Rann Riders, Dasada

Gujarat, India

Wildlife

An authentic lodge in the Little Rann of Kutch

Set on the edge of the Little Rann of Kutch, Rann Riders is a nature-focused retreat that celebrates the landscapes, wildlife, and cultural traditions of one of Gujarat’s most distinctive regions. Designed to reflect the vernacular architecture of Kutch, the property incorporates traditional materials, local craftsmanship, and indigenous design elements that blend naturally into its surroundings.

Family-owned by the descendants of the historic Dasada estate, Rann Riders combines warm hospitality with a strong commitment to conservation and community engagement.

Surrounded by wetlands, salt flats, and grassland habitats, it offers an immersive gateway to the unique ecology of the Rann while providing meaningful connections to the artisan communities and pastoral cultures that have shaped this remarkable landscape for centuries.

Operational Period

Open throughout the Year

Contact RARE Team for Rates

Bar

Spa

Credit Cards

Pool

Laundry

Parking

Restaurant

What you would love

Rann Riders suits wildlife enthusiasts tracking the endangered Asiatic Wild Ass, birdwatchers interested in the 250+ species in the wetlands close by, including winter flocks of flamingos, and photographers eager to capture the stark salt flats under dramatic skies. Cultural travellers can connect with weavers, potters and pastoralists, while adventure seekers may enjoy jeep safaris, cycling and trap-skeet shooting. Heritage buffs can explore nearby Harappan ruins at Dholavira, Modhera Sun Temple and Ahilwada Patan.

The Gallery

Your Stay at Rann Riders, Dasada, Gujarat

Rann Riders offers twenty-five cottages divided into three categories. Five Dasada Premium Cottages are arranged in two blocks overlooking either the lake or the surrounding croplands, with an exclusive swimming pool, kitchen and private dining options.

Six Safari Cottages feature airy rooms, ethnic décor, and spacious verandahs that open onto private living areas.

Fourteen Rann Cottages showcase authentic Kooba and Bhunga architecture inspired by the local communities. All room categories are air-conditioned with stylish bathrooms, locally made handloom linen and quality room amenities.

CHECK IN

CHECK OUT

ROOMS & GUESTS

Dasada Wing

Contact RARE Team for Rates

Safari Cottages

Contact RARE Team for Rates

Rann Cottages

Contact RARE Team for Rates

Perfectly RARE

Visit during winter months (November to February) for spectacular flamingo gatherings and best wild ass sightings. Time permitting visit nearby villages to meet locals who promote handmade beadwork like bangles and necklaces.

Destination

The Little Rann of Kutch is one of India’s most distinctive landscapes and the last remaining habitat of the Indian wild ass. Sprawling across 4,950 square kilometres of salt flats and shrubby islands, this landscape was once part of the Arabian Sea. Today, monsoon-inundated wetlands host shimmering flamingo colonies and over 250 bird species alongside colourful nomadic cultures.

Just two hours from Ahmedabad, Rann Riders offers the perfect base for curious travellers seeking something different. Both as a retreat and as a lodge to access wildlife and wetlands for birding, Rann Riders is the perfect base.

Design and Concept

Rann Riders was designed to reflect the architectural traditions of the communities inhabiting the surrounding region.

Local materials such as mud plaster, terracotta and thatch help regulate indoor temperatures while reflecting vernacular building styles.

Decorative elements, including mirror work and embroidery, reference local craft traditions, while the grounds increasingly incorporate native plant species that support biodiversity.

Know Your Host

Rann Riders is family-owned by the Maliks, descendants of Bakhtiar ud din. The Dasada jagir (land grant) was given to the family by the Sultan of Gujarat in the fifteenth century.

The family’s pride in ancestral traditions is channelled in conservation and community development, supporting local artisans and championing wildlife protection.

Family members meet guests personally, sharing stories of the people, this unique land and its wildlife, and the importance of sustainable tourism, whilst ensuring visitors experience Kathiawad's legendary hospitality firsthand.

Facilities

The central lounge is the heart of Rann Riders, an airy space for planning safaris before heading out in the resort's custom jeeps.

Back at base, two Desjouaux-designed swimming pools (one exclusively for Dasada Premium guests) provide welcome relaxation, whilst the Wellness Centre offers massages, Ayurvedic treatments and reflexology.

Rann Riders boasts of the only Manavjit Signature Range for Trap and Skeet Shooting designed to international specifications.

Throughout the property, three water bodies connected by a canal help cool summer temperatures and support water harvesting, wildlife and provides a nesting habitat for local birds.

Dining

The Flamingo Restaurant offers a diverse menu, from robust Gujarati thalis with hand-rolled rotis to lighter fusion dishes featuring fresh local produce.

Buffet breakfast features live stations, whilst à la carte lunch and dinner showcase tandoori, local and north Indian specialities . Dine inside, surrounded by traditional artefacts; al fresco by the pool with a live BBQ and tandoor. You may also venture towards the Rann flats, where breakfasts and dinners can be arranged, often coupled with guided walks or night safaris for a complete wilderness experience.

Experience

Explore the Little Rann of Kutch through salt flats, flamingo colonies, wild ass sightings, glowing sunsets and walks across Rann Riders’ forested grounds, wetlands, fields, canals and scrub islands, with chances to spot birds, butterflies, dragonflies and nocturnal wildlife.

Village safaris introduce the culturally rich communities of the Rann, from Kharapat Rabari weaving and Mir beadwork to Tangalio textiles, along with storytelling by Sarfaraz Malik, whose knowledge of the region spans history, ecology and raptors.

Expert-led workshops in yoga, meditation, pottery, crafts, cuisine, wellness and Ayurveda can be curated, while horse safaris on Kathiawadi and Marwari breeds, camel rides, cycling, off-roading and mobile camps offer more adventurous ways to experience the landscape.

Local fairs such as Tarnetar and Ravechi Mela add a vibrant glimpse into Rabari culture, colour and tradition.

CYCLING

NATURE WALK

SAFARI

VILLAGE WALK

PICNIC

FESTIVALS

Explore Around

Little Rann Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary Safaris

Jeep safaris explore this stark landscape in search of the Indian wild ass, hyenas, foxes, jungle cats, wolves and nilgai. Winter brings migratory birds - cranes, pelicans and flamingos painting salt pans pink. Safaris can be custom-made according to interests: wildlife, bird watching, or photography.

Village and Cultural Excursions

Village visits offer encounters with Mirs and Rabari women practising traditional beadwork, embroidery and appliqué. Community partnerships ensure artisans benefit whilst traditional skills thrive.

Visit the Modhera Sun Temple

Visit the Modhera Sun Temple, the historic town of Ahilwada Patan – the region's capital between the 8th and 14th centuries, the Munsar tank with its intricately carved temples, and the 12th-century Jain temple at Sankeshwar.