If there is one experience that brings Bhutan’s living culture into focus, it is the tshechu. Held in the courtyards of dzongs and temples across the country, these religious festivals honour Guru Rinpoche with days of sacred masked dances, music and blessings.
The dates follow the lunar calendar, so they move each year. The best-known – Paro in spring, Thimphu and Wangdue in autumn, Punakha in late winter – draw crowds from across their districts, while smaller village festivals can feel like a private invitation.
Go early on the final morning of a festival that has a thongdrel and you may see the giant thangka unrolled at dawn, a sight believed to cleanse the viewer of wrongdoing. Dress modestly, keep to the edges of the dance ground and never use flash.
Our journey The Tshechu is timed for Punakha’s festival, and we can build any private journey around the festival calendar. See our festival guide for the main dates by season.
