Phobjikha Valley

Phobjikha is a bowl-shaped glacial valley on the western slopes of the Black Mountains, on the edges of Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park. Some people refer to this entire region as Gangte or Gangtey, after the goemba that sits on a ridge above the valley. Because of the large flock of black-necked cranes, it is one of the most important wildlife preserves in the country.

In addition to the cranes there are also muntjacs barking deer, wild boars, sambars, serows, Himalayan black bears, leopards and red foxes in the surrounding hills. The Nakey Chhu drains the marshy valley, eventually flowing into the lower reaches of the Punak Tsang Chhu.

The valley is snowbound during the height of winter and many of the valley's 4700 residents, including the monks, shift to winter residences in Wangdue Phodrang during December and January, just as the cranes move in to take their place. The local residents are known as Gangteps and speak a dialect called Henke.