Hyundai Great India Drive 2025. Rann Rundown.

The setting for the eighth edition of Hyundai's Great India Drive baffled us with its edge and made us sure of an experience that would be unique and soul-cleansing.

Set at the westernmost edge of the country, the Rann of Kutch is a vast salt desert that is spread over nearly 25,000 sq. km. It's a unique geological phenomenon that emerged from tectonic shifts that pushed the sea further out, leaving a dry salt bed for most of the year and a fairly shallow marshland for the rest of it.

Starting from Dasada, the little Rann of Kutch is an hour away. This is the smaller, more manageable part of the Rann, though it's still a vast 5,100 sq.km area. The vast brown landscape that goes as far as the horizon is not all desolate or barren; we found busy trails filled with wildlife. We got to spot flocks of flamingoes and harriers around the shallow salt lakes that are dispersed across the landscape, with a bit more luck one can also spot herds of wild asses and Chinkaras.

The Creta diesel felt right at home and may have been the best suited for this trip among the N Lines and Alcazars that largely made up this convoy. The steady diesel torque and smooth torque convertor made for just the right kind of seamless performance that works here. Yes, we did try the mud terrain mode for a bit but to be honest, it didn't change the experience notably. The softer suspension tune and the cushier 17-inch wheels made for a confident mix when we pushed the Creta a bit hard over the cracked earth. There was just enough give but still enough stability to not let the Creta get lairy on this surface.

The highlight of our trip was Dholavira, an ancient Indus Valley settlement which serves as the gateway to the Greater Rann. Located at the edge of a vast salt pan, it is cut through by the 30 km long Khavda - Dholavira road, known popularly as a 'road to heaven'. A name befitting to a place which is all white on both sides with patches of water bodies for that celestial effect.

We ended our journey here with one of the most mesmerizing sunsets we've seen in a while. The clear skies seem to put a deeper shade of orange to the sun, which slowly fades to reveal a bright star-studded night. A perfect way to tie in with the calm, soothing feeling we had on this journey.