The Valley of Gods

Further up into the distant reaches of this magical region is a beautiful sight— one of Bhutan’s few glacial valleys, Phobjikha. It is popularly known as Gangte (Gangtey), named for the seventeenth-century Gangte Monastery. The bowl-shaped valley on the periphery of the majestic Black Mountains is a unique experience, not just for the rare black-necked cranes that visit annually , but also for its varied treasure trove of amazing wildlife at the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park. Natural beauty abounds here, from snow-capped mountain peaks that seem to stretch out beyond the skies to pretty meandering rivers that play hide and seek along the valley. Adding smatterings of color is the endless spread of russet-tinged fields of the region’s prime cash crop and one of Bhutan’s major exports to India, the Gangte potato. If you’ve always wanted to get away, far from the madding crowd, this is it.