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EBC Helicopter Tour – Daily Departures Guaranteed! Book Now
EBC Helicopter Tour – Daily Departures Guaranteed! Book Now
Punakha Tshechu take you to Bhutan, a culturally affluent nation, with its unique festivals, tradition, religion and lifestyle. Bhutanese whose belief is fixated on Buddhist beliefs and teachings, celebrate festivals that showcases the vibrant culture, arts and tradition that couldn’t be seen during other occasions. “Tshechu” which translates to annual religious celebration, that happed in every major city of Bhutan. Embarking on festival tour is undeniably the best way to witness the cultural beauty and charm of Bhutan. Even among these annual religious celebration or festivals Punakha Tshechu is one of the grandest extravaganzas of culture, arts and history.
During first month of Lunar calendar, which falls either in February or March, is when this auspicious festival takes place. Punakha Tshechu is a 3-day annual religious celebration happening in beautiful Punakha Dzong, where different fascinating and amazing dances and religious procession takes place. Attended by thousands of tourists and Bhutanese people wearing their beautiful Gho, Kira and precious jewelry Punakha Tshechu is a prominent fiesta, a retreat from daily hardship on farm and field for Bhutanese people in and around Punakha. Punakha Tshechu is celebrated to welcome spring, the season of rebirth and rejuvenation and also to pay tribute to Guru Rinpoche, who is thought to have bring Buddhism in Bhutan. There are multiple mask dance performances throughout the Tshechu by laymonks. Dances enacting the war with Tibet, Atsara’s Humorous Performance, and other entertaining Chham are major dance performance during Punakha Tshechu. Every dance performance narrates the tales and story with deep philosophical insight about life, religion and belief. At the last day, a big beautiful and artistic Thangkha (silk painting) of Guru Rinpoche is unfurled for pilgrims, spectators and tourist to receive blessings from. It is believed that witnessing and receiving blessing from Thangkha of Guru Rinpoche at Punakha Tshechu and observing performances performed during the festival will cleanse the person off bad karma. Along with these dances, there are folk musical performances, renditions of cultural musical instruments and many more.
All in all, Punakha Tshechu Festival Tour is one of the most amazing fiestas celebrated in entire Bhutan. The Punakha Tshechu Festival marks the arrival of spring, the time of rebirth and rejuvenation. You will get to read chapters of Bhutanese cultures that remain stacked and dusted on barely visited library shelf. Along with observation of Thimphu Tshechu festival, Thimphu Tshechu Festival Tour will take our visitors to beautiful city of Paro and Punakha, to relish the cultural and natural beauty as well. It’s a comprehensive Tour of Bhutan which ensure that there will be no compromise in your contentment of witnessing the unique culture and tradition of Bhutan. We Breakfree Adventures have been serving our clients with Bhutan Tours for 15 years and have prolific experience in operating Bhutan tours. You can book Thimphu Tshechu Festival Tour from anywhere in the world. As it is compulsory to book a tour with a registered travel and touring operator to obtain travel visa to Bhutan, Breakfree Adventures is a registered and one of the best Bhutan tours operators, we will arrange and process your visa for Bhutan travel no matter what part of the world you are from. You can call us at 9851014557 or email at [email protected] to book or inquire about the Thimphu Tshechu Festival Tour or any other service we provide to our invaluable clients. You will be guaranteed best service and exploration experience with Breakfree Adventures.
Punakha Dzong and Punakha Tshechu
As the name of the tour suggests, major attraction of tour is Punakha Tshechu Festival. This 3 day long fiesta is the most elaborate and beautiful extravaganza of the arts, culture, tradition and belief of Bhutanese people. There are numerous religious processions, cultural dances, and musical performances spanning 3 days. Beautiful Thangkha of Guru Rinpoche is unfurled at the last day of the festival, it is believed that witnessing the Punakha Tshechu will cleanse a person of bad karma.
All this annual religious celebration takes place in Punakha Dzong Dzong. Punakha Dzong is the administrative center of Punakha district. It is Bhutan’s second largest and second oldest Dzong. Punakha Dzong is of the most significant majestic structure of Bhutan. The architecture is impeccable and intricately beautiful. It is the place where Royal wedding took place. The Punakha Dzong is a popular tourist attraction, which have historical significance to the citizen and rulers of the nation.
Paro City and Taktsang Monastery
Paro is the first city any tourist will encounter, who are flying in Bhutan. This city has the only international airport found in Bhutan. The Paro city have luxurious hotels equipped with all the modern amenities. There are also newly constructed tourist establishments that can be found in Paro. Along with these modern establishment, the architecture of Paro city carries its own bucolic beauty. Resembling the Tibetan form of architecture, the building, houses, monasteries are beautifully constructed that never fails to allure visitors.
