Have you heard of the village named Gandhi Nu Gam Kutch, Gujarat? It is a spick and span village where all the vibrant colours of the spectrum come alive against a backdrop of whitewashed structures.

But beneath all the colour and razzmatazz is hidden an inspiring story of resilience, a story of emerging triumphant in the face of extreme factors engineered by nature. The village of Gandhi Nu Gam is one of the hidden gems of Kutch that we visited during our visit to the Rann of Kutch to experience the Rann Utsav.

Gandhi Nu Gam-Ludiya |Handicraft Village of Kutch

Kiran and her kid-brother Aakash smile and wave at us. Kiran goes to the school that is located right opposite her house in Gandhi Nu Gam.

These innocent children are unaware of the terrible holocaust that was unleashed by an earthquake that rocked the region in 2001. However, the village in which they live, Gandhi Nu Gam, is a sterling example of the village rising like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes of the devastating earthquake.

The beautiful village is the culmination of the efforts of the local community, Government, NGO’s and other stakeholders in the post-earthquake redevelopment of Gandhi Nu Gam, Kutch.

Gandhi Nu Gam – An Inspiring Story of Resurrection | #RannKiKahaaniya

India was celebrating its Republic Day on the 26th of January, 2001, when disaster struck in the state of Gujarat. A massive earthquake rocked the state and one of the worst affected regions was Kutch. The country was numbed with shock as the earthquake left thousands dead and millions homeless. And then the process of rehabilitation began in right earnest.

Various stakeholders in conjunction with the local communities started the rebuilding of the villages of Kutch. An organization called Vastu Shilpa foundation was involved in the rebuilding of 16 villages of the region, including Gandhi Nu Gam, Ludiya.

The village was born again, with 455 residential units, schools, health care centre, and other public and community utility structures.

What was a welcome initiative, was the fact that the reconstruction was done in a sustainable manner, keeping in mind the traditions and culture of the region of Kutch. In the construction of the dwelling units, inspiration was drawn from the local and traditional huts, called, “Bhungas“, of the region.

The Bhungas are circular structures with thatched roofs. Their structure makes them earthquake-resistant. The thermodynamics of these structures also ensures that the interior of a Bhunga is cooler than outside in the summers and warmer than the outside in the winters.

The material and construction techniques uses in rebuilding the village were all from local sources.

The Gandhi Nu Gam today stands as a beacon that points towards a contemporary rural lifestyle that is sustainable, contemporary and yet rooted in tradition.

Visiting Art and Craft Village – Gandhi Nu Gam, Kutch 

If you are in Kutch, you must make it a point to visit the Gandhi Nu Gam. It offers many life lessons that are sure to inspire you. The arts and crafts of the village is another reason to visit the village that thrives with local arts and crafts. The women-folk are engaged in embroidery that creates vibrantly colourful designs that are rooted in the traditional arts of the region.

The colourful designs created in Gandhi Nu Gam can easily put to shame many of the hot-shot fashion designers of the world. In fact, many big names in the fashion industry have drawn inspiration from the work being done at the humble Bhungas of Gandhi Nu Gam, Kutch.

While the women work magic with their hands in embroidery, the men in the village craft beautiful articles from wood. Beautiful designs of the legs of cots, tables, and other furniture, and ornate doors, can be seen in the village, Gandhi Nu Gam, Kachchh, Gujarat, India.

The artwork at Gandhi Nu Gam Kutch is sure to fascinate you and you will be tempted to buy some of the products that are made in Gandhi Nu Gam, and take a slice of the village home with you.

Shopping at Gandhi Nu Gam Kutch | What To Buy At Gandhi Nu Gam Kutch

If you love ethnic and traditional designs, then you are sure to fall in love with the wares being sold at Gandhi Nu Gam. You can buy colourful quilts with kaleidoscopic designs, pillow covers, bags and purses, ethnic jewellery, skirts with mirror-work, Ghaghra and Cholis, and much more.

Buying straight from the village ensures your direct contribution to the sustainable income of the village which will help in its development.

As you bid adieu to Gandhi Nu Gam and its colourful vibes, you feel a sense of pride for all that the village has achieved and its beautiful products that proudly define the rich heritage of India. The village is a silent ode to the, “Make In India,” campaign, and an inspiration for others to emulate.

How To Get To Gandhi Nu Gam

• Gandhi Nu Gam is located about 71 kilometres from the city of Bhuj, in Gujarat, India
• Gandhi Nu Gam is about 27 kilometres from the Tent City in Dhordo
• Gandhi Nu Gam is about 29 kilometres from the village of Dhordo

Getting To Gandhi Nu Gam By Air
The nearest airport is Bhuj airport at a distance of about 71 kilometres. However, currently, there are limited flight options. Another option is to fly to Ahmedabad and travel by road to Kutch.

Getting To Gandhi Nu Gam By Road
Gandhi Nu Gam can be easily accessed by road. One can use public transport or a self-drive car to reach Bhuj and then Gandhi Nu Gam.

Getting To Gandhi Nu Gam By Rail
The nearest railway station to Gandhi Nu Gam is Bhuj, about 71 kilometres away. Trains to and from Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Baroda, Surat, etc, run from Bhuj.

If you are planning to travel to Gandhi Nu Gam, you can book your flight tickets right here through TripAdvisor or CheapAir or Cleartrip or Makemytrip or Priceline and fly to Ahmedabad or Bhuj. If you are thinking of a complete road trip from Ahmedabad, do check out the rental car and bus options.

Where To Stay While Visiting Gandhi Nu Gam, Kuchchh, Gujarat, India

If you are visiting during the Rann Utsav, you can stay in the Tent City in Dhordo, and visit Gandhi Nu Gam. However in case, you plan a visit when the Rann Utsav is not happening, you can either stay in one of the hotels in Bhuj, or also at any of the hotels, resorts, or homestays in Dhordo.

You can book hotels for any destination right here through any of the below options: TripAdvisor or Cleartrip or Makemytrip or Priceline and save a lot by getting the best deals on booking your stay.

We hope you liked reading about the amazing village of Gandhi Nu Gam. We hope our post about Gandhi Nu Gam serves as a  guide to visiting Gandhi Nu Gam Kutch. Do let us know if you have any questions. Please do subscribe to our blog for more interesting posts, also follow us on our social media handles.

Our visit to Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat was part of a familiarization trip organized by India Tourism Mumbai – Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and Gujarat Tourism under the #DekhoApnaDesh initiative. The views and opinions expressed in this blog post are our own.
#GandhiNuGamvillage #Kutch #Gujarat #GujaratTourism

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