img credit : Pema Gyamtsho on Unsplash img credit : Pema Gyamtsho on Unsplash Festivals represent the rich history and culture of a nation and Bhutan is no exception. There are multiple festivals celebrated in Bhutan that attract the fancy of its travelers. Here are a few of them:-
This is the biggest festival of Bhutan and you may also consider it as the national festival of the region. The festival is celebrated for 3 days and on the 10th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. The special highlights of this festival are colors, dance performances, and activities.
This festival is extremely popular in the central Bhutan region. The festival is celebrated for 3 days specially during the October-November month. The special attraction consists of the popular ‘Dance of Ox where people pray for peace in the afterlife. Even huge paintings are displayed at this festival.
It is a special festival of Bhutan to honor the Guru Rinpoche. It has a major attraction in the form of ‘Dance of Treasures. The festival lasts for 4 days and just like the other two festivals it also starts in Oct-Nov.
The famous Haa Summer Festival lasts for 2-3 and is celebrated in July. The festival is celebrated by the nomads of the Haa Valley. Yak riding, folk dance, and food tasting are other some of the attractions of the region.
Some other notable mentions are the Matsutake Festival, Paro Tshechu Festival, and Jomolhari Mountain Festival.
| 1 | Punakha Drubchen | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | 16th -18th Feb
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| 2 | Punakha Tshechu | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | 19th -21st. Feb |
| 3 | Tharpaling Thongdrol | Tharpaling Lhakhang, Chumi, Bumthang | 24th Feb |
| 4 | Gomphukora | Gom Kora Lhakhang, Trashigang | 17th -19th March
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| 5 | Talo Tshechu | Talo Gonpa, Punakha | 17th -19th March
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| 6 | Gasa Tshechu
| Gasa Dzong, Gasa | 17th -19th March
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| 7 | Zhemgang Tshechu | Zhemgang Dzong, Zhemgang | 17th -19th March
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| 8 | Paro Tshechu | Rinpung Dzong, Paro | 20th -24th March (Thongdral on last day)
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| 9 | Chhorten Kora | Chorten Kora, Trashiyangtshe | 25th March & 8th April
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| 10 | Domkhar Tshechu | Domkhar, Chumi, Bumthang. | 18th -20th April
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| 11 | Ura Yakchoe | Ura Lhakhang, Bumthang | 20th -24th April
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| 12 | Nimalung Tshechu | Nimalung Dratshang, Chumi, Bumthang | 14th -16th June
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| 13 | Kurjey Tshechu | Kurjey Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 16th June
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| 14 | Tour of the Dragon (Mountain Bike Race) | Bumthang to Thimphu | 2nd Sept |
| 15 | Thimphu Drubchen | Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu | 8th Sept
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| 16 | Wangdue Tshechu | Wangduephodrang | 11th -13th Sept
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| 17 | Tamshing Phala Chhoepa | Tamshing lhakhang, Bumthang | 13th -15th Sept
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| 18 | Thimphu Tshechu | Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu | 12th -14th Sept
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| 19 | Gangtey Tshechu | Gangtey Gonpa, Wangduephodrang | 16th -18th Sept (Thongdral on last day)
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| 20 | Thangbi Mani | Tangbi Lhakhang, Choekor, Bumthang | 17th -19th Sept
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| 21 | Jhomolhari Mountain Festival | Dangochong, Thimphu
| 14th -15th Oct |
| 22 | Chhukha Tshechu | Chhukha Dzong, Chhukha | 10th -12th Oct
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| 23 | Jakar Tshechu | Jakar Dzong, Choekhor, Bumthang. | 10th -12th Oct
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| 24 | Jambay Lhakhang Drup | Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 17th -21st Oct
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| 25 | Prakhar Duchhoed | Prakar Khakhang, Chumni, Bumthang | 18th -20th Oct
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| 26 | Dechenphu Tshechu | Dechenphu Lhakhang, Thimphu | 12th Oct
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| 27 | Black Necked Crane Festival | Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha, Wangduephodrang. | 11th Nov |
