Jatinga Valley

About Jatinga Valley

Jatinga Valley, 9 km from Haflong, is known internationally in ornithological circles for a precisely localised natural phenomenon: every year, from late August to October, on dark moonless nights with north-easterly winds and fog, 44+ species of birds become disoriented and fly toward artificial lights in the valley.

The phenomenon occurs within a specific corridor approximately 1.5 km long and 200 m wide, between 6 PM and 9:30 PM. Birds involved include black bittern, tiger bittern, little egret, pond heron, Indian pitta, various kingfisher species, green pigeon, and necklaced laughingthrush, among others.

What Is Actually Happening

This is not a mystery in scientific terms. The established explanation: high-altitude fog and strong winds disorient juvenile migrants and local birds. Their navigation systems fail in these conditions and they seek artificial light as refuge. Naturalist E.P. Gee and ornithologist Salim Ali brought global attention to the phenomenon in the 1960s. The “mass suicide” framing in popular travel writing is inaccurate; the birds are confused, not suicidal, and most survive if not harmed.

Historically, local Naga villagers harvested the birds for food, which is why “Jatinga” became known outside the region. Since 2010, conservation efforts have actively discouraged bird hunting.

Visiting

The Jatinga Bird Watching Centre is the main tourism infrastructure in the area. For the bird phenomenon specifically, visit during the August-October window. The valley and the Changsu Punji Waterfall (6-7 km from Jatinga) make the area worth a half-day visit year-round. No special permit is required. Reach Jatinga from Haflong by road in approximately 20-25 minutes.