For the first time in Bhutan a takin festival will take place.
Takin is the national animal of the country.
The Jigme Dorji National Park in collaboration with Tourism Council of Bhutan has organised the first ever Takin Festival, in Tsharijathang under Gasa Dzongkhag on June 9 and 10 this year. With the objective to showcase Bhutan’s rich natural heritage, raise awareness on conservation of biodiversity, create avenue and strive towards financial sustainability of the park management, provide off-season ecotourism opportunities to the tourism sector and provide means of alternative income opportunities to the park residents, specifically the upland communities. One of the objectives is also to make the animal popular.
Tsharijathang is the summer habitat for takins and more than 150 are found there in June. Some 350 takins roam in the Jigme Dorji National Park spread across various areas in various seasons.
The festival will be held at Tsharijathang which is four-day official walk from Gasa. From Soe Misizam, Paro it will officially take eight days, from Dodeyna, Thimphu it officially takes seven days.
Different stalls will be put up by the locals for the visitors. The stalls will include cultural artifacts and textile display, sale of dairy products, sale of medicinal plants, including cordyceps and incense, educational display on cordyceps, mushrooms and nature conservation.
Cultural programmes like khuru, dego and yak and horse riding will also be organized on the first day. On the next day the visitors will visit the takin congregation ground at Tsharijathang and observe takin behavior for one whole day. Visitors will also trek around Tsharijathang to witness blue sheep and other mammals if they want.