We just came back from our Gujarat trip (Delhi-Ahmedabad-Kutch) and the highlight of our trip was visiting the Great Rann of Kutch and to witness the white desert. We have been planning this trip for the last 2 years but it could never materialize because of the high cost of transportation & accommodation since we were planning to visit during the Rann Utsav & staying in the tent city. In order to plan our trip within budget we simply ditched the idea of visiting during the festival.

Was it a good idea or we made a mistake? Read on to find out…

How to plan a perfect trip to the Rann of Kutch?

1. When to Visit
2. Transport
3. Accommodation
4. Packing
5. Research about the places to visit

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1- When to visit Kutch/Rann of Kutch?

This is the most important thing which you need to decide before anything else. There are only 2 best options, either visit during the Rann Utsav or visit just before the start of the festival.

The Rann Festival happens every year for 4 months (Nov-Feb) when the weather is much better than the rest of the year. This year Rann Utsav will begin from 28th October 2019 to 23rd February 2020 and you may get all the details of the festival from their official website, www.rannutsav.com

Since the packages offered are quite expensive, we decided to visit in mid-October just before the Rann Utsav, also to avoid the crowd. But we are surely going to visit the Rann Utsav soon.

2- How to reach Bhuj?

There are 3 ways to reach Bhuj from Delhi. First, reach Ahmedabad by flight.

We took a non-stop flight from Delhi to Ahmedabad which was quite cheap & took only 1 hr 30 mins to reach the destination.

Fare- 2200/- per person

From Ahmedabad, there are 3 options to reach Bhuj.

a) By Flight – Very costly (8k per person) but the fastest option available.

b) By Road – Take a cab, hire a self-drive car or take a bus (it will take 7-8 hrs)

c) By Train – We booked an overnight train (1st AC), no ticket for children below 5 yrs (fare- 1500 per person), it was the best option. Time to reach Bhuj – 7 hrs (11.59 pm – 7.00 am)

Bhuj Dadar Express – 1AC Coupe

3- Where to Stay?

Now, if you visit during the Rann Utsav, there are 2 options for stay. Either you book a complete package from the above-mentioned website where you get to stay in the tent city right at the Great Rann (all-inclusive package).

Or, you stay in the resort/hotel near the Rann of Kutch.

Or, you stay in Bhuj and you can visit the festival anytime.

Since we visited before the start of Rann Utsav, which was the low season, we could book the best resort just on the outskirts of Bhuj city. We checked the reviews online and also got recommendations for Regenta Resort, which is a luxury resort in Bhuj. I will do a detailed review post sharing our experience later (which was not as expected).

Heritage Huts at Regenta Resort, Bhuj

But yes, staying at the resort was much cheaper as compared to staying in the tent city. So, the choice is yours.

You may also want to read- Where to stay when visiting Pondicherry?

4- What to Pack?

Kutch is hot, very hot. And it may get very old during winter. We did check the temperature while planning our trip and assumed 35 degrees to be moderately hot. But, 35 degrees felt like 45 degrees in October, we were feeling tired without doing anything.

Kalo Dungar, highest point in Kutch

So, pack your bags accordingly. If you visit in Oct-

• Pack light-colored, loose, flowy breathable outfits
• Carry sunscreen, cap or scarf & sunglasses
• Wear comfortable shoes as you may have to walk a lot
• Keep a water bottle with you all the time
• Also, keep some empty space in your bag to pack your shopping bags later on

You may also want to read- What to pack for traveling smart?

5- Places to visit in Kutch?

First things first, plan an easy trip & don’t book any tour in advance. We booked a cab from the railway station to our resort, found his rates reasonable so we booked him for the next day as well. We finalized the place of interest on the same day itself. And we didn’t add more than 2 places to explore in a day in our itinerary.

Note- If you book a package at Rann Utsav, it includes your accommodation, food, transportation and sightseeing. So, you don’t have to worry about a thing.

We had 3 days in Kutch, so we decided to travel & explore the places during the first 2 days and spend the last day relaxing at the resort. But then a friend recommended one more place which we added in our itinerary on the last day. Here’s our easy kid-friendly itinerary-

Sunset at Mandavi Beach, Kutch

Day 1– We visited Kalo Dungar & Rann of Kutch

Day 2– We visited a Jain temple, Vijaya Vilas Palace & Mandavi beach

Last Day 3– Bhujodi

Out of all the above places, we would highly recommend visiting Rann of Kutch, Mandavi beach (the private beach), and Bhujodi.

Keep 4-5 hrs in hand to spend at these places and the best time to visit is after 4 pm.

I would request everyone to spend some time on researching about the places to visit, read blogs, check reviews, look at pictures & videos on Google. In short, try to get maximum information about what to expect to avoid disappointment later.

