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.

1	Punakha Drubchen	Punakha Dzong, Punakha	19th -21st February
2	Punakha Tshechu	Punakha Dzong, Punakha	22nd -24th February
3	Tharpaling Thongdrol	Tharpaling Lhakhang,  Chumi, Bumthang	27th February
4	Gomphukora	Gom Kora Lhakhang, Trashigang	21st -23rd March
5	Talo Tshechu	Talo Gonpa, Punakha	21st -23rd March
6	Gasa Tshechu	Gasa Dzong, Gasa	21st -23rd March
7	Zhemgang Tshechu	Zhemgang Dzong, Zhemgang	21st -23rd March
8	Paro Tshechu	Rinpung Dzong, Paro	21st -23rd March (Thongdral on last day)
9	Chhorten Kora	Chorten Kora,  Trashiyangtshe	28th  March  & 11th April
10	Rhododendron Festival	Lamperi Botanical Garden, Dochula, Thimphu	16th – 18st April
11	Domkhar Tshechu	Domkhar, Chumni, Bumthang.	22nd -24th April
12	Ura Yakchoe	Ura Lhakhang, Bumthang	25th – 27th April
13	Nimalung Tshechu	Nimalung Dratshang, Chumni, Bumthang	18th – 20th June
14	Kurjey Tshechu	Kurjey Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang	20th June
15	Haa Summer Festival	Haa	10th & 11th July
16	Mushroom Festival	Genekha, Thimphu.	15th & 16th Aug
17	Tour of the Dragon (Bicycle Race)	Bumthang to Thimphu	4th Sept
18	Thimphu Drubchen	Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu	12th Sept
19	Wangdue Tshechu	Tencholing Army Ground, Wangduephodrang.	14th – 16th Sept
20	Tamshing Phala Chhoepa	Tamshing lhakhang, Bumthang	16th – 18th Sept
21	Thimphu Tshechu	Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu	16th – 20th Sept
22	Gangtey Tshechu	Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha,Wangduephodrang.	18th – 20th Sept (Thongdral on last day)
23	Thangbi Mani	Tangbi Lhakhang, Choekor, Bumthang	18th – 21st  Sept
24	Chhukha Tshechu	Chhukha Dzong, Chhukha	13th – 15th Oct
25	Jakar Tshechu	Jakar Dzong, Choekhor,  Bumthang.	13th – 15th Oct
26	Jhomolhari Mountain Festival	Dangochong, Thimphu	14th & 15th Oct
27	Dechenphu Tshechu	Dechenphu Lhakhang, Thimphu	15th Oct
28	Jambay Lhakhang Drup	Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang	20th -22nd Oct
29	Prakhar Duchhoed	Prakar Khakhang, Chumni, Bumthang	21st –23rd  Oct
30	Royal Highland Festival	Laya, Gasa	23th  – 24th Oct
31	Black Necked Crane Festival	Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha, Wangduephodrang.	11th Nov
32	Bhutan Bird Festival	Thingtibi, Zhemgang	11th – 13th Nov
33	Mongar Tshechu	Mongar Dzong, Mongar	12th  – 14th Nov
34	Trashigang Tshechu	Trashigang Dzong, Trashigang.	12th -14th Nov
35	Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham	Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang	19th Nov
36	Pemagatshel Tshechu	Pemagatshel Dzong, Pemagatshel.	12th – 14th Nov (Thongdral on last day)
37	Nalakhar Tshechu	Ngaa Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang	19th –21st  Nov
38	Druk Wangyel Tshechu	Douchula , Thimphu	13th  Dec
39	Trongsa Tshechu	Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa	11th – 13th Dec (Thongdral on last day)
40	Lhuentse Tshechu	Lhuentse Dzong, Lhuentse	11th  – 13th Dec (Thongdral on last day)
41	Nabji Lhakhang Drup	Nabji Lhakhang, Nabji, Trongsa	18th –20th Dec
42	Samdrupjongkhar Tshechu	Samdrupjongkhar	16th -18th December

Dates are accurate as of January 2021. These are tentative dates for the calendar year. 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.