Zainabad is a small town close to the Little Rann of Kutch & is the ideal base for exploring the Rann of Kutch. Zainabad derives its name from Nawab Zainkhan who ruled the town about a century ago. Zainabad has a rich tradition & culture, which is a blend of Kutch & Saurashtra. The town is well known for its handicrafts & the tribal folks excel at making clothes & decorative pieces with beautiful embroidery, mirror work or appliqué work & patchwork. One can also find exquisite pottery work, terracotta toys, carved wooden furniture. There are a number of ethnic groups & tribes living in this region like the Rabaria / Bharwads, Bajanias, the Sidis, Kutchis, Gujjars & Kolis & it is interesting to observe their lifestyle patterns. Zainabad is a marshy area with thorny bushes & is home to one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in India where the chestnut brown & white wild Asiatic Asses can be found.

The best time to visit Zainabad is between October & March. Summers are extremely hot & dry with soaring temperatures. The summers are harsh because of its proximity to the Little Rann of Kutch, which is vast, sandy, and dry.

Zainabad experiences high rainfall in monsoons. Therefore the best season to travel is in winters, which is cold & windy. It is advisable to carry light winter wear during this season as night temperatures dip considerably.

No permits are required to travel to Zainabad, other than a visa for India. The consumption of alcohol is prohibited in Gujarat. Non-Indians can get a permit form the Government that allows them to buy & consume alcohol legally.

Modhera:  Modhera is known for its 11th century Sun Temple that is similar to the architectural styles of the Konark & Khajuraho temples. The temple has elaborate stone carvings.

Patan:  Patan is known for its architecture. There are many old temples, monuments & gates in Patan. Rani-ki-Vav is an example of excellent architecture. It is a step well with seven galleries.

Bhuj:  Bhuj is famous for its forts, palaces, cenotaphs & museum. Also known for its Rann Utsav held in Feb/March.

Mandvi: Mandavi has beautiful, serene beaches along the Gulf of Kutch. It was an important port & naval base earlier.

 Marine National Park and Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary are also located near Zainabad.

Patdi, Wankaner, Viramgam  & Jhinjuwada are the other nearby attractions.

By Air
The nearest airport is Ahmedabad (100 kms), which is well connected to the other parts of the country. Ahmedabad also has an international airport. Bhuj, situated about 260 kms from Zainabad also has a domestic airport with flights operating to Mumbai & Ahmedabad.

By Rail
Though the nearest railhead is Viramgam (about 40 kms), Ahmedabad is well connected by rail to the other cities in India like Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Delhi etc hence it is convenient to travel to Zainabad via Ahmedabad. Viramgam is a convenient location for people traveling within the state as it well connected to Rajkot (5 hrs)& other cities in Gujarat.

By Road
The sanctuary is well connected to the nearby places by road. There are regular State Transport Corporation buses as well as luxury coaches operated by private companies connecting Dasada to places like Viramgam (1 hr), Ahmedabad (2 ½ hrs), Rajkot (4 hrs), Bhuj (6 hrs) and other cities in the state. Dasada is a village about 12 kms from Zainabad.

One can hire taxis also.

Zainabad is well known for its wildlife sanctuary, which has a variety of bird and animal species. It is also home to the rare Asiatic Wild Ass, which is seen only in this region. The other wild animals that can be spotted are Nilgai (Blue Bull), Chinkara, Black Buck, Wolves, Jackals, Foxes endangered Ghudkhur, Hedgehogs, Jungle and Desert Cats. The sanctuary is a delight for bird watchers too. There are over 300 species of birds that can be found here. A few of them are the Flamingos, Cranes, Waterfowl, Waders, Raptors Sand grouse, quail, short toed eagle and the endangered Hubara Bustard. One can also sight a number of migratory birds in winters like the blue-tailed bee-eater from Europe; the common crane and the demoiselle crane from Siberia & the ceraneous vulture from Egypt. Visitors are recommended to bring hats/caps, binoculars, flashlight, and thorn proof shoes & water bottles.

Jeep & mini coach safaris are also available which include visits to ancient monuments and inland salt works and other places of interest along with a trip to the sanctuary. The camps in Zainabad can also arrange camel safaris.

Information can also be obtained from:

Deputy Conservator of Forests, Wild Ass Sanctuary, Dhrangadhra.

Where To Eat:.

Since there aren’t too many eateries around, it is advisable to book a package inclusive of food & stay. Most hotels in Zainabad are moderately priced & provide decent accommodation & food. Hotels in Zainabad have a rustic look with ethnic interiors & architecture offering the visitor an authentic Kutch experience.

 Where To Stay:

Apart from hotels travelers also have the choice of staying in traditional ‘Koobas’. Koobas are thatch-roofed huts with all essential amenities like beds, electricity, attached bath etc. These huts are beautifully painted with traditional designs. Kooba style accommodation can be found at the camp of Desert Coursers. Desert Coursers & Rann Runners are the camps that offer good facilities for stay and food. They also arrange for trip and safaris around the Little Rann of Kutch. The other places offering accommodation are Govt. Guest House at Dhrangadhra, Aaram Gruh at Dasada, & Fatima Manzil at Dasada