Birding paradise :
With its small lakes and extensive fields, little Rann of Kutch offers good birding. Grey and pond herons, egrets, pied and white-breasted kingfishers, spotbill, nakta (comb duck), saras cranes and other birds can be seen at the waterfront. The bushes are also rich in birds and shikra hawks have been seen perched on the trees at the resort. The resort is also a roosting spot for rosy pastor (rose-coloured starling). The trees also provide suitable nesting areas for ibises, egrets and pond herons to breed.

The Little Rann of Kutch is a birding paradise and has been declared a Ramsar Site. During the safaris in the Rann expect to see large flocks of larks, and other dryland birds like sandgrouse, coursers, plovers, chats, warblers, babblers, shrikes. Among the many winter visitors are the houbara bustard and spotted sandgrouse.

The best birding is at the lakes and marshes in and around the Rann where birds gather in numbers beyond comprehension during the winter months from October to March. These are the months when demmossile and common cranes are seen in incredibly large numbers. The wetlands also attract flamingos, pelicans, storks, ibises, spoonbill, a variety of ducks and other waterfowl.

The Rann is also the hunting ground of raptors like the short-toed eagle, aquila eagles, six species of falcon, buzzards and three species of harrier. It is one of the few places where harriers can be seen roosting on open-ground at night.

Birding sites
Dasada is the base to visit the bird-rich Nawa Talao lake, a number of seasonal wetlands near Dasada, the village lake of Dasada, the wetland near Patdi fort, Viramgam town lake and many reservoirs of Surendranagar district that offer good winter birding opportunities. Birds like rose-coloured starling and green pigeon are often seen at Dasada village.

In the monsoon months of July, August and September, lesser florican visits the grasslands of Surendranagar District to breed and the vegetation around the wetlands becomes the breeding area for painted storks, several species of resident ducks and other waterfowl. Lesser flamingo breeding colonies have been recorded and photographed in the Little Rann of Kutch during these months.

Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary
Dasada is 44 kms. from Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, a 105 sq kms. sanctuary comprising a large lake and its surrounds. Nalsarovar is renowned as one of the finest birding places in Western India. Besides the extensive variety of birds seen in large flocks at the lake, and their predators like the marsh harrier and fishing eagles, visitors can also watch passerine birds at the neighbouring bushes, grasslands and fields. Saras cranes are a frequent sighting in the fields around Nalsarovar. Culture, Textiles & Handicrafts While in Dasada, you can visit pastoral settlements and villages along the Rann of Kutch.

The tours visit the pastoral Vadiara and Kharapat Rabaris of Dasada, known for their embroideries, the silk-weavers colony at Dasada, and Ambala village of the Bharward shepherds and goatherds. During this tour, guests can shop for embroidery directly from the Bharwad women of Ambala and the Rabari women of Dasada.

The weaving cooperative at Bajana and other artisans’ workshops can also be included in the tours.

Other communities near Dasada are Padhars (primarily fishing people), the semi-nomadic Bajanias and Mirs, Jaths (Muslim herders), and the Siddis.

Patan
Approx 70 kms from Dasada is the historic city of Patan known for its Patola silk weavers. These weavers belong to the Salvi community and are believed to have come here from South India during the patronage of the Solankis who reigned over Gujarat in the 11th and 12th centuries. The Salvis practise an intricate weaving technique called double ikkat which involves dyeing both the warp and weft threads according to the final design before setting them on the loom for weaving. The result is an extremely rich fabric. Only a few weavers in Okinava, Bali and Patan use the double ikkat techniques making the Patola a collectible.

Kutch
Many textile and handicraft experts stopover at Dasada en route to Bhuj, Banni and other areas known for their rich array of handicrafts including embroideries of Rabaris, Bharwads, Jaths, Muthwas, Sodhas, Lohanas, etc, besides bandhini tie-and-dye, block printing, woodcarving, metal crafts and pottery.

For those who want to buy the handicrafts of Kutch, Rann Riders Resort has an in-house shop of Kala Raksha, a registered society, trust and non-profit NGO working to preserve the craftsmanship of Kutch by assisting local communities known for their handicrafts. KALA RAKSHA produces some of the most exquisitely hand embroidered and patch worked products made in Kutch. Using only natural fibers, and wherever possible natural dyes, the Trust makes a wide range of garments, accessories and home furnishings. KALA RAKSHA began with income generation, which is the primary concern of the village artisans. But the Trust views income generation as a means to comprehensive development and now also works in preventive health care and basic education. Kala Raksha has encouraged women in each community in which it works to begin self-help saving groups.