FESTIVAL TOURS
Bhutan, renowned for its untouched natural beauty and rich heritage, is often called the “Land of Prosperity and Happiness.” The country offers a captivating blend of famous tourist destinations and vibrant festivals that attract global travelers. Some of the well-known Bhutan festival tours include the Thimphu festival tour, Paro festival tour, Jakkar Tshechu Bhutan, and Jambay Lhakhang Drup, among others.
Tshechu, a significant cultural event in Bhutan, is celebrated annually throughout the nation, paying homage to Guru Rinpoche, the revered figure credited with introducing Buddhism to Bhutan. These festivals take place in the courtyards of majestic medieval fortresses. During Tshechu, monks don colorful silk costumes and intricately crafted masks depicting a fearsome pantheon of deities. They perform a series of religious dances, including a theatrical portrayal of the afterlife and the judgment day.
Bhutan hosts six classified Tshechu festivals, including Thimphu Tshechu, Jambay Lhakhang Drup, Wangdue Phodrang Tshechu, Punakha Drubchen, Paro Tshechu, and Haa Tsechu. Among these, Thimphu Tshechu stands out as the most popular, drawing thousands of spectators.
During these festivals, locals dress elaborately and prepare lavish meals. It is believed that the sacred masked dances during Tshechu invoke blessings from the deities for the attendees. These festivals typically span several days, culminating in the unfurling of a massive applique scroll painting of Guru Rinpoche at dawn. It is believed that glimpsing this painting can cleanse one’s bad karma, and it is only displayed to the public during the Tshechu festival.
Festival Dates for the Year 2025
Si No. | Festival Name | Place | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Trongsa Tshechu | Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa | 9th Jan | 11th Jan |
2 | Lhuentse Tshechu | Lhuentse Dzong, Lhuentse | 8th Jan | 10th Jan |
3 | Samdrupjongkhar Tshechu | Samdrupjongkhar | 11th Jan | 13th Jan |
4 | Punakha Drubchen | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | 6th March | 8th March |
5 | Punakha Tshechu | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | 9th March | 11th March |
6 | Tharpaling Thongdrolohay | Tharpaling Lhakhang, Chumi, Bumthang | 14th March | |
7 | Tangsibi Mani | Tangsibi Lhakhang, Ura Bumthang | 15th March | 17th March |
8 | Chhorten Kora | Chorten Kora, Trashiyangtshe | 14th March & 29th March | |
9 | Rhododendron Week | Merak and Sakteng Region Trashigang | 3rd April | 9th April |
10 | Gomphukora | Gom Kora Lhakhang, Trashigang | 5th April | 7th April |
11 | Talo Tshechu | Talo Gonpa, Punakha | 5th April | 7th April |
12 | Gasa Tshechu | Gasa Dzong, Gasa | 5th April | 7th April |
13 | Zhemgang Tshechu | Zhemgang Dzong, Zhemgang | 5th April | 7th April |
14 | Paro Tshechu | Rinpung Dzong, Paro | 8th April | 12th April |
15 | Rhododendron Festival | Lamperi Botanical Park, Thimphu | 13th April | 14th April |
16 | Domkhar Tshechu | Domkhar, Chumi, Bumthang. | 7th May | 9th May |
17 | Ura Yakchoe | Ura Lhakhang, Bumthang | 9th May | 13th May |
18 | Nimalung Tshechu | Nimalung Dratshang, Chumi, Bumthang | 3rd July | 5th July |
19 | Kurjey Tshechu | Kurjey Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 5th July | |
20 | Mushroom Festival | Genekha, Geneyzam, Thimphu | 15th Aug | 16th Aug |
21 | Tour of the Dragon (Mountain Bike Race) | Bumthang to Thimphu | 6th Sep | |
22 | Thimphu Drubchen | Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu | 28th Sep | |
23 | Wangdue Tshechu | Wangduephodrang | 30th Sep | 2nd Oct |
24 | Haa Annual Tshechu | Haa | 29th Oct | 31st Oct |
25 | Tamshing Phala Chhoepa | Tamshing lhakhang, Bumthang | 2nd Oct | 4th Oct |
26 | Thimphu Tshechu | Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu | 2nd Oct | 4th Oct |
27 | Gangtey Tshechu | Gangtey Gonpa, Wangduephodrang | 5th Oct | 7th Oct |
28 | Thangbi Mewang | Thangbi Lhakhang, Choekor, Bumthang | 7th Oct | 8th Oct |
29 | Pemagatshel Tshechu | Pemagatshel Dzong, Pemagatshel. | 29th Oct | 1st Nov |
30 | Jhomolhari Mountain Festival | Dangochong, Thimphu | 14th Oct | 15th Oct |
31 | Royal Highland Festival | Laya, Gasa | 23rd Oct | 24th Oct |
32 | Chhukha Tshechu | Chhukha Dzong, Chhukha | 29th Oct | 31st Oct |
33 | Dechenphu Tshechu | Dechenphu Lhakhang, Thimphu | 31st Oct | |
34 | Jakar Tshechu | Jakar Dzong, Choekhor, Bumthang. | 29th Oct | 1st Nov |
35 | Jambay Lhakhang Drup | Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 5th Nov | 8th Nov |
36 | Prakhar Duchhoed | Prakar Khakhang, Chumni, Bumthang | 6th Nov | 8th Nov |
