Little Rann of Kutch – A Memorable Trip to Explore Indian Wild Ass

This year in the month of February, I visited Little Rann of Kutch with my family. After visiting Gir, I was damn excited to head to Little Rann, the only and last habitat of Indian Wild Ass.

In case you don’t know, Little Rann of Kutch is a huge marshland of salt in western India. The Little Rann of Kutch, Great Rann and Banni grasslands are located in Kutch district and stretched over 30,000 sq. km. It is well known as the last and only refuge to Khur “Indian Wild Ass” in the world. The government has announced it the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary for its conservation. This bleak landscape is an ecologically vital landscape and bio-diverse area for its wildlife. You can spot a lot of migratory and local water bids in winters. If you are getting here in summer, bear in mind that it is one of the hottest regions in India. The temperature soars around 41°C in summer and peaks up to 49.5°C. On the other side, it drops to 0 °C in winter.

We started our journey on Friday morning from Ahmedabad. Our stay was located around 130 km from the city. There are different ways to access this desert area. We reached the camp by 2PM when our tummies were growling. We halted at our vivid round shaped huts, got fresh and prepared for lunch. The hotel staff served lunch. After having lunch, we returned back to our rooms for some rest. At 4.30PM, we had to leave our accommodation for evening safari.

After driving a few kilometers, we found the artificial white salt mounds. From the salt pans, the salt is deposited and goes to the factory for processing. A lot of dumpers and tractors carry it along. We spotted Nilgai in the bushes somewhere around a few meters away. Nilgais are a bit taller than goats. India has over 6 types of antelopes and Nilgai is the one found here. Others are Gazelle (known for their curvy and long horns), Sambar, Spotted deers, Black Buck and Chinkara.

Finally on the next stop, we found a herd of Wild Ass around a few meters away. They have vast brown spots on white skin. You can spot the males with their hide’s color. The females have whiter hides than that of males. These animals can survive in extreme temperatures of the desert. The temperature reaches over 49 degrees C in summer. The camp opens only from October to mid of March. We got to know that Asian Wild Ass has three varieties along with Indian Wild Ass. And three of them are found in Persia, Turkey, and Mongolia.

Next day, we left the camp around 12 PM and had a buffet lunch at a restaurant. Finally, we reached Ahmedabad by evening.

Phone: +918010450000
Email: info@asianadventures.in
https://linktr.ee/aatoursandlodges

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Taj Mahal Agra – Know the History, Architecture and Other Info

On our North India tour specially designed for the elderly, we will visit Agra on route to Bharatpur. Our guests will get a lovely experience at the Taj and you will know why it is lovingly called “Wah Taj”. It is a lifetime experience.  This ancient monument still shines like new even after 400 years since it was first built. It is beautifully described as “The embodiment of all things pure” by Rudyard Kipling. This masterpiece truly echoes its glory and beauty as a true reflection of romantic poetry. It attracts millions of tourists from all parts of the world each year and leaves them in awe with its endless beauty.

History

Our experienced guide will take you on a tour of the monument ‘The Taj mahal’ which was built by Shah Jahan, a Mughal ruler, in the loving memory of Mumtaz Mahal, his wife. While giving birth to a 14th child, his wife died in 1631. She was the third wife of Shah Jahan and he was madly in love with her. The emperor got so depressed by her death that his hair turned grey in one night. The construction of the Taj started in 1632 and the whole monument was built in its existing form in 1653. Unfortunately, his son Aurangzeb jailed him in Agra Fort soon after he built the Taj, where he lived the rest of his life. In 1666, Shah Jahan died and buried along with Mumtaz in the Taj.

In 1983, the Taj Mahal has declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and became the “Jewel of Muslim architecture in India and one of the most admired masterpieces in the world”. It took over 20000 artisans from different parts of Central India, India and Europe to build this masterpiece.

 The Architecture

The Mughal Charbagh outside the Taj is an ornamental garden. The elevated marble platform is built on the northern part of the complex where mausoleum stands. This white minaret is 40m high which really adorns each corner of the platform.

The ornate structure is made of white marble at the main entrance. The arches have beautiful walls and ceilings with geometrical patterns. There are two red sandstone complexes.

Quick Facts

It took over 1000 elephants to transport construction materials to build the Taj.

There are 28 different varieties of semi-precious and precious stones used on the inlay work of marble

The white marble was ordered from Makrana, Rajasthan, jasper from Punjab, the crystal and jade from China, turquoise from Tibet, carnelian from Arabia, Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan, and sapphire from Sri Lanka

Entry Gates and Timings

Main Gate (Western Side) – Entry starts an hour before the sun rises until 45 minutes before sunset

Eastern Gate – Same as Western Gate

Southern Gate – Exit only.

Note – Taj Mahal doesn’t open on Fridays. The monument allows entry of both Indians and foreigners on all days of the week.

Phone: +918010450000
Email: info@asianadventures.in
https://linktr.ee/aatoursandlodges

E: info@asianadventures.in 

M: +91 8010450000

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