The Punakha Tshechu Festival is the perfect opportunity to honor the great Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rimpoche. This revered yogi and saint is credited with introducing Tantric Buddhism to the majestic Himalayas. During the festival, monks clad in magnificent brocade attire perform breathtaking masked dances, accompanied by chanting and reading of Buddhist scriptures.
The highlight of the festival is the unveiling of a huge thangka, a sacred scroll depicting Padmasambhava, and other figures from the Buddhist Pantheon. If you want to experience the Punakha Tshechu and the beauty of Bhutan, then the Punakha Tshechu Festival Bhutan Tour – 6 Nights 7 Days is the ideal itinerary. You will get to explore the stunning monuments of Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha.
Wearing a Face Mask during the festival in Bhutan
Punakha Tshechu Festival Schedule 2025
| Punakha Tshechu | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | 9-11 March 2025 | ||
Experience the vibrant colors of Bhutan with a 6-night 7-day Punakha Tshechu Festival Bhutan Tour! Make sure to book in advance to join a group and check the dates on our website for the Bhutan festival charts. You can conveniently fly into Paro airport from a variety of international cities such as Kathmandu, Delhi, Kolkotta, Bagdogra, Guwahati, Bangkok, Dhaka, and Singapore. Don’t miss your chance to explore the amazing culture and scenery of Bhutan!
Upon arrival at Paro International airport, you will be greeted by your guide upon exiting the arrival gate to start your wonderful trip of Punakha Tshechu Festival Bhutan Tour – 6 Nights 7 Days. Today, we will take it easy to acclimatize to the altitude. Drive to Thimphu, check in to the hotel, and let’s have your first taste of Bhutanese cuisine and some light- seeing as the weekend market in Thimphu.
Heritage Museum – Dedicated to connecting people to the Bhutanese rural past through the exhibition of artifacts used in rural households.
Textile Museum – witnesses the art tradition weaving.
Simtokha Dzong – Five miles from Thimphu on a lofty stand Semtokha Dzong is the oldest fortress in the Kingdom.
National Memorial Chorten – which was built in honor of the late king Jigme Dorji Wangchuk
Papermaking Factory – Witness the art of papermaking
Day trek to Tango Goemba and picnic/lunch by the river in the afternoon. The Tango Goemba site has had religious significance since the 12th century when it was the home of the lama who brought the Drukpa Kagyupa school of Buddhism to Bhutan. The monastery was built there in the 15th century by Drukpa Kunley (“The Divine Madman”). Tango is the highest center of Buddhist learning in the country; almost every Je Khenpo (religious head of Bhutan) completed the 9- year program there. After completing that program, monks traditionally spend a 3-year program there. After completing that program monks traditionally spend 3 years, 3 months, and 3 days in mediation at the nearby Cheri Goemba retreat, built-in 1619 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the founder or first unifier of Bhutan. It is currently the home of an 11-year-old boy believed to be the seventh reincarnation of the fourth desi or ruler of Bhutan.
Centenary Farmers’ Market – Every Saturday and Sunday most of the Thimphu population congregate on the banks of the river where the weekend market is held. Here villagers from the valley and other nearby places come to sell their agricultural products.
Two Full Days for Festival activity in Punakha
Punakha Dzong – Built in 1637, the dzong continues to be the winter home for the clergy, headed by Chief Abbott, the Je Khenpo It is a stunning example of Bhutanese architecture, sitting at the fork of two rivers, portraying the image of a medieval city from a distance. The dzong was destroyed by fire and glacial floods over the years but has been carefully restored and is, today, a fine example of Bhutanese craftsmanship.
The Punakha Tshechu as all Tshechu festivals honors Padma Sambhawa, also known as Guru Rimpoche, the precious yogi and saint who is credited with having introduced Tantric Buddhism throughout the Himalayas. The culmination of the festival constitutes the unfolding of a huge cloth thangka a sacred scroll, depicting Padma Smabhawa and imagery from the Buddhist pantheon.
Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten –Built by the third Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck this Chorten is a splendid example of Bhutanese architecture and art and is the only one of its kind in the world.
Chhimi Lhakhang – A 20 minutes walk across the terraced field through the village of Sopsokha from the roadside to the small temple located on a hillock in the center of the valley below Metshina. Ngawang Chogyel Built a small Chorten there. It is a pilgrim site for barren women. Paro Valley –The beautiful valley is home to many of Bhutan’s old monasteries and temples. The country’s only Airport is in Paro. The valley is also home to mount Chomolhari (7,300m) situated at the northern end of the valley whose glacier water forms the Pachu flowing through the valley. The following are some of the prominent places to visit in Paro. Paro Dzong also is known as Rinpung Dzong this 15th-century massive fortress/monastery is also the administrative center of the dzongkhag. A morning drive north of Paro valley brings us to the ruins of Drukgyal Dzong. Built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, father, and unifier of medieval Bhutan, the Dzong was destroyed by an accidental fire and left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the great victories it was built to commemorate explore the ramparts and relive the memories of a glorious past.
Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s nest temple): A one-hour hike to the cafeteria is also a vantage view whereby you can enjoy the stunning view of the monastery. Prayer flags adorn the cliffs and this is also where Guru Padmasambhava landed on the back of a tigress in the 8th century.
Drukgyal Dzong: a morning drive, north of Paro valley brings us the ruins of Drukgyal Dzong. Built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal father and unifier of medieval Bhutan, the Dzong was destroyed by an accidental fire and left ruins as an evocative reminder of the great victories it was built to commemorate explore the ramparts and relive the memories of a glorious past.
Kyichu Lhakhang: After a sumptuous local lunch, we will retrace our steps to visit Kyichu Lhakhang one of the oldest temples in Bhutan.
After breakfast, we will transfer to Paro airport for your flight to the onward destination. Your wonderful trip to Punakha Tshechu Festival Bhutan Tour – 6 Nights 7 Days will be over here.
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Payment: A deposit of 30% of the total tour cost is required to book the tour with Himalayan Windows (HW). The remaining balance is to be paid three days prior to the departure date. Payment can be made via Wire Transfer or Credit Card. All credit card payments are securely processed and a bank fee applies.
Cancellation: For cancellations more than 30 days before the Tour Start Date, there will be no cancellation fee. If the cancellation happens within 29-4 days prior to the Tour Start Date, a charge of 30% of the total invoice amount will be applied. Cancellations occurring within 3 days or less of the start date or in the case of a no-show, 100% of the total invoice amount will be charged. Learn more about Terms and Conditions.
Accommodation: Accommodation is typically provided in twin rooms in cities, though a single supplement can be requested for an additional fee. During peak season, it can be difficult to find single or twin rooms in the mountains, so our lodges usually offer dormitory-style accommodation. Our priority is always to provide clean and safe rooms for our guests.
Meals: Our packages in Bhutan include full board meals, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included. For treks, all meals are provided, but you will need to pay extra for drinking water and snacks.
Nepal Visa: If you are planning a trip to Nepal, you must have a valid passport and Nepal Visa. Depending on your country of origin, you may need to obtain a Nepal Tourist Visa before your arrival. To be eligible, your passport should be valid for a minimum of six months from your Tour Start Date. If you are planning on traveling to multiple countries on your trip, make sure to get a multi-entries Nepal Visa.
Bhutan Visa Clearance: All visitors to Bhutan must have a valid Bhutan Visa Clearance before their trip. To obtain it, you must submit a color-scanned copy of your passport, which must be valid for at least 6 months from the start date of your tour. Your tour operator will send you a Visa Clearance prior to your departure, which you must present at the Druk Air/Bhutan Airlines counter during check-in. Once you arrive at Paro Airport, your passport will be stamped with the original visa.
Tibet Group Visa (TGV): All travelers from any nation intending to go to Tibet from Nepal must obtain a Tibet Group Visa (TGV) in Kathmandu with the help of a tour operator. To ensure the successful application of the TGV, you should plan to arrive in Kathmandu 3-4 working days before your travel date. If you are coming from China, you will not require a TGV; instead, you will need a Chinese Visa and Permit. To find out more about the process of entering Tibet, please look into the Tibet entry procedure.
Nepal & Bhutan: Visiting Nepal and Bhutan at the same time is ideal as they share a similar climate. From high mountains to low land sub-tropical plains and jungles, the two countries have similar weather. The best time to visit is from March to April (spring) and October to December (autumn and early winter). During these months, the air is clean and fresh with sunny skies. January and February are colder months, while June, July, and August (summer) are typically monsoon seasons.
Tibet: It is best to visit Tibet between April and October when the weather is warm and the skies are clear. However, from November to March, it is still possible to explore certain areas like Namtso, Everest Base Camp, and Mount Kailash, as long as the roads are not blocked by snow. Temperatures during this time may be quite cold.
HimalayanWindows strongly recommends that anyone planning to travel in the Himalayas purchase Travel Insurance. This policy will provide coverage in the case of medical emergencies, evacuation, theft, loss of belongings, and last-minute tour/ticket cancellations. Having this protection in place will help ensure that your trip is safe and enjoyable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Bhutan tour Where is Bhutan? Bhutan is a small, landlocked country situated in the eastern Himalayas between China and India. Its landscape ranges from Subtropical plains and forests in the south to subalpine forests and the snowy Himalayas in the North. Bhutan is a principally Buddhist country, and it is recognized as the last stronghold of Mahayana Buddhism. Do I need to use a… Read More »
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