Vijay Vilas Palace, Mandavi

We always plan our trips keeping in mind the interests of our little boy. And, that’s why we avoid exploring temples, monuments, and museums which are of little or no interest for a 3-year-old.

Now the most important thing, if you noticed the first point I didn’t mention anything about the white desert. Because even if you visit during the Rann Utsav there is no guarantee you will get to see the white Rann.

We had no idea that we would find a white lake instead of the white desert in the Rann of Kutch. 

We knew the white desert was going to be the highlight of our trip. But we totally forgot to check what to expect in October. We usually call the hotel or the related authorities to check about the place & get an idea of what to expect there.

But this time we assumed a lot of things on our own. So, when we reached the Great Rann, we were highly disappointed to find no white desert. All the ground was covered in water from the season’s rainfall.

Sunset at Rann of Kutch, Rann covered in rainwater

We were told that this year Kutch received fairly good rainfall as compared to previous years hence all the water around. But later some of my friends informed me that it happens every year. If you want to see the actual white Rann, you should visit in December/January only after getting confirmation from the trusted sources.

Yes, we got sad to not find what we wanted to see but in the next moment, we were thrilled beyond measure to witness the most beautiful sunset right there in front of our eyes.

Here is the video of our Day 1 & Day 2 in Gujarat, do check it out-

So, that’s all about the Great Rann from our experience. I hope you find this post helpful in planning a perfect trip to Kutch.

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The post Visiting The Rann of Kutch? Here’s how to plan a perfect trip to Kutch appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

The most difficult thing to manage while traveling with babies & toddlers is their food. Hence, in this post, I’ll be sharing some of the best travel food tips which I’m sure will be helpful while planning a trip with kids. Also, I will be covering travel food tips for 0 to 3-year-old kids, which are the most difficult child stages when it comes to traveling.

When we talk about planning a vacation with kids, many moms start getting anxiety attacks. Because for them traveling with kids is not a vacation. It is still easy to manage kids at home however while traveling it becomes a herculean task for some. What if I tell you that with proper planning & the travel food tips am sharing, you too can enjoy your vacation to the best?

If you have been following me for some time now, then you must be aware of how much we love traveling with Nemit. We have traveled extensively with our son (who is presently 3 years old) since he was a little baby.

And with experience, we have learned a lot of travel tricks which I love sharing with my friends & readers. So, without wasting any further time, let’s get back on with the topic. And help you plan a perfect vacation.

You may also read- How to plan a kid-friendly holiday?

I am categorizing the travel food tips according to age from baby to infant to toddler as every stage has a different food need.

1- Travel Food Tips when traveling with a baby (1 to 6 months old)

It is usually said that the mother & the baby should stay at home & take rest for the first 45 days after delivery. Since the newborn babies are prone to infections as their immune systems are not fully developed. And, mothers need time to recover & regain energy.

20-days-old Nemit

But, this is also the time when we mothers feel the most restless & just want to run away from all the hectic & sleepless schedule. If you happen to plan a vacation when your baby is in the age group 1 to 6 months old, you actually don’t have to think much if you are exclusively breastfeeding.

In case, you are using bottle feeds (either pumped milk or formula milk), I would suggest you to either skip traveling for the first 6 months. Or, not to travel far & long. Simply because there will be a lot to pack. But, if you can manage that, then go ahead & have fun!

Tips for traveling with bottle fed babies

• Carrying a sterilizer is a must
• Pack at least 3 bottles (or more) depending on how much time you will be spending outdoors
• Don’t forget to carry the powder dispenser (if the baby is on formula feed)
• Also, a flask to carry hot water while on the move

Nemit’s 1st road trip (2-months-old)

Nemit’s 1st official long road trip was when he was 2 months old. We literally had to pack the whole house in our bags even though he was exclusively breastfed. So, plan wisely! Try staycation instead of a vacation.

2- Travel Food Tips when traveling with an infant (6 to 12 months old)

Once your baby starts semi-solids, it’s a good time to take them out on a vacation. However, you will still have to pack a lot since their food needs a lot of preparation.

Now, again if you are breastfeeding, your load of packing will lessen down. But, there’s no hiding if your baby takes the bottle feed.

The good part is you can plan the weekend getaways or a small vacation if you have just introduced solids & following the 3-day rule. So, you can just carry on with the breast/bottle/formula feed & give mashed bananas or any other fruit in between feeds.

Nemit’s 2nd long trip was Goa when he was 7 months old & that was also his first flight experience.

