Kutch is an
erstwhile princely state of India. It is
the largest district of the state of Gujarat
and the second largest district in India
covering an area of 45,612 sq kms. The land
is virtually 'an island' resembling a tortoise
"Katchua or Kachbo", surrounded
by seawater. Kutch was also known as the
kutchdweep or Kutchbet." The Great
Rann of Kutch" which dominates a major
portion of the district. The Great Rann
of Kutch and the Little Rann of Kutch respectively-uninhabitable
deserts which during the monsoon season
(June to October) is often completely submerged
by floods.
Area
:
45, 612 sq. km.
State
:
Gujarat.
Location
:
West Coast of India.
Kutch is divided
into 5 distinct regions :
(i) The Great Rann, or uninhabited wasteland
in the north,
(ii) The Grasslands of Banni,
(iii) Mainland, consisting of planes, hills
and dry river beds,
(iv) The Coastline along the Arabian Sea
in the south
(v) Creeks and mangroves in the west. More
loosely, the southern portion of the Rann
is considered an island, with seawater inundating
the land for most of the year. The mainland
is generally plane, but has some hill ranges
and isolated hills.
Talukas
of Kutch :
Bhuj, Anjar, Mandvi, Mundra, Abdasa-Nalia,
Lakhpat, Rapar, Bhachau and Nakhatrana
Demographic
distribution :
Number of villages - 950
Seismic
History :
The earliest earthquake recorded in Kutch
dates back to 16th June 1819. Since then,
over 90 earthquakes of varying intensity
have struck the region, but none as severe
as the most recent one, 26th January 2001.
Climate
:
Extreme climate & temperature ranges
from 20 C in winter to 450 C in summer.
Rainfall is very less while average annual
rainfall - 14 inches.
The three main seasons are:
(i) Summer, from February to June,
(ii) Monsoon season, from July to September,
(iii) Winter, from October to January.
Languages
:
Gujarati, Hindi, and local dialects like
Kutchi
Best
Time to Visit :
Late October to early April
Wild
Life :
The home of the last remaining population
of khur (wild ass) in India. There is also
a bird population, particularly of the large
flamingos. Both are protected in 5,000 km
Little Rann Sanctuary, near Dhangadhra;
one has to get permission to enter from
the sanctuary superintendent's office in
Dhangadhra.
