blue, and green threads. The Dhanetah Jats love embroidering broad pear-shaped mirrors using orange, black, yellow, and red in chain stitch.