| 28 | Mongar Tshechu | Mongar Dzong, Mongar | 9th -11th Nov
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| 29 | Trashigang Tshechu | Trashigang Dzong, Trashigang. | 9th -11th Nov
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| 30 | Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham | Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 15th Nov
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| 31 | Pemagatshel Tshechu | Pemagatshel Dzong, Pemagatshel. | 9th -11th Nov (Thongdral on last day)
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| 32 | Nalakhar Tshechu | Ngaa Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 15th -17th Nov
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| 33 | Druk Wangyel Tshechu | Douchula , Thimphu | 13th Dec |
| 34 | Trongsa Tshechu | Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa | 8th -10th Dec (Thongdral on last day)
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| 35 | Lhuentse Tshechu | Lhuentse Dzong, Lhuentse | 8th -10th Dec (Thongdral on last day)
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| 36 | Nabji Lhakhang Drup | Nabji Lhakhang, Nabji, Trongsa | 15th-16th Dec
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| 37 | Samdrupjongkhar Tshechu | Samdrupjongkhar | 13th -15th Dec
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| Festival | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Punakha Drubchen | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | 6th – 8th March |
| Punakha Tshechu | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | 9th – 11th March |
| Tharpaling Thongdrol | Tharpaling Lhakhang, Chumi, Bumthang | 14th March |
| Tangsibi Mani | Tangsibi Lhakhang, Ura Bumthang | 15th – 17th March |
| Chhorten Kora | Chorten Kora, Trashiyangtshe | 14th March & 29th March |
| Gomphukora | Gom Kora Lhakhang, Trashigang | 5th – 7th April |
| Talo Tshechu | Talo Gonpa, Punakha | 5th – 7th April |
| Gasa Tshechu | Gasa Dzong, Gasa | 5th – 7th April |
| Zhemgang Tshechu | Zhemgang Dzong, Zhemgang | 5th – 7th April |
| Paro Tshechu | Rinpung Dzong, Paro | 8th – 12th April (Thongdral on last day) |
| Rhododendron Festival | Lamperi Botanical Park, Thimphu | 22nd -24th April |
| Domkhar Tshechu | Domkhar, Chumi, Bumthang. | 7th – 9th May |
| Ura Yakchoe | Ura Lhakhang, Bumthang | 9th – 13th May |
| Nimalung Tshechu | Nimalung Dratshang, Chumi, Bumthang | 3rd – 5th July |
| Kurjey Tshechu | Kurjey Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 5th July |
| i)Tour of the Dragon ii) Dragons Fury (Mountain Bike Race) | i)Bumthang to Thimphu ii) Lobesa to Thiphu | 6th September * |
| Thimphu Drubchen | Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu | 28th September |
| Wangdue Tshechu | Wangduephodrang | 30th September 1 st – 2nd October |
| Tamshing Phala Chhoepa | Tamshing lhakhang, Bumthang | 2nd – 4th October |
| Thimphu Tshechu | Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu | 2nd – 4th October |
| Gangtey Tshechu | Gangtey Gonpa, Wangduephodrang | 5th – 7 th October (Thongdral on last day) |
| Thangbi Mewang | Thangbi Lhakhang, Choekor, Bumthang | 7th -8th October |
| Pemagatshel Tshechu | Pemagatshel Dzong, Pemagatshel. | 29th – 31st October 1 st November (Thongdral on last day) |
| Jhomolhari Mountain Festival | Dangochong, Thimphu | 14th -15th October |
| Chhukha Tshechu | Chhukha Dzong, Chhukha | 29th – 31st October |
| Dechenphu Tshechu | Dechenphu Lhakhang, Thimphu | 31st October |
| Jakar Tshechu | Jakar Dzong, Choekhor, Bumthang. | 29th -31st October 1 st November |
| Jambay Lhakhang Drup | Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 5th – 8th November |
| Prakhar Duchhoed | Prakar Khakhang, Chumni, Bumthang | 6th – 8th November |
| Black Necked Crane Festival | Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha, Wangduephodrang. | 11th November |
| Mongar Tshechu | Mongar Dzong, Mongar | 28th – 30th November |
| Trashigang Tshechu | Trashigang Dzong, Trashigang. | 29th -30th November 1 st December |
| Phuntsholing Tshechu | Phuntsholing, Chhukha | 28th -30th November |
| Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham | Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 4th December |
| Nalakhar Tshechu | Ngaa Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 4th – 6th December |
| Druk Wangyel Tshechu | Dochula , Thimphu | 13th December |
| Trongsa Tshechu | Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa | 27th – 31st December (Thongdral on last day) |
| Lhuentse Tshechu | Lhuentse Dzong, Lhuentse | 27th – 31st December (Thongdral on last day) |
| Samdrupjongkhar Tshechu | Samdrupjongkhar | 1 st – 3rd January 2026 |
| Nabji Lhakhang Drup | Nabji Lhakhang, Nabji, Trongsa | 3rd -5th January 2026 |
