Mongolian Eagle Festival

• Date of celebration: Usually, the first weekend of October.
• What is it? A traditional festival, hosted annually, to celebrate the heritage of the Kazakh eagle hunters.
• Where is it celebrated? Bayan-Ölgii Province. 
• An interesting festival where Kazakh eagle hunters and their trained golden eagles hunt for prey.
• Mainly a male-dominated sport, the festival has witnessed slow but steady female participation.
• The festival has gained international popularity post the release of Kazakh documentary film ‘the Eagle Huntress’.
• Budget Hotels and tourist ger camps are available few nomad families rent out gers to tourists. 
• Who can visit? Everyone with a strong appetite to handle violence and bloodshed in the hunt.
• Tickets costs around US$30 to US$40 (prices are subjected to change).

In the Bayan-Ölgii province of Mongolia, on the steps of the Altai Mountains, the Kazakh population has been hunting with golden eagles for centuries. Every year, before the onset of winter, these hunters along with their birds set out to Hunter’s Hill (Sayat Tube) for the Ölgii Eagle Festival, just outside the Ölgii Township.

A popular sporting event, the Mongolian Eagle Festival is an integral part of the local culture and heritage. This festival grabbed the attention of the international tourist circuit post - release of the Kazakh documentary ‘the Eagle Huntress’ – showcasing the antics of 13-year-old Kazakh girl Aisholpan.
 

Historical records reveal that the Kazakhs have used golden eagles for hunting purposes. But, during the Soviet era, the art of eagle hunting was on the verge of extinction. After the retreat of the Soviets, few private organizers and Kazakh eagle hunters, came together to host the event to raise awareness within the community. The festival began in 1999 -2000 and has been extremely popular among the tourists.

In 2011, the efforts of these organizers were acknowledged, when the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity recognized eagle hunting as a living human heritage.

To sum up, the Mongolian Eagle Festival is an ultra-photogenic event. And, a must-visit for tourists.

P.S: Over the decade few smaller eagle hunting events have cropped up in the area.
 

On the first day of the festival, the events kick off with an open with the eagle hunters, in their traditional gear and winter fur, showcase their prized eagles. These participants are judged based on their attire and how well they carry their eagles.

Apart from this, several events like shakhyru, where the eagle has to grab a piece of fox fur pulled by running horses or find its owner in the crowd. These contests judge the eagle and the trainer and winning it is a symbol of pride for the nomadic Kazakhs.

Among the other events, horses and camel races are hosted and participated by the locals. However, games like Tiyn Teru (the horse rider has to pick up objects, mostly coins, from the ground while riding a horse) or kokpar (tug-of-war between horse riders) pulls in maximum excitement.

In the evening, a traditional music festival is hosted in the Kazakh National Theatre. Local Kazakh musicians perform at the festival.

The Mongolian Eagle Festival ends the next day, with the final event. Here, the prize-winning eagles of the previous day hunt a live bait – the bird that catches the animal wins the contest. Many find this part of the event too graphic and violent.
 

The eagle festival has been a huge crowd puller in the area and has contributed towards setting up of tourist accommodations. Visitors can find a good number of hotels and tourist gers to stay during the festival. An average hotel can charge US$ 40 to US$60 per night. During the festival season, the rents can go up.

The tourist gers can charge up to US$60, based on the demand. At most ger camps, food and lodging expenses are included in the package. However, it is better to clarify the finer points to avoid issues later. Homestays are also available. Interested tourists can go for camping as well.
 

Visitors visiting the Mongolian Eagle Festival, can either take a bus or fight from the national capital, Ulaanbaatar (UB). Ölgii Airport has connectivity with the national capital via daily flights. From the airport, tourists can book private or shared cabs according to the budget. The ride can cost around US$2 to US$5. 

Tourists on a shoe-string budget can take an eight-hour-long bus ride from UB. The buses leave from the Dragon Bus Depot every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at sharp 3:00 pm. Tickets might cost around a few cents, but remember these buses can be too much crowded and difficult to board of newbies.

Another alternative is the shared jeep, which takes around six hours to complete and charge around US$2 for the ride.

P.S: The road trip to the Ölgii can be very bumpy. 
 

The tickets can be purchased from the organizers before the event. These tickets cost around $40 and include entry to the musical concert at the Kazakh National Theater in the evening. Apart from the sporting event, visitors can visit the adjoining handicraft fair and food stalls in the nearby region.
 

Apart from enjoying the festival, locals can head to the local bazaars for shopping or sample Kazakh cooking at the local stores.

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