Goa Trip (7-months-old)

Tips for traveling with infants

• Do pack the above-mentioned things if your baby takes the bottle feed
• Carrying a sterilizer is still a must
• Also, keep a small bowl, spoon & a masher (all sterilizable)
• Give fruits which can be peeled off (banana, mango, chikoo, papaya, etc)
• You can also carry baby food such as cerelac (homemade cerelac is a great option)
• For 8 month+ babies, you can carry snacks as well, very helpful to keep them occupied (carry teething snacks is also a great option if your baby is teething)

Don’t experiment with outside food for your baby, give only freshly cut fruits & homemade food/snacks.

I would suggest not to give any packaged food to babies at least for a year. Also, avoid sugar & salt.

3- Travel Food Tips when traveling with a toddler (1 to 2 years old)

Most babies start walking around 12-18 months. They get more curious & interested in exploring their surroundings. You can easily carry them in a stroller & they will enjoy the ride as well as the experience.

Nemit’s 1st International Trip (12-months-old)

We planned an International trip to Malaysia for celebrating Nemit’s 1st birthday. We went completely prepared & had a great vacation.

Maldives Trip (13-months-old)

That made us plan another International trip to the Maldives just after a month & that too was super amazing.

Next vacation was a 10 day trip to Kerala when Nemit was 19 months old.

Kerala Trip (19-months-old)

At this age, babies don’t remember anything but they enjoy a lot if the plans are made keeping their comfort & needs in mind. A year old baby starts eating almost everything. Most parents even start giving them the same food that the family eats. We did the same & that helped a lot. Just carry the travel essentials and you are sorted.

Tips for traveling with young toddlers

• No need to carry the sterilizer anymore, make sure you clean the bottles & bowls with hot water immediately after feeding & again clean with boiling water before next feed.
• Let your toddler eat whatever food is available, do check for excess salt/sugar/chilly. Also, make sure that your baby is not allergic to any food item.
• If they don’t like the food, ask for bread, plain rice, baked beans, baked potatoes, french fries (these are easily available)
• Carry a lot of snacks with you (preferably homemade & healthy)
• Fruits are always a savior (at least in our case)

4- Travel Food Tips when traveling with a toddler (2 to 3 years old)

As per our experience, 2 to 3 years old toddler stage is the best when it comes to traveling & exploring new places. These little humans are just amazing if we can just ignore their tantrums. They love everything & enjoy every new experience.

For us, 2018 turned out to be really amazing as we were able to achieve most of our travel goals. We traveled to 9 new places in India in just 1 year. Check out our travel list below-

1. Jan – Andaman Islands
2. Feb- Jim Corbett National Park
3. May- Kasauni
4. July- Udaipur & Mt. Abu
5. Aug- Pondicherry
6. Oct- Kashmir (Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonmarg)
7. Nov- Kaziranga National Park & Meghalaya (Shillong, Cherrapunjee, Dawki)
8. Dec- Mukteshwar & Nainital
9. Dec- Manali (Solang Valley)

By this list, you must have gotten an idea of how much we’d enjoyed traveling with our toddler. We packed only 2 medium sized bags even for the longest vacation & we survived.

Also, we didn’t carry any specific food items with us except some of Nemit’s favorite snacks. And, we even allowed him to eat packaged snacks, cookies & chocolates (for the first time ever once he completed 2 years, and in limit). Only because, we wanted to travel light.

So, in my opinion, this toddler stage is the best to plan vacations, road trips & adventure trips. They will enjoy every bit of it & you can be totally stress-free.

However, always be prepared for any difficult situation which may arrive while traveling. Stay calm & focussed while dealing with any such problem.

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I have only 1 tip to share here-

If you really wish to travel care-free with your baby, start a routine early on. This may include following a sleep schedule for babies & maintaining good eating habits soon after they start solids. Also, the more you travel with your baby, the more they get used to the changed environment & new faces.

Another important tip for booking hotel/resort-

We recently traveled to Krabi, Thailand with our 3-year-old & stayed at an Airbnb villa with an attached kitchenette. So far, this was our best stay, we carried all ready to cook meals (rotis, parathas, biryani, dal, rajma, noodles & pasta) with us. And, prepared everything on our own. So there was no need for cutting & chopping veggies and no wasting time while cooking. And, we saved around 30k in our budget by not eating out at the restaurant.

Booking an Airbnb is also a great option when traveling with infants, as you can prepare baby food easily. You can even skip carrying a sterilizer since you can simply boil baby’s bottles, bowl & spoons.

I hope I’ve answered all your travel-food related questions. If you still have any queries, you can write them down in the comments below. Or, can simply DM me on Instagram (where I’m most active).

You can also follow us on social media to know more about our travel & expeditions –

Instagram – @growing_with_nemit

Facebook – @growingwithnemit

Twitter – @growingwitnemit

YouTube – Growing With Nemit

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