Banni grasslands, Kutch
The Banni Grasslands form a belt of arid grassland on the southern edge of the Great Rann of Kutch, north of Bhuj, spread over about 3,847 square kilometres. The land was built up from silt carried by the Indus and other rivers, and it was first declared a protected forest in 1955. Maldhari herding communities live in around forty hamlets here, and villages such as Hodka, Dhordo and Bhirandiyara lie within Banni.
In years of good rain, seasonal wetlands across the grasslands become staging grounds for flamingos, common cranes, painted storks and spoonbills, with migrants present from August to March. The largest of these wetlands is Chhari Dhand. Banni is also home to nilgai, chinkara, Indian wolf, caracal and desert fox. Winter mornings on the drive between Bhuj and the White Rann are a good time to look for birds.
- How to Reach: The road from Bhuj to Dhordo and the White Rann runs through Banni. Hire a taxi from Bhuj, as public transport into the grasslands is limited.
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