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Rajasthan

Khichan (Demoiselle Cranes)

Village that feeds 20,000 demoiselle cranes each winter

WildlifeOffbeatDesert

Best time to visit Khichan (Demoiselle Cranes)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: November to February
  • Shoulder: March and September to October, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: April to August

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryNovemberDecember

Khichan (Demoiselle Cranes) season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Peak: up to 20,000 kurjan cranes drop onto the chugga ghar feeding ground at first light and again mid-morning.

Summer March to May Shoulder

April-June there is not a single crane left, and Phalodi is one of India's hottest towns, regularly past 47 C.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

June and July are empty and hot at 42 C; the first birds only trickle in right at the end of August once the rain stops.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Numbers build fast through October and the flocks are already worth the trip by mid-November, with no crowd at all.

What Khichan (Demoiselle Cranes) is actually like

A Jain-Marwari village with one crane hide and two homestays; birders and nobody else, so bring your own patience.

Things to do in Khichan

The local places worth your time in and around Khichan, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Pakshi Chugga Ghar

    Wildlife · in town

    Walled feeding yard where villagers pour grain for thousands of demoiselle cranes; be at the hide by 7 am, before they land.

  • Vijay Sagar Talab

    Lake · 2 km out

    Village pond the cranes drink from after feeding; late morning light is best and the dune bank keeps you far enough back.

  • Phalodi Fort

    Heritage · 5 km out

    Fifteenth century sandstone fort above Phalodi's lanes, mostly unrestored; ask at the gate, there is no ticket counter.

  • Lal Niwas

    Heritage · 5 km out

    Carved red sandstone haveli in Phalodi, now a small heritage hotel; walk in for tea and a look at the jharokha courtyard.

Getting to Khichan (Demoiselle Cranes)

Phalodi railhead 5 km, with Jodhpur and Jaisalmer trains; autos to Khichan, and feeding starts around sunrise.

Practical ways in: trainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
1 day
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Doable solo with some planning
Altitude
219 m
State
Rajasthan
Coordinates
27.1350, 72.4150

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Khichan (Demoiselle Cranes)?

November to February is peak season in Khichan (Demoiselle Cranes). March and September to October is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid April to August. Numbers build fast through October and the flocks are already worth the trip by mid-November, with no crowd at all.

How many days do you need in Khichan (Demoiselle Cranes)?

1 day is the usual stay. A Jain-Marwari village with one crane hide and two homestays; birders and nobody else, so bring your own patience.

How do you get to Khichan (Demoiselle Cranes)?

Phalodi railhead 5 km, with Jodhpur and Jaisalmer trains; autos to Khichan, and feeding starts around sunrise. Practical ways in: train and road.

Is Khichan (Demoiselle Cranes) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.

What are the best things to do in Khichan?

Pakshi Chugga Ghar, Vijay Sagar Talab, Phalodi Fort and Lal Niwas. Walled feeding yard where villagers pour grain for thousands of demoiselle cranes; be at the hide by 7 am, before they land.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Rajasthan

All 49 destinations in Rajasthan