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The Paro Tsechu Festival Tour focuses on Bhutan’s most popular Paro Tsechu Festival. The festival is observed every year during March/April and is attended by the largest number of Bhutanese. The weeklong fair is the most colorful celebration of Bhutanese tradition and religious faith. Sacred mask dances and rituals are performed by monks wearing elaborate costumes and rare and sacred ‘Thongdroel’ scroll is put on public display.
On top of the festival, you will also have plenty of days to explore treasures of central Bhutan. There are rich, ancient historical monasteries, medieval fortresses such as Taktsang Monastery, Tiger’s Nest, Drugyel Dzong and Punakha Dzong. We will also cross over highest passes of the Himalayas and cherish magnificent views of the snow capped mountains including Mt. Chomlohari (7134m).
During the festival, mask dances can be observed resembling the deeds of the great saint Guru Rinpoche. The dances invoke the deities of the tantric teachings – who through their powers and blessings remove misfortunes by suppressing all evil spirits. While the locals attend the colorful festival to acquire merit, visitors travel from far and near to witness the spectacular display of color, aged old traditions, and tantric Buddhist rituals. The event inside Paro Rinpung Dzong initiates with monks performing the Shingje Yab Yum – the dance of the lord of death (Shingje) and his companion. This is followed by Durdag – the dance of the lords of the cremation grounds, after which, the dance of the black hats, Shanag, and the dance of the drums from Drametse (Drametse Ngacham) are performed.
Itinerary
Day 1
Kathmandu - Paro
Fly from Kathmandu to Paro on a Druk Air flight which offers the most fascinating aerial views of the Himalayas including Everest and Kanchendzonga. At first glimpse, the Bhutanese landscape will mesmerize you with its green rolling mountains, river valleys, waterfalls and the great snowcapped Himalayan peaks.
The flight takes about 1 hour to arrive at Paro Airport. Check in at the hotel.
In the afternoon, go sightseeing in and around Paro. Our first stop is the Taktsang monastery or Tiger’s nest. The climb up to the top of the Monastery will take around three hours. It was here that Guru Padmasambava landed on the back of a tiger in the 8th century, and mediated for three months. The monastery took its present modern shape in 1684.
Overnight in a hotel in Paro
Day 2
Paro Tsechu Festival
Our day is set for the Paro Tshechu Festival. The festival is Bhutan’s largest and most colorful festival that is attended by Bhutanese people from all over the country. Masked dancers perform ritualized reenactments of mythical struggles between good and evil forces. Watch Tibetan musicians accompany the monks in their traditional instruments.
The festival is observed to celebrate the birthday of Guru Rimpoche or Padmasambhava. It falls on the tenth day of a month of the lunar calendar.
Bhutanese people believe that participating in the festival and watching masked dances will help them purge sins and receive blessings from Guru Rinpoche.
Overnight in Paro.
Day 3
Paro Tsechu Festival
Continue participating inParto Tscechu Festival. Overnight in Paro.
Day 4
Paro – Thimphu
We will go for a morning visit to the courtyard of 7th century Kichu Lhakhang. Kichu Lhakhang was built by Tibetan King Trsongsan Gampo, and is one of the 108 chortens he built all across the Himalayas to suppress the influence of demons.
Later we will drive towards Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. After lunch, we will visit National Memorial Chorten built by Queen mother in memory of Lt. King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. Overnight in a hotel in Thimphu.
Day 5
Thimphu – Punaka
Today we will go on a morning drive to Punakha via Simtokha Dzong. The trail takes us through the beautiful pine forest and rural villages as we close in on the mountains on the horizon. It is at reaching Dochula Pass (10,500 feet) that views of the Himalayas become spectacular. Overnight in a hotel in Punakha.
Day 6
Punakha Sightseeing
Punakha used to be the capital of Bhutan until 1955 and is one of the best places to explore and learn about medieval Dzongs. Among them Punakha Dzong is one of the most important in the kingdom situated in the middle of two rivers (Pho chu and Mo chu).
After lunch you will hike to the beautiful Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, dedicated to the Fifth King of Bhutan. The Chorten built to remove negative forces and to provide peace, stability and harmony, took eight and a half years to build. Overnight at hotel in Punakha.
We will also visit the Crown Princes’ Monastery and Chimey Lhakhang. Built in 1499 by the 14th Drukpa, Ngawang Choegyel, the site was once blessed by the famous ‘divine madman’, Drukpa Kunley,. The chorten is a pilgrim site, especially for women who wish for fertility.
Day 7
Punakha – Paro (3.5 Hrs)
Today we will drive back to Paro. After lunch, sightseeing in and around Paro. Our first stop is the Taktsang monastery or Tiger’s nest. The climb up to the top of the Monastery will take around three hours. It was here that Guru Padmasambava landed on the back of a tiger in the 8th century, and mediated for three months. The monastery took its present modern shape in 1684.
Further, we will visit the old fort ruins of the Drukgyal Dzong. The dzong was destroyed by fire and left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the great victories it was built to commemorate. On a clear day you could see the Mt. Jhomolhari (7314metres/24000 feet) on the horizon.
Overnight in Paro.
Day 8
Paro to Kathmandu
Take a morning flight back to Kathmandu from Paro Airport.