Food and culture trail to the Little Rann of Kutch September 2019
April 19, 2020
Muzahid Malik of Rann Riders invited all FEA members to Rann Riders for an experience of regional food. The purpose of the trail was to bring the spotlight to such rural areas where tourism can provide valuable revenue to vulnerable populations.
The trail started at Gopi Dining Hall where FEA members gathered for a delightful Gujarati breakfast hosted by Dilip and Raju Thakkar. From here it was a drive of about 2 hours to Rann Riders, an ethnically designed resort that imaginatively combines traditional rural architecture and use of indigenous materials with modern conveniences. Here, we were introduced to the handicrafts of the region like Rabari embroidery from Dasada, Tangaliyo weaving and ikat weaving from nearby villages, and kalamkari work of the Matani Pacchedi artists from Viramgam.
Muzahid hospitably opened cottages for guests to rest and freshen up before lunch which was a generous buffet covering multiple cuisines but with a focus on the regional food – Kathiawadi food of the villages and the Mughlai food of the Malik Jagirdars. Colourfully dressed women from the village were rolling out bajara rotlas and kebabs were grilled or tava-fried at a station designed in traditional style. A surprise for many was the fish called pala, hilsa or ilish.
The hilsa is an anadromous fish that is born in fresh water, spends most of its life in the sea and returns to fresh water to spawn. Three species of this fish, Tenualosa ilisha, Tenualosa toli and Hilsa kelee, are known to spawn in Gujarat’s rivers. They spawn in the Rann during the monsoon when the salt flats are inundated with water.
The ilish was one of the lunch highlights. Muzahid also showed us his prize winning Marwari and Kathiawadi horses, and other livestock. In the late afternoon we drove to see the 12th century fort at Jhinjwada and the Little Rann of Kutch, flooded with water in the monsoon. We could see a large herd of wild ass on the flat land of the Rann.
For dinner, Muzahid had once more extended himself with a huge buffet.
Trail Leader
Anil Mulchandani is an independent writer from 1992. His articles have been published in more than 50 publications, including most of India's leading newspapers, magazines, inflight publications, newsletters and journals. Largely known for his travelogues and food articles, he has also covered diverse subjects like the arts, handicraft,enviromental and social issues, social development initiatives, industry, innovative entrepreneurs, architecture and interiors, sports, among others, Anil is the author of many internationally-published travel books, including guides to Kerala and Southern India, Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan and other states. He has also written coffee table books and commemorative volumes for industry associations and government organisations. He is also a food critic and author of food guides. He has lectured on heritage, eco-tourism and culture at many seminars. conferences, workshops and symposiums. He is also a tourism or food committee member of many associations and industry organisations. On 12th July 2017 Anil Mulchandani launched the social media group called FEA - Food Entrepreneurs Alliance that connects more than 1500 people in the food and hospitality industry to each other for common causes. He has started the Innovative Food Entrepreneurs Associates, a social enterprise with Dilip Thakker, Rohit Khanna and Darshan Rawal who are co-admins of FEA. He was awarded Best Travel Writer by Madhya Pradesh Tourism. Gujarat's 50 Golden Destinations, a coffee table book authored by Anil Mulchandani for Gujarat Tourism, won the national tourism award.