37 | Black Necked Crane Festival | Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha, Wangduephodrang. | 11th Nov | |
38 | Mongar Tshechu | Mongar Dzong, Mongar | 28th Nov | 30th Nov |
39 | Trashigang Tshechu | Trashigang Dzong, Trashigang. | 29th Nov | 1st Dec |
40 | Phuntsholing Tshechu | Phuntsholing, Chhukha | 28th Nov | 30th Nov |
41 | Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham | Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 4th Dec | |
42 | Nalakhar Tshechu | Ngaa Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 4th Dec | 6th Dec |
43 | Druk Wangyel Tshechu | Douchula , Thimphu | 13th Dec | |
44 | Trongsa Tshechu | Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa | 27th Dec | 31st Dec |
45 | Lhuentse Tshechu | Lhuentse Dzong, Lhuentse | 27th Dec | 31st Dec |
46 | Samdrupjongkhar Tshechu | Samdrupjongkhar | 1st Jan 2026 | 3rd Jan 2026 |
47 | Nabji Lhakhang Drup | Nabji Lhakhang, Nabji, Trongsa | 3rd Jan 2026 | 5th Jan 2026 |
Tentative Festival Dates for year 2026
Si No. | Festival Name | Place | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lhamoi Dromchhen | Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa | 22nd Feb | 24th Feb |
2 | Punakha Dromchoe | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | 24th Feb | 26th Feb |
3 | Punakha Tshechu | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | 27th Feb | 1st March |
4 | Tharpaling Thongdrol | Tharpaling Lhakhang, Chumi, Bumthang | 3rd March | |
5 | Tangsibi Mani | Tangsibi Lhakhang, Ura Bumthang | 4th March | 6th March |
6 | Chhorten Kora | Chorten Kora, Trashiyangtshe | 3rd March & 19th March | |
7 | Gomphukora | Gom Kora Lhakhang, Trashiyangtshe | 26th March | 28th March |
8 | Talo Tshechu | Talo Gonpa, Punakha | 26th March | 28th March |
9 | Gasa Tshechu | Gasa Dzong, Gasa | 26th March | 28th March |
10 | Zhemgang Tshechu | Zhemgang Dzong, Zhemgang | 26th March | 28th March |
11 | Paro Tshechu | Rinpung Dzong, Paro | 29th March | 2nd April |
12 | Rhododendron Festival | Lamperi Botanical Park, Thimphu | 13th April | 14th April |
13 | Domkhar Tshechu | Domkhar, Chumi, Bumthang. | 26th April | 28th April |
14 | Ura Yakchoe | Ura Lhakhang, Bumthang | 28th April | 2nd May |
15 | Nimalung Tshechu | Nimalung Dratshang, Chumi, Bumthang | 22nd June | 24th June |
16 | Kurjey Tshechu | Kurjey Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 24th June | |
17 | Tour of the Dragon (Mountain Bike Race) | Bumthang to Thimphu | 5th Sep | |
18 | Thimphu Drubchen | Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu | 17th Sep | |
19 | Wangdue Tshechu | Wangduephodrang | 19th Sep | 21st Sep |
20 | Tamshing Phala Chhoepa | Tamshing lhakhang, Bumthang | 21st Sep | 23rd Sep |
21 | Thimphu Tshechu | Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu | 21st Sep | 23rd Sep |
22 | Gangtey Tshechu | Gangtey Gonpa, Wangduephodrang | 24th Sep | 26th Sep |
23 | Thangbi Mewang | Thangbi Lhakhang, Choekor, Bumthang | 26th Sep | 27th Sep |
24 | Pemagatshel Tshechu | Pemagatshel Dzong, Pemagatshel. | 18th Oct | 21st Oct |
25 | Jhomolhari Mountain Festival | Dangochong, Thimphu | 14th Oct | 15th Oct |
26 | Chhukha Tshechu | Chhukha Dzong, Chhukha | 19th Oct | 21st Oct |
27 | Dechenphu Tshechu | Dechenphu Lhakhang, Thimphu | 21st Oct | |
28 | Jakar Tshechu | Jakar Dzong, Choekhor, Bumthang. | 18th Oct | 21st Oct |
29 | Jambay Lhakhang Drup | Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 26th Oct | 29th Oct |
30 | Prakhar Duchhoed | Prakar Khakhang, Chumni, Bumthang | 27th Oct | 29th Oct |
31 | Haa Tshechu | Lhakhang Karpo, Haa | 19th Oct | 21 st Oct |
32 | Black Necked Crane Festival | Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha, Wangduephodrang. | 11th Nov | |
33 | Goenpai Drupchen | Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa | 14th Nov | 16th Nov |
34 | Mongar Tshechu | Mongar Dzong, Mongar | 17th Nov | 19th Nov |
35 | Trashigang Tshechu | Trashigang Dzong, Trashigang. | 18th Nov | 20th Nov |
36 | Phuntsholing Tshechu | Phuntsholing, Chhukha | 17th Nov | 19th Nov |
37 | Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham | Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 24th Nov | |
38 | Nalakhar Tshechu | Ngaa Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 24th Nov | 26th Nov |
39 | Druk Wangyel Tshechu | Douchula , Thimphu | 13th Dec | |
40 | Trongsa Tshechu | Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa | 17th Dec | 21st Dec |
41 | Lhuentse Tshechu | Lhuentse Dzong, Lhuentse | 17th Dec | 21st Dec |
42 | Samdrupjongkhar Tshechu | Samdrupjongkhar | 22nd Dec | 24th Dec |
43 | Nabji Lhakhang Drup | Nabji Lhakhang, Nabji, Trongsa | 24th Dec | 26th Dec |