Tent City, Rann Utsav.
After the reception at Bhuj Railway Station, Tent City Ran Utsav, we boarded a bus for Tent City. A water bottle and a bag with snacks and a soft drink were handed over to each guest. The bus was air-conditioned, and the seats were comfortable.
The distance from Bhuj Railway Station to Tent City is about 80 odd kilometres and takes about 2 hours plus, with a stop at Bhirandiara village in front of Malhar Mava Centre. Mava sold here was highly recommended by our guide. What we got was wet kalakand. “Mawa” is different from wet kalakand, which is a processed sweet made from mawa.
The road was not too good; the reason could be that the heavy traffic was made up of an almost endless convoy of huge 12 to 16-wheeler heavy-duty trucks, which were carrying salt from the salt flats of the vast Rann of Kutch and heavy machinery for wind and solar energy generation for Adani companies.
Reached Tent City after 2 and a half hours. There is a reception tent near the bus parking. Here, the staff informs you of the cluster and the tent number reserved for you while the luggage is unloaded. The luggage is to be identified for the staff so that it can be tagged with your name, your cluster and the tent number.
After the luggage is looked after, you approach the impressive main gate, there is welcome by men performing on the stilts and traditional Gujrati folk dances with music of drums and dholak.
The main reception is in one of the few permanent buildings in this vast resort, where all the other accommodation and facilities are made up of more than 350 to 400 tents and is rightly called the Tent City.
Here you are welcomed with a tilak and a welcome drink. Various groups are separately briefed about accommodation, the dining hall where they are to have their meals, meal timings, and the itinerary during their stay, depending on the length of their stay, eg, one night, two nights or three nights, etc. Our briefing was for a three-night stay. Our tents were tents 1 to 4 in the PM cluster, and the dining hall was the VIP dining hall. Our first engagement was a trip to Sunset View Point Number 2 at 4:30 PM. After this, we were transported to our tents in an E-V cart called “Buggy”. At the PM cluster, we were introduced to a staff member who was in charge of the cluster. He was our go-to man in case of any problem/ requirement during our stay.
The PM cluster had a total of 13 tents, of which 8 were Ac Prime Deluxe, 4 were Rajbari, and one was Durbari Tent. The pricing climbs as we move from Prime to Rajbari, to Darbari tents, which are the costliest. There were two smaller and one central, bigger gazebo, and an elevated machine-like structure in the PM cluster.
Our tent was spacious, clean, and very well furnished, including a mini refrigerator. The bathroom and toilet were clean with hot and cold running water. The tent had all the paraphernalia normally provided in a room by a four/five star hotel. Very pleasant and comfortable.
Vip dining hall was very close to our cluster, so we walked down there and had lunch. The meals at The Tent City Rann Utsav are strictly Vegetarian. They are inclusive, elaborate buffets (breakfast, lunch, high tea, and dinner) featuring, primarily, authentic vegetarian Kutchi and Gujarati cuisine, with Jain and Continental options available. Dining is included in the package pricing.
After lunch went back to the tent and relaxed. At the appointed time had high tea. In the evening went to Sunset View Point number two. After returning from the sunset viewpoint, we had dinner and went to see the cultural programme.
For the next two days went to see Mandavi Beach and Kala Dunger trips as per the itinerary included in the package. On day two, rather than attend a yoga session, we hired two taxis and went to see The Road To Haven. But about those, and observations/ critical comments about those, at some other time and not in this write-up about Tent City, Rann Utsav.
The Rann Utsav at Tent City had been running for a few years. Those running the show have learned their lessons well. All the normal glitches, the weak points and where things can normally go wrong have all been identified, and measures have been taken to ensure that such things do not happen. As a result, right from the time we reported to the reception point at Bhuj Railway Station, the transit to The Tent City, Reception at Tent City, briefing there, transit to the cluster and downloading of your luggage at your tent, each event went flawlessly and everything worked smoothly like a well-oiled machine.
