Kandla is one of India's major seaports, sitting on a creek off the Gulf of Kutch. Deendayal Port handles a vast volume of Gujarat's trade — grain, salt, and oil all move through here — and the town exists almost entirely because of it. There is little tourist interest in Kandla itself, but the industrial waterfront has a certain rough energy, and watching the cargo ships move through the narrow creek is oddly compelling.
The town is just 10 km from Gandhidham, which has the nearest railway station and better facilities for eating and staying. If you are in the area, the Kandla Special Economic Zone on the outskirts is one of India's oldest free trade zones, established in 1965. The surrounding salt flats and tidal mudflats are home to flamingos and other wading birds during the winter months, making for an unexpected detour from what is otherwise a purely industrial landscape.
Most travellers heading into Kutch will pass through Kandla or its vicinity without stopping. The real draws of the region — the Rann, Bhuj, and the craft villages — lie further north and west.