Kutch is a district of Gujarat, a state in western Indian. It is also spelled as Kachchh. It is the largest district of India. It covers an area of 45,652 square km. Kutch literally means something which becomes wet and dry in alternate manner. A major part of the district is known as Rann of Kutch. It is a shallow wetland. It remains underwater during the rainy season and becomes dry during other seasons. The same word means tortoise and garments worn while taking a bath, in the languages which originates from Sanskrit. The Rann is well-known for its marshy salt flats. Each season before the monsoon rains, they become snow white, as the shallow water dries up.
The district is also well-known for the ecologically important Banni grasslands along with the wetlands. The grasslands along with their seasonal marshy wetlands form the outer belt of Rann of Kutch. The Great and Small Rann of Kutch borders the northern and eastern parts of the Kutch District and the Gulf of Kutch and Arabian Sea surrounds the Kutch District in the south and west. The Rann of Kutch remained wetlands for most of the year, when there were not many dams built on its rivers and even at present the area stays wet for a sizeable part of the year. The principal language spoken in Kutch is the Kutchi language. Gujarati, Sindhi and Hindi are spoken to a lesser extent. Kutch language�s script has become extinct at present and now t is written in Gujarati script mainly. In the Kutch Museum the samples of Kutch script are available. Since Gujarati language is used as a medium of instruction in schools, the usage of the language has increased much. The Kutch language is regarded as a dialect of the Gujarati language sometimes. It is not true. The grammar of Kutch language is similar to that of Sindhi. It bears a lexical similarity with Gujarati.
Kachchh History
A, Samma Rajput branch called the Jadeja Rajputs founded Kutch in the late 13th century. It was previously an independent kingdom. Until the independence of India in 1947, the Jadeja dynasty ruled Kutch as well as most of the neighboring Kathiawar for several centuries. Kutch became a British protectorate and a princely state in 1815. The local ruler conceded to the British sovereignty in return for local autonomy. The capital of the Princely State of Kutch was Bhuj. The beautiful Aina Mahal, which was built in the 1760s at Bhuj for the Maharao, is one existing relic of the princely era. It was made by Ram Singh Malam, who had learnt glass, enamel and tile work from the Dutch. During this era, while the rest of the British India was using rupees, Kutch had its own currency. The Cutch State Railway was constructed by the Maharao at his own expense.
Kutch acceded into the dominion of India upon the Independence of India in 1947. It was constituted an independent commissionaire. It was formed as a state in 1950, inside the union of India. Chhotalal Khovshaldan Desai was made the first Chief Commissioner of Kutch State on June 1st in the year of 1948. Sambhajirao Appasaheb Ghatge succeeded him in 1952. He held the office till 31st October, 1956. Kutch state and Bombay State were merged on November 1st, 1956. In 1960 it was again divided into new linguistic states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. Kutch became a part of Gujarat State.
Kachchh Climate
Kachchh districts climate is very hot. The year is dominated by three seasons. First one is hot and humid season which stays from July to September. Second, the cold and dry season, which continue from October and ends in July. And third, the hot and dry climate, which prevails in the months between March and June.
Kachchh Tourism
The below mentioned places are some of sites of religious, historical or archeological importance, which are worth paying a visit.
Tourist places in Kachchh
Bhuj
Kotay
Mandvi
