Bhutan is noted for its Tshechus, or festivals, which are held annually on dates which are chosen by the lamas according to the Buddhist lunar calendar. The festivals are held on the tenth day of the lunar month, in honor of Guru Rinpoche, the great Indian tantric saint who brought the teachings of the Buddhist Dharma from Tibet to Bhutan in the 8th century, because it is on the tenth day that he is said to have performed his great deeds. Each locality has a certain time of year during which the festival is performed. These Tsechus are also large social gatherings, which perform the function of social bonding among people of remote and spread-out villages. Large markets also congregate at the fair locations, leading to brisk commerce. This is a great time to see and inter-mingle with villagers from far and near that congregate – sometimes walking for days and weeks – to participate in the festival. The festivals are generally preceded by a rituals and dances performed by monks or trained laymen in beautiful costumes of brilliantly colored silk and papier mache masks to the accompaniment of traditional instruments. The dances are usually held in the open courtyard of the local Dzong, or monastery/district administrative center, and attended by the local people who come to receive the blessings conferred upon the onlookers. This is a great time to be in the Dragon Kingdom
If our published programs and dates do not match your timings or preference, then look through the tentative Festival Dates here and call us to build a personalized trip based on your desired festival dates
FESTIVAL | PLACE | DATES |
Punakha Drubchen | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | 11th – 13th Feb |
Punakha Tshechu | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | 14th – 17th Feb |
Tharpaling Thongdrol | Tharpaling Lhakhang, Chumi, Bumthang | 19th Feb |
Gomphukora | Gom Kora Lhakhang, Trashigang | 14th – 16th March |
Talo Tshechu | Talo Gonpa, Punakha | 14th – 16th March |
Gasa Tshechu | Gasa Dzong, Gasa | 14th – 16th March |
Zhemgang Tshechu | Zhemgang Dzong, Zhemgang | 14th – 17th March |
Paro Tshechu | Rinpung Dzong, Paro | 17th – 21st March (Thongdral on last day) |
Chhorten Kora | Chorten Kora, Trashiyangtshe | 21st March & 5th April |
Rhododendron Festival | Lamperi Botanical Garden, Dochula, Thimphu | 19th – 21st April |
Domkhar Tshechu | Domkhar, Chumni, Bumthang. | 14th – 16th April |
Ura Yakchoe | Ura Lhakhang, Bumthang | 16th – 20th April |
Nimalung Tshechu | Nimalung Dratshang, Chumni, Bumthang | 10th – 11th July |
Kurjey Tshechu | Kurjey Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 11th July |
Haa Summer Festival | Haa | 13th & 14th July |
Mushroom Festival | Genekha, Thimphu. | 15th & 16th Aug |
Masutaki Mushroom Festival | Ura, Bumthang | 23rd & 24th Aug |
Tour of the Dragon (Bicycle Race) | Bumthang to Thimphu | 7th Sept |
Thimphu Drubchen | Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu | 3rd Oct |
Wangdue Tshechu | Tencholing Army Ground, Wangduephodrang. | 5th – 7th Oct |
Tamshing Phala Chhoepa | Tamshing lhakhang, Bumthang | 7th – 9th Oct |
Thimphu Tshechu | Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu | 7th – 9th Oct |
Gangtey Tshechu | Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha,Wangduephodrang. | 10th – 13th Oct (Thongdral on last day) |
Thangbi Mani | Tangbi Lhakhang, Choekor, Bumthang | 10th – 13th Oct |
Jhomolhari Mountain Festival | Dangochong, Thimphu | 14th & 15th Oct |
Chhukha Tshechu | Chhukha Dzong, Chhukha | 6th – 8th Nov |
Jakar Tshechu | Jakar Dzong, Choekhor, Bumthang. | 5th – 9th Nov |
Jambay Lhakhang Drup | Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 13th – 16th Nov |
Prakhar Duchhoed | Prakar Khakhang, Chumni, Bumthang | 14th – 16th Nov |
Dechenphu Tshechu | Dechenphu Lhakhang, Thimphu | 8th Nov |
Black Necked Crane Festival | Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha, Wangduephodrang. | 11th Nov |
Mongar Tshechu | Mongar Dzong, Mongar | 4th – 6th Dec |
Trashigang Tshechu | Trashigang Dzong, Trashigang. | 5th – 7th Dec |
Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham | Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 12th Dec |
Pemagatshel Tshechu | Pemagatshel Dzong, Pemagatshel. | 11th – 13 Nov (Thongdral on last day) |
Nalakhar Tshechu | Ngaa Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 12th – 14th Dec |
Druk Wangyel Tshechu | Douchula , Thimphu | 13th Dec |
Trongsa Tshechu | Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa | 4th – 7th Jan, 2020 (Thongdral on last day) |
Lhuentse Tshechu | Lhuentse Dzong, Lhuentse | 4th – 7th Jan, 2020 (Thongdral on last day) |
Nabji Lhakhang Drup | Nabji Lhakhang, Nabji, Trongsa | 10th – 12th Jan, 2020 |
We do our best, but dates may change due to re-calculation and other issues. Please double check all dates and festivals with Bhutan Travel OR we will keep you up dates with
Festival/Tshechu dates as and when the schedule get changed. Further, we will keep you up dates with other events and program too.