Chasing the Mirage – A Journey Through The Wildlands of Little Rann of Kutch

Lesser flamingo silhouetted against the setting sun

Rann of Kutch is a place where you are surrounded by expansive cracked land in all directions. An occasional sight of a thorny shrub or a raptor circling in the blue skies is all that you can see as far as your eyes reach. Such is the vastness of this area, that once you get inside the desert, it is almost impossible to navigate your way without an experienced guide.

 The extreme temperatures at Rann produce mirage, making the land shimmer in shiny illusions of water bodies. The mirage combined with vast arid lands meeting clear blue skies makes this landscape surreal. However, such a barren and desolate area has a very unique ecosystem.

 These virtually inhospitable lands are home to some of the rare and elusive species of mammals, birds and reptiles. These species have adapted themselves to the saline plains and extreme temperatures. Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary in Little Rann of Kutch is the last refuge to the Indian wild ass (Ghudkhur). Endemic to Rann, the Indian wild ass is one of the fastest animals in India and photographing them at sunset with their chestnut coats shining in golden light is one of a kind experience for wildlife lovers.

Indian wild ass mare with her foal

Along with them, predators like a striped hyena, wolf, jungle cat and desert fox are also seen in this area. LRK is a haven for birdwatchers and wildlife photographers. During winters, the wetlands host large numbers of bird species like Demoiselle cranes, Lesser flamingos, Great white pelicans along with the grassland rarities like MacQueen’s bustard and Short-eared owl.

Pugmark of Striped hyena imprinted in the cracked Rann land

Apart from wildlife photography, LRK provides an excellent opportunity for other genres of photography like landscape, Astro and portrait. The clear skies of Rann surrounded by a non-polluted environment and unique landscapes allow astrophotographers to shoot incredible images of the milky way and star trails. LRK is home to the nomadic Rabari tribe. Rabaris are pastoralists and shepherds and are known for their unique embroidery work. They are also known for constructing vibrantly decorated mud houses called Bhunga. Rabaris live challenging lives but still carry welcoming smiles on their faces. Photographing these expressions produce eye-catching portraits; an opportunity to look deep within these souls.

The isolated environment of Rann gives us an opportunity to introspect. The surrounding nature conveys a sense of how trivial our issues are compared to this vast universe. A photographer should always explore the new arenas to broaden his vision and places like Little Rann of Kutch is one of them which will leave you spellbound. So grab your camera, step out in the wilderness and discover the unknown.

Black-winged stilt framed through the dried shrubs