Maruti Suzuki S-Cross: I Chased the Sunset All the Way to the White Rann

More often than not, an individual's traits are shaped by their childhood. So was mine; much like a lot of folks, I feel an undeniable love for travelling. It feels like freedom. When I was young, my folks would set out on vacations a few times every year though they were mostly limited to Northern India. So I decided to set out in a different direction this time - Rann of Kutch, to be precise.

As most people know, Rann of Kutch hosts a three month-long festival, Rann Utsav, every year. Organised from December till March, the colourful festival seeks to offer a glimpse of not only the picturesque beauty of its setting, but also of the local culture, craftsmanship, and its rustic life. While there are several modes of transport that will get you there, I stuck with my favourite and Maruti Suzuki was kind enough to lend me the 1.3-litre Maruti Suzuki S-Cross. Tent City, Dhordo is roughly 1,200Km away from Delhi, which contributed to one of the most charming bits of the vacation - a long drive.

After causing much envy among colleagues and friends alike, the drive started on a Saturday morning from Delhi. People who have frequented the Delhi - Jaipur highway would agree that it is not the most pleasant stretch to drive on; as if the roads and the traffic aren't enough, you must also deal with uncouth drivers. To say that I was relieved after that stretch might be a bit of an understatement. With that being said, I must say that the situation improved by great measure soon after Jaipur.

Kishangarh and Ajmer passed by pretty quickly and soon we were nearing Barr. Deemed the midway between Jaipur and Jodhpur, Barr is home to the New Jodhpur Sweets & Namkeen shop that is renowned for its 'pyaj ki kachori'. A quick stop and two hours later Sumerpur was in sight. The knobby Sumerpur Road gives way to the Sirohi - Abu road, which is a rather fine one to drive on. Interestingly, there's a tunnel too and tunnels somehow make me feel like a 5 year-old. Fascinated, I alighted from the car to click pictures, much like a handful of other people at the spot.

A rather embarrassing photo session later, I was back on the road and crossed into Gujarat soon. And boy, was I in for a surprise! I have heard people go on and on about the roads in Gujarat, but I don't think I realised the extent till I was driving there. Imagine this: straight, wide, and creamy roads and not a single unruly driver. Feels pretty great, doesn't it?

I must admit I was itching to stop over, but wasn't exactly in the mood to break the momentum. Long story short, a break didn't happen till we crossed Palanpur, Deesa, and finally reached Radhanpur. A quick survey of Google Maps claimed I was a little over 300Km away from White Rann. To be honest, accomplishment of such milestones on long journeys are an excellent medium of an adrenaline rush.

All this while the Maruti Suzuki S-Cross gave me no trouble, but the 1.3-litre motor tends to feel a tad insufficient in the power department as you drive on roads that are so good that it is almost boring.

Sadly, my happy high wasn't to last.

As the afternoon slowly began to give way to the evening, I crossed Santalpur, Palasava, Chitrod, and Bhachau while continuing the drive to Bhuj - my stopover for the night. Then came the Bhuj - Bhachau highway, and it was quite unlike what Gujarat had offered me up till then. 80-odd-kilometre in length, the starting stretch of the single-lane highway was under construction, whereas the rest of it was laced with bumps, potholes and oodles of traffic. Then again, I had the sight of the setting sun to bring a smile to my face.

I reached Bhuj by 7:30PM and called it a night almost as soon as I checked in. A good night's sleep was all I needed at that point.

The next morning, after feasting on the breakfast buffet, I was evidently eager to reach the White Desert. I was only 89Km away from, what I was told will be one of the most colourful congregation I will ever see.

En-route, I came across parched land that flanked the one-lane road that lead to Dhordo city. My intrigue at that point in time was mostly fuelled by the fact I had only seen this either in books, on TV or via digital mediums. It is funny, the kind of emotions such sights can provoke out of an adult.

After a few minutes of "Holy Mother of God" and "would you look at that" later, I got back on the road, determined to reach the promised land without any more stops in between. And reach the Tent City I did, only to be informed that it was sold out.

P.S: I was smart enough to not make reservations in advance.

As much as I wished to stay in the Tent City, I had no choice but to take up lodging in another resort. In case you were wondering, that area is dotted with several resorts, so there is no dearth of options. Also, my disappointment about not being able to stay in the Tent City didn't last long.

I had been led to believe Rann Utsav would be a lively festival replete with live artisans, soulful cultural performances and whatnot. It was barely any of that. The Tent City is the hub of the festival, but the catch is that it is merely your run-of-the-mill 'mela'. Sure, there were live performances that only people staying in the Tent City were privy to, but the performers were not exclusive to that place. Also, the marketplace and the food courts were open to all.

Moving on, there are several places around Dhordo that have far more to offer. Take Kala Dungar for example; 50Km away, it is the highest point in Kutch and affords stunning views of the Rann.

Then there's Gandhi nu Gam, where you will actually get to meet the craftsmen. Though I must tell you, they do not allow you to photograph them. If you are ever in Rann, I strongly advise that this one figures on your 'must-visit' list. And if you are feeling adventurous, there's also the Flamingo City though it isn't accessible via a car all the way.

I saved the coveted White Desert for the evening. While both, sunrise and sunset, are a sight from the White Rann, locals suggest the latter, if you need to choose between the two. If you decide to visit the sunset via the means provided by the resort, you are sorted. Individually, you need a permit to visit the 'largest salt desert in the world'.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki S-Cross Review

Another item off my travel list, I set off to return to Delhi the next morning.

As delightful as the Rann of Kutch is, I must admit I wasn't charmed by the Utsav. However, the surrounding places were undoubtedly worth the 2,600Km of driving spread over 4 and a half days.

Things to keep in mind while visiting the Rann of Kutch:

1. If you are visiting the Rann Utsav, make reservations online.

2. While using a navigation device, it may help to know that NH14 has been renamed to NH27. Some systems, including Google Maps, still use NH14 to refer to that stretch.

3. Obtain permit to visit the White Rann if it hasn't been pre-arranged by your resort

4. Be especially careful while driving on the Bhuj-Bhachau highway and on the road to Kala Dungar.

5. No network issues anywhere except in Dhordo and Kala Dungar.

6. Also, keep change handy for you will come across a lot of toll plazas. In fact, in Gujarat you will come across one after every 60-70Km.