2N/3DKutchNirona and Hodka
Rogan painting, copper bells, lacquer work and Banni embroidery
- Type
- Craft villages
- Location
- Nirona and Hodka, Kutch
- Time needed
- Half day
- Best time to visit
- October to March, in the daytime when artisans are working
About Nirona and Hodka
Kutch is known across India for its crafts, and many of them are still made in family homes in the villages. Nirona and Hodka are two of the easiest to visit, and both fit well into a trip from Bhuj towards the White Rann.
Nirona, northwest of Bhuj, is best known for Rogan painting. Artisans boil castor oil into a thick paste, colour it, and draw designs on cloth with a metal stick, folding the cloth to print a mirror image. Very few families still practise it. The village also has craftsmen who make copper-coated bells by hand and others who do lacquer work on wooden spoons and toys using a hand lathe.
Hodka is in the Banni grasslands, on the way to Dhordo. The communities here live in bhungas, round mud houses with conical thatched roofs, and the women do fine embroidery and mirror work. Leatherwork and other crafts are also sold. Some families run homestays, so you can stay in a bhunga and see daily life up close.
Things to do at Nirona and Hodka
- Watch a Rogan painting demonstration in Nirona
- See copper bells being shaped and tuned by hand
- Watch lacquer work being done on a hand lathe
- See Banni embroidery and mirror work in Hodka
- Stay a night in a bhunga homestay
How to reach Nirona and Hodka
- Nirona: about 40 km from Bhuj, about 1 hour by car.
- Hodka: about 60 km from Bhuj on the road to Dhordo, about 1.5 hours by car.
Tips before you go
- Buy directly from the artisans; this supports the families who keep these crafts alive.
- Ask before you photograph people or the inside of homes.
- Carry cash, as not every workshop takes cards or UPI.
Packages that cover Nirona and Hodka
2N/3DKutch
3N/4DKutchKutch with Dholavira
2N Bhuj · 1N Dholavira- Hotels
- Meals
- Transfers
- Sightseeing
Starts from
₹11,999
per person
4N/5DKutchComplete Kutch Experience
2N Bhuj · 1N Dholavira · 1N Mandvi- Hotels
- Meals
- Transfers
- Sightseeing
Starts from
₹15,999
per person
Nearby places to visit
Must visit
Salt desert · Dhordo
White Rann of Kutch
A vast white salt desert near Dhordo village, best seen at sunset and on full-moon nights. A permit is needed to enter.
Time needed: An evening, or a night if you stay nearbyRead more →Weaving village · Bhuj
Bhujodi
A village of handloom weavers just outside Bhuj, where you can watch shawls and textiles being woven and buy from the families.
Time needed: 2 to 3 hoursRead more →Must visit
Viewpoint · Khavda
Kala Dungar
The Black Hill, the highest point in Kutch, with wide views over the Great Rann and an old Dattatreya temple at the top.
Time needed: 2 to 3 hoursRead more →Must visit
Heritage town
Bhuj
The main town and base for Kutch, with the Aina Mahal and Prag Mahal palaces, Hamirsar lake and the Smritivan memorial.
Time needed: 1 dayRead more →Nirona and Hodka: FAQs
What is Rogan art and where can I see it?
Rogan is a painting craft that uses a paste made from castor oil, drawn onto cloth with a metal stick. You can watch it being made in Nirona village, about an hour from Bhuj.
Can I visit Nirona and Hodka on the way to the White Rann?
Yes. Hodka is on the road to Dhordo, and Nirona can be added with a short detour. Leave Bhuj in the morning to see both before sunset at the Rann.