Bhutan Black Necked Crane Festival in November

Located high in the eastern Himalayas, Bhutan is an isolated and landlocked country that is known around the world as the last true Shangri-La and the last of the Himalayan kingdoms. A unique land of high mountains, placid lakes, dense primeval forests, and devout Buddhists, this amazing country is now one of the most exclusive destinations in Southeast Asia. Renowned for its ecological outlook on tourism and environmental tourist policies, it is small wonder that a small area of this small kingdom has become a safe haven for one of the rarest birds in the Himalayan region, the Black-Necked Crane. Found every winter in a small valley in Wangdue Phodrang Dzongkhag, the cranes have become so popular that a whole festival has grown up around their arrival and departure.

What is Black Necked Crane Festival in Bhutan?

The Black-Necked Crane Festival is a one-day event that is held at the famous Gangteng Goemba in Phobjikha Valley in Wangdue Phodrang every year. Held on November 11 each year, the festival celebrates the return of the rare black-necked cranes to their winter feeding grounds in Bhutan. This one particular valley is the largest winter habitat of the cranes in Bhutan, with more than 300 birds descending on the area every October. The festival is organized by the Gangteng-Phobji Environment Management Committee (GPEMC), a group of local stakeholder businesses.

How is the Black Necked Crane Festival Celebrated?

Revered as Heavenly birds in Bhutan, the cranes become a natural part of the daily lives of the local people throughout the winter months, and the festival is a chance for the people to celebrate the return of these heavenly birds to the area, an auspicious sign and one of good omens. Not only is the festival designed to celebrate the religious aspect of the cranes’ arrival back in Bhutan for another winter, but it is also held to raise awareness of the status of these stunning creatures, to renew local commitment to preserve the habitats of the cranes, and provide some economic incentives for the people of the Gangteng Valley.

During a Black-necked Crane festival tour, you can enjoy the traditional cultural programs, including folk songs and local folk dancing, mask dances performed by the local communities and children of the schools, and environmentally-related songs to help increase awareness of the importance of maintaining the natural environment for the cranes.

The highlight of the festival is the Crane Dance performance by the local schoolchildren, which is fully choreographed and a major part of the whole festival. Begun in 1998, the festival was first started by the Royal Society for Protection of Nature, a national Non-Government Organization that was originally backed in the venture by the International Crane Foundation from the United States.

Where to Attend the Black Necked Crane Festival?

The original festival was held in the valley near to the old school, but was moved after constraints cancelled the festival in 2004. The festival is now held annually at the Gangtey Goemba, in the main majestic courtyard. The monastery lies in the Phobjikha Valley in Wangdue Phodrang, and is the location of the largest population of black-necked cranes in Bhutan in the winter months.

Getting to the Phobjikha Valley is not as hard as you might think. It is a distance of around 135km from Thimphu, the nation’s capital, using the main road that runs across the entire kingdom. The East-West Highway, or Lateral Road as it is known locally, is part of the route to the valley, along the stretches known as the Thimphu-Punakha Highway and the Thimphu-Wangdue Phodrang Highway. While this is a major road in Bhutan, it is still rather narrow in most places, and can take around 5-6 hours to reach Gangteng Monastery.

However, you cannot just expect to go there because you feel like it. The trip for the festival must already be a part of your Bhutan tour with your travel agency, so if you are thinking of visiting the festival on November 11, then it is advisable to ensure that your travel agency is aware of your desire to travel there during your tour.

How about the Local Weather Condition in November?

Located in one of the largest Dzongkhags in Bhutan, the stunning Phobjikha Valley lies in the center of the district, at an average altitude of around 2,200 meters above sea level. In November, the tail end of the autumn season for tourism in Bhutan, the Phobjikha Valley is actually still quite warm, with daytime highs of around 12-13 degrees, though the nights are already getting fairly cold, dropping to around 1 degree once the sun goes down.

Overall, the weather in November is comfortable and pleasant, and ideal for visiting the cranes in their natural habitats and attending the festival. Rainfall in November in the valley is really minimal, with only around 6mm falling for the entire month, though it can get a little windy down through the valley in November, with wind speeds of between 6.7 and 11.3 km/h making it feel a little more chilly. The month can still be fairly humid as well, which the birds actually prefer, though it is usually quite sunny through the month with high visibility.

Where to Live When Attending the Black Necked Crane Festival?

Accommodation in Bhutan is always a part of the Daily Minimum Package of the tour cost, and is normally at the level of three-stars, unless you request higher. The Phobjikha Valley, which is a popular destination in Bhutan for tourists, has a huge number of hotels, guesthouses, and Farmhouse accommodation available for tourists to stay in while visiting the valley for the Black-Necked Crane Festival.

The higher end of the hotels includes the stunning Wangchuck Lodge in Gangtey, located just 2km from the town center. An annex of the Wangchuk Hotel in Thimphu, this delightful eight-bedroom lodge lies just below the main road in Tabiting, close to the Information Center for the black-necked cranes.

The Phuntso Choling Lodge lies fairly close to the Gangtey Goemba, and is one of the most popular places to stay for the festival, so you would need to book early to get a room in the middle of November. A beautiful hotel in a lovely setting, the Phuntso Choling has a good restaurant, room service, and both continental and buffet breakfasts every morning.

The height of luxury in this remote valley, the Gangtey Lodge is a beautiful 12-suie hotel that combines the charming décor of Bhutan with the delights of pampered luxury. A farmhouse-styled lodge in rustic browns and creams, the lodge excellent views over the valley and is close enough to the goemba to be able to walk to the festival in a few minutes.

The Odiyana Hotel,which is located near the Gangtey Goemba, is a classic red-brick hotel with traditional Bhutanese décor, and private bathrooms complete with bathtub in all guest rooms. The hotel has some beautiful views out over the Phobjikha Valley from its landscaped gardens, and is one of the most well-equipped hotels in the valley in terms of facilities.

The area around the valley also includes such luxurious hotels as the Amankora Gangtey,part of the huge Amankora chain of Hotels that can be found all across Asia; and the Six Senses Phobjikha,one of the most recent luxury 5-star hotels to open in the valley. You can also find the amazing Valley Camp,an unusual and unique hotel that uses large tents as individual suites, each complete with its own patio. The Valley Camp also includes a fine-dining restaurant and valet parking, and its open-air location has some of the most amazing views out over the Phobjikha Valley.

How Long in Advance Should I Plan the Black Necked Crane Festival Four?

The Black-Necked Crane Festival has become a major event in Bhutan in November, and is a part of the local culture now. The festival attracts thousands of international and local tourists every year, though the number of tickets to the festival itself, held inside the Gangtey Goemba, are limited in numbers.

While you can book a tour to the Phobjikha Valley at any time, if you want to be able to get into the festival itself inside he monastery courtyard, then you will need to book well in advance of the trip. Advanced bookings for the festival entrance should be made at least three months in advance of the festival dates, though booking earlier would be advisable.

Conclusion

The black-necked cranes are one of the world’s most endangered species of cranes, and are only found throughout certain parts of Southeast Asia, mainly in China, Tibet, Bhutan, Ladakh, and parts of northern Vietnam. The festival for the cranes in Bhutan is actually the only festival of its kind in the world, wholly dedicated to a migratory bird that only visits the country for a limited time each year. However, with the status of the crane being one of reverence in Buddhism in Bhutan, this important and auspicious bird is probably the most revered animal in the kingdom, after the famous Takin.