We were to witness the same near-perfect, efficient functioning of their system during our departure on the last day. Tagging and loading of luggage, transit from The Tent City to The Smriti Van, Earthquake museum, though the entry ticket was not included in the package, and lastly, the drop off at the airport went flawlessly and smoothly like a well-oiled machine.
Overall, it was a very pleasant and enjoyable trip. Highly recommended.
First view of the impressive entry gate of the Tent City.
This photo of the entry gate of the Tent City was taken on the move from the bus on the move.
First view of the impressive entry gate of the Tent City.
This photo of the entry gate of the Tent City was taken on the move from the bus on the move.
First view of the impressive entry gate of the Tent City.
This photo of the entry gate of the Tent City was taken on the move from the bus on the move.
Huge and festive "Ran Utsav" cutout near the reception and bus park at Tent City.
The main entry gate of The Tent City.
The Rann Utsav Tent City in Dhordo, Kutch, is a seasonal, luxurious pop-up township featuring over 350 to 450+ high-quality, air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned tents. Organised in clusters, identified/ named by alphabet, except one cluster, which is named PM Cluster,
Main entry gate of The Tent City.
Welcome by men performing on the stilts and traditional Gujrati folk dances with music of drums and dholak.
Rann Utsav Tent City.
Very well laid out, clean. Nicely signposted. Traditional decor and artworks
Plenty of shopping.
The tower is a very prominent landmark.
Rann Utsav.
One of the shopping complexes.
Reception cum Meeting Hall. Tent City.
Traditional welcome with a 'tilak'.
Reception at Rann Utsav Tent City.
Imposing and beautiful Tower, a very prominent landmark, on the lines of victory towers erected it Chittorgarh and other places.
Rann Utsav Tent City.
Bedroom Premium a/c Tent.
We stayed in one.
Rann Utsav Tent City.
Drawing cum sitting room of our Premium a/c Tent.
Rann Utsav Tent City.
Elevated machan-like structure in the "PM-cluster" where we stayed.
Nice place to spend some peaceful time at dwan and in the evenings.
Also used for private celebrations.
Grass thatched central gazabo and two smaller ones in the background, in PM cluster.
View of outside landscape from an elevated machan-like structure in the "PM-cluster" where we stayed.
On the left is VIP dining. On the right, tents no. 1 and 2 in the PM cluster.
Rann Utsav Tent City.
VIP Dining Hall.
Artwork at Tent City.
The statues showcase traditional Kutchi attire, often representing the local male population wearing turbans (paghadi) and long white coats (angrakha).
Artwork at Tent City.
The image shows traditional sculptures depicting local Kutchi rural life and aesthetics.
Artwork at Tent City.
The large sculptures depict traditional Kutchi figures, representing the local culture and heritage showcased during the festival.
Enjoying the calm, gentle cool breeze. Total relaxation.
Central gazebo, PM cluster Tent City.
Part of the Tent City at night.
On our first day at Tent City, on the way to witness the cultural Show.
On the next two days, we were taken on excursions to Mandova Beach and Kala Dunger, and returned after 9:00 PM.
Did not see any other shows.
Feel short-changed so far as cultural programmes are concerned.
On our first day at Tent City witnessing the cultural show.
The stage was too far to see the facial expressions and the performance properly.
Definitely, viewing can be made better by removing what appears to be a dance floor.
On our first day at Tent City witnessing the cultural show.
The stage was too far to see the facial expressions and the performance properly.
Definitely, viewing can be made better by removing what appears to be a dance floor.
Shifted to the front row when we told them that we were from the Defence Forces. The stage is still a bit too far for proper viewing.
A selfie in the Tent City Bus.
The seats were quite comfortable. The A/C was working in good order.
The bus rides were comfortable.
360-degree view of PM Cluster and its surroundings.
Typical lunch and dinner buffet spread at VIP dining hall.
Typical Sweet/ Dessert served at lunch/ dinner at VIP dining hall.
