Express Wanderlust: This December, an expanse of white desert awaits you

About the place: Often referred to as the 'White Desert of India', Kutch is a surreal stretch of pristine white land in the state of Gujarat. It used to be a princely state that continues to hold on to its past grandeur. It stretches along the Tropic of Cancer, from Rajasthan to the edge of Pakistan, meeting with the Arabian Sea. Covering a little over 45,000 sq km, it is geographically considered to be one of India's largest districts. The place comes to life, especially around this time of the year, with a decent tourist footfall and the Rann Festival. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)

How to reach: Being a desert, the place is only accessible by road. The nearest airport is in the city of Bhuj, which is roughly 80 km from the Rann of Kutch. If you do not have your own vehicle, you can hire a cab from Bhuj all the way to Kutch. Even the rail network will take you till Bhuj, from where you will have to travel to Kutch. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)

Best time to visit: The favourable months are November to February. During this time, the place seems to look like an absolute paradise, with the moonlight skies casting an eerie reflection on the white sands. Also, the Rann Festival is organised around this time — more about this later. The summer months better be avoided. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)

Things to see: You are here to see the whiteness of the desert. So, begin your journey with the Great Rann of Kutch. It is a salty marshland located in the district, which has a mesmerising pull on visitors. The enormity of the horizon is both breathtakingly beautiful and hauntingly overwhelming. The setting sun and the rising moon make for great photo opportunities. A treat to the eyes, it will make you feel like you are on another planet. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)

The Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary should be next on your list. It is touted as one of the largest seasonal saline wetland areas. Hardly 100 km from Bhuj, the sanctuary has great many species of birds and animals: from flamingo, Indian porcupine and the spiny-tailed lizard, to black-necked storks and the wild Indian ass. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)

Next, you can head over to Dholavira, which is a remarkable excavation site for the Indus Valley Civilization. If you are fascinated by history, this place will arrest your attention immediately. While all that remains today are remnants of a lost civilization, the place was once considered to be one of the grandest cities. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)

While you are still around, check out the Kutch Museum, which is one of the oldest in the state of Gujarat, housing the best of the Gujarati culture, including the now-extinct Kutchi Script and ancient coins. The museum also boasts of tribal artifacts, fine pieces of embroidery, paintings, etc. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

If you are travelling to this place in December, your journey will be incomplete if you do not experience the Rann Utsav. A three-day extravaganza, the festival is celebrated each year on the full moon nights of winters. It provides a kaleidoscopic view of the place's vibrant culture. There's delectable food, leisure and adventure for you to experience. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)

Shopping: You must do a bit of shopping while you are here. The place is popular for its wide range of artistic handicrafts, which are produced by the small villages in the Kutch district. Fine artifacts are also put up for sale during the Rann Utsav. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)