Bhutan Tourism highlights the country’s festive season

Bhutan’s Department of Tourism ushers in the country’s festive season which spans from September to December and is rich in cultural magnificence and spiritual celebration. 

The season’s calendar is marked by seven unique festivals that showcase Bhutan’s national identity and offer a warm Bhutanese welcome to all who wish to experience the country’s living traditions. 

These events are Thimphu Tshechu, Jomolhari Mountain Festival, Black Mountain Festival, Black Necked Crane Festival, Bhutan Bird Festival, Druk Wangyel Tshechu, and the Royal Highland Festival. 

An October treasure trove

The annual Thimphu Tshechu took place from 13 to 15 September at the Tendrelthang Festival Ground. One of the largest and most significant religious and social events in Bhutan, it was punctuated by various mask dances and served as a great opportunity to experience Bhutanese culture.

In October, the Jomolhari Mountain Festival takes place at the Soe village Gewog Centre, an eight-hour walk from Shana Gewog (the nearest road point) in Paro. The two-day festival celebrates Lingzhi’s culture, tradition, and natural heritage, as well as the harmonious coexistence between highlanders and snow leopards, known in these parts as the Ghosts of the Mountains. The event likewise raises awareness on conserving this majestic species.

Also in October is the Black Mountain Festival in the courtyard of Trongsa Dzong. A six-hour drive from Thimphu, this event highlights the breathtaking beauty and cultural significance of Trongsa district. Designed to showcase the hidden treasures of Trongsa, promote local products, and boost local economy, it includes a wide range of activities for guests which include indigenous sports, stalls displaying various local products, cuisines and farm machinery. 

The Royal Highland Festival, which celebrates the ancient traditions of Bhutan’s highland communities, caps the festivities for October. The festival will be held in the beautiful village of Laya, in the Bhutanese Highlands. It casts the authentic and simple lives of the highlanders into the spotlight through a range of activities, including highland animal competitions, folk dances, and age-old traditional offerings. The two-day highland festival is a beautiful and thrilling event that features cultural and entertainment programs by the Layap people, the local residents of Laya, showcasing their own unique culture, tradition and dresses.

Into the winter months with the birds 

The annual Black-Necked Crane Festival will be held on 11th Novembe in the courtyard of the beautiful Gangtey Monastery located on a hilltop of Gangtey valley, a four-hour drive from Thimpu. The event celebrates the return of the magnificent black-necked cranes to Bhutan from parts of Tibet and India. Attendees can look forward to witnessing mask dances. Furthermore, the festival also features various cultural performances by students, paying homage to the globally vulnerable black-necked cranes.

The annual Bhutan Bird Festival, on the other hand, takes place in the Zhemgang district, the eco-tourism capital of Bhutan, six hours away from Thimphu. It is home to over 500 species of birds including Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Satyr Tragopan, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Spotted Elachura, Blue-capped Rock Thrush, Emerald Cuckoo, Nuthatch, and the critically endangered White-bellied Heron. The three-day bird festival is a fascinating event, aimed to promote birding and upscale eco-tourism in the region and to enhance the local economy. The festival will feature cultural and entertainment programs by local bands, dancers and singers, mask dances and traditional Bhutanese music. Visitors can also participate in traditional games and enjoy hiking along the beautiful bird-watching trails. Beyond the festival ground, visitors have the option to go for healing hot-spring baths and recreational fishing (catch and release) using local traps or fly-fishing equipment. They can also go for white water rafting in the Mangde Chhu and Drangme Chhu basins.

Bhutan caps off the festive season with the Druk Wangyel Tshechu on 13th December at Dochula mountain pass, 45 minutes away from the capital. Against the breathtaking backdrop of the Himalayan mountain range, many sacred dances are performed at the festival retelling the bravery and sacrifices of the Royal Bhutan Army. The festival will feature various mask dances and traditional Bhutanese folk dances.