Bhutan Festival by Popularity

Paro Tshechu and Thimphu Tshechu are by far the most popular festivals in Bhutan. There are two main reasons why they are so popular. Firstly, they are located in the Western part of Bhutan, an hour drive away from Paro Airport. So it is possible for you to do a four days visit just to attend the festival. If the festival is taking place in Eastern Bhutan, you would have to visit Bhutan for a minimum of 10 days. Secondly, Paro and Thimphu Festivals take place in spring and autumn respectively, two of the best times to visit Bhutan.

We would usually recommend travelers to book at least six months before their travel dates. With the growing number of hotels in Bhutan, we can usually accommodate travelers on last minute notice also however, the choices on hotels may be limited. On top of it most of the experienced guides will be in high demand during this period so we are afraid that we might have to make some adjustments. If you have some flexibility with your travel schedule, we would recommend going for less popular festivals or book your tours as early as possible.

Bhutan Festivals We Highly Recommend

There are a few festivals that we enjoy immensely. They are typically much smaller in scale, might be a bit off the beaten track and lower in visitors attendance but definitely worth your time and provides the local intimacy that Paro Tshechu and Thimphu Tshechu being marque events do not.

Royal Highland Festival (Laya) – The Royal Highlander Festival is hosted at an elevation of 4000 meters above sea-level. An initiative by His Majesty the King, the festival was first introduced on 16th Of October in 2016 to mark the celebration of the birth of HRH the Gyalsey, it allows visitors to get first hand experience of life & culture of the highlanders from the surrounding villages.

The plateau where it is hosted allows for a panoramic view of the Himalayan ranges. Visitors stay in tents set up by the nomadic people of Lunana and Laya and roam the high plains while interacting with the highlanders. This is truly a unique experience with attendance at about 200 each year.

Punakha Tshechu – A much less attended festival, Punakha Festival retells the story of how the Bhutanese outsmart and repel the Tibetans invaders during Zhadrung’s time. Participants dress up as ancient soldiers and horsemen and reenact the various battles at the majestic Punakha Dzong towards the end of winter which is really a very pleasant weather in the valley of Punakha.

Druk Wangyel Tshechu – The Druk Wangyel Festival is a unique festival in Bhutan. Unlike other festivals at dzongs which were designed by the Zhabdrung, the founder of Bhutan, and performed by monks, the Druk Wangyel festival was curated by Dasho Karma Ura and performed by soldiers. It’s a one day event on every 13th December, to commemorate the flushing out of militia in southern Bhutan and attended by many members of the royal family and political elites.

Talo Tshechu – The Talo Tshechu is a small and intimate festival attended by the villagers of Talo and surrounding villages in the Punakha valley. It is highly accessible, only a 2 hours drive from Thimphu. And we love it for its intimacy and local feel.

What if you can’t catch the festival?

Preparation for the festivals starts weeks before the festival itself. If you are in Bhutan but won’t be able to catch the festival, do visit the Dzong, and you may be able to catch the monks practicing and preparing the material for the festival. This is a great photo opportunity since the materials used for prayer are colourful. This visit can be a meaningful opportunity if you have caught the festival somewhere; you have the chance to see the faces behind the masks and spend time speaking to the monks on the origin and
meaning of the festival.

Note:
Festivals in Bhutan are also known as Tshechu