Haa Summer Festival, the Pride of Bhutan

How Christmas is in Bethlehem, how Dussehra is in India, how La Tomatina is in Spain; is how Haa Summer Festival looks like in Bhutan. A three days festival in the month of July, calls for the excitement and preparations that go behind for months. Enriched with native cultural practices, Haa Summer Festival is regarded as the greatest Bhutan Festival.

These two days of the Bhutanese Calendar are blackened as an uplifting celebration to honour the nomadic lifestyle, traditional cuisines, religious rituals, traditional sports, and most importantly the pride of their identity.

The Haa Summer festival has derived its name from the pristine alpine valleys of Haa woods where the festival takes place. Among all other Bhutan Festivals, Haa draws the maximum number of tourists due to its cultural value. You get the flavour of traditional tribal accommodation, home-cooked cuisine, and conventional sports. You can dance to the rhythm of traditional songs.

On visiting Haa district for the first time, a friend once said, “if a child was asked to draw a village, this would be it.”She was referring to the mountain in the backdrop, the meandering river in the middle of the valley , and the homes on either side. The journey to Haa takes about one and half hours from Paro town. You can make a stop along the way to watch small herds of Yak grazing the pink and red rhododendron blossoms sprinkled over the landscape.

Here’s a list of things that you need to try or visit if you are going to Haa Summer Festival

The Nublang Cattle Show - Nublang Cattle is a special breed of cattle unique to the Haaps. According to local folklore Nublang cattle were blessed to the people of Haa by the deity of the famous Nub Tshonapata lake as a blessing for the kind gesture, a local herder showed it.

The Ara drink: Ara or Arag is a local traditional alcoholic drink, which is a must-try if you are planning to go to the Haa Summer Festival. Ara can be fermented or distilled and is created from local high-altitude resistant barley, rice, maize, millet, or wheat. The drink is often clear, creamy, or white in colour.

The sports list: Grab a slice of their local sports like Archery, horse riding, Khuru, Soksum, and other lively content.

White Poppy flower in Haa Valley: A white poppy is a flower that grows to be around 1.5 metres long. This bloom isn't found anywhere else on the planet. It blooms in the month of July.

We will always suggest you opt-in for the local flavour of Haa valley during this Bhutan Festival . You can try a homestay to experience Bhutan Culture. There are also amazing hiking trails and places t at Haa Valley. T

Excited to join the Haa Summer Festival? We promise to make your tour a memorable one. Connect us at bhutaninbound.com for more information.

You can check the sample of Haa Summer Festival itinerary and costing here