1. Koteshwar is the western most point of India. It is the place where the sun sets last in India.
Kot means fort. It is situated in the Kori creek.
2. Sunrise Koteshwar. This and sunset are lovely. Sunset is said to be golden in colour here. Loved this place, did not want to leave.
3. Tide changes here every six hours. When it is high tide looks like a sea as you see. During low tide as in pic 1 you will think it is marshy land.
4. The Koteshwar story is about Ravana and Shivji. According to Chinese traveller Hiuen-Tsang Koteshwar port was 5 miles in boundary near the mouth of the river Indus. There were about 80 Monasteries with monks. In the middle of the monasteries were 13 temples of which Mahesh Mandir now Koteshwar was the biggest one.
5. As you enter see the Wishing Tree. Devotees tie a thread on tree.
6. It is a very simple temple from inside as you can see.
7. Pranams to the Lingam. Om Namah Shivay. Very nice and clean temple. There are many shops at entrance where you also buy Kutch handicrafts and get lovely sugarcane juice.
8. This is a jetty that is next to temple. Took this pic when tide was high. Lovely place to sit and enjoy the breeze.
9. Early morning pic of same place during low tide. High tide in Koteshwar sea water enters Rann of Kutch and low tide stays in the Rann. When water evaporates the residue is salt hence we have White Rann or Salt Desert.
10. Koteshwar is now a fishing village. It is a major outpost for the Border Security Force.
11. Fisherman. Was told all fishermen are Muslims.
12. Lots of students come to the temple. Group pic.
13. Post lunch drove about 20 kms to Rodasar Lucky village inhabited by Fakirani Muslims (are Jats). This is a typical traditional home. Very cool inside. They worship Savla Peer that from Koteshwar is a half an hour boat ride by speedboat.
14. Inside home. They are traditionally cattle breeders. Men wear `khamish` and `lungi`. They are also skilled at embroidery, known as Jat embroidery.
15. Women wear black cloth called `gaga`. Jat women wear a large nose-ring. Today Jat women are known for their microscopic mirror work embroidery. Could not meet any women doing embroidery work. Since women in Kutch refuse to be photographed requested to let me click his daughter.
16. This is the sarpanch of villages in the area name Ismail. Since the government is making houses, he had come for inspection with govt officials. A BSF officer told me they were nomads from Sindh, during partition got stuck here and stayed back.
17. Terrain enroute our drive to Koteshwar mandir. Sand, wild grass, barren land with water here and there.
18. View from Koteshwar mandir. Just loved the temple and view from there. So serene.
19. 2 kms before is Narayan Sarovar and temple that you see. There is a separate album on Narayan Sarovar. Enroute is Mata Na Madh, a highly revered temple of Maa Ashapura. It is 100 kms from Bhuj.
20. Mata Na Madh dedicated to Maa Ashapura. "The temple was built in 14th century by two Karad Vanias, Ajo and Anagor. They were ministers in court of the father of Lakho Fulani." Earthquake in 1819 and 2001 damaged the temple. It was rebuilt. You see a mosque as soon you walk out of the temple meaning on the road.