Paro Taktsang, one of the most important monasteries for Varjayana Buddhists holdin high religious significance, is situated 10 kilometers or 6.2 miles away from the heart of the city. Kitchu, Drugyel, Paro Dzong, Sangchoekhor, Tachog Temple, Tenchen Choeling Nunnery, Gorana, Kila Goenpa, Tsheto Goenpa, Dzongdra kha, Bumdra,Dangkala, Tara monastery, Kuenga Choling Goenpa, Tachog Temple and many other religious sites can be found in Paro. The presence of these religious sites makes Paro City a major attraction site, which a tourist must visit during their Bhutan Visit.
Thimphu City
Thimphu the capital city of Bhutan is situated between Paro and Punakha city. It is also an administrative capital of Bhutan. Surrounded by hills on both sides Thimphu Chu iver flows piercing the capital. You can observe people working in farm and fields in Thimphu and get glimpses of lifestyle of Bhutanese people. Thimphu is characterized by presence of Dzong and Monasteries established in and around the city. Tashichhoe Dzong, Simtokha Dzong, Tango Monastery, Dechen Phodrang Monastery, and Cheri Monastery are prominent ones amongst many other. Buddha Dordenma is a religious complex, where one can find 59 meter of 169 feet tall Buddha statue. This Buddha Statue is believed to be constructed to fulfill the prophecy. All in all, Thimphu is a beautiful capital, where a tourist can immerse themselves in exploration of culture, tradition and lifestyle of local people.
Dochula Pass and Dochula Chhorten
You will come across Dochula Pass and Dochula Chhorten on you way to Punakha from Thimphu. It is situated at an elevation of 3,100 meters/10,170 ft. From Dochula pass you can see the mountain panorama on the northern side and hilly landscape that span throughout the nation. Upon reaching Dochula Pass, you can visit Dochula Chorten, which is comprises 108 small stupas made in memory of 108 soldier who lost their life in a conflict with evil terrorist. Dochula Chhorten and Dochula Pass is a major stop point for every tourist travelling from Thimphu to Punakha. The extravaganza of natural beauty, and historical and cultural ties of people of Bhutan is flawlessly displayed here.
Bhutan in an attempt to preserve its culture and nature had secluded itself from the outer world for the majority of 20th century. It was only on 1974, Bhutan was opened for the tourist to visit. And the attempt was really successful. Bhutan haven’t been spoiled by external influence either culturally and naturally. It is the only country in the world which is carbon negative. The culture, religion and tradition are also unblemished.
Bhutan emphasizes on “High Impact, Low Volume” tourism policy. Due to this, visa acquiring process is also bit complicated and expensive. You have to book a tour with government registered touring company, in order to obtain your visit visa. You will be accompanied by a touring guide throughout the tour so that it will be well regulated. Due to rather complicated visa process and expensive pricing, tours to Bhutan are often overlooked which have resulted it being less visited.
Well, another question that might appear on tourist’s mind before travelling to country with monarchy is, “Is it safe?”. The simple answer to that question is Yes! Bhutan is very safe. Bhutan is a democratic nation, with King being Head of the state and executive power exercised by cabinet led by Prime Minister. As we have already mentioned that Bhutan intends to preserve its nature and culture, tours are well regulated. So, as long as you don’t break the rules, don’t offend the local, hamper the natural resources and follow your guide your tour to Bhutan will be the safest tour. We suggest our clients to do research regarding Bhutan before booking a tour, so that if there is some specific place you want to visit that might not have been included in the tour itinerary you can make a special request. We will check the feasibility of that activity and do our best to fulfill your requirement.
There are numerous touring agencies operating Punakha Tshechu Festival Tour. Its plausible to ask, why to choose Breakfree Adventures, what do we offer that other operators don’t? These questions need to be answered so that we make it lucid to our clients how we stand out in this competitive market.
Apart from exploration of natural wonders, and cultural enigma, touring with Breakfree Adventures will allow you to have stress free trekking experience. Breakfree Adventures will be dealing with visa process, documents and permits arrangements, hotel bookings and other possible issues that might occur during the Punakha Tshechu Festival tour. Our diligent team of experts will make sure that you will have best Bhutan touring experience with us. Our experienced guides, cognizant with the cultures, religions, monuments, geography and all its adversities will resolve any of your queries throughout the tour.
We at Breakfree Adventures are always on our marks to resolve your questions regarding the service we provide. Our responsive communication team will reach out to you as soon as possible with answers if not immediately. Breakfree Adventures has been successfully able to established as name to be reckoned with in this industry. With over 15 years of experience of satisfying clients with travel and tour service, we are more eager than ever to serve more clients. We at Breakfree are break free providing brake free service to our invaluable clients. You can find us at Trip Advisor and see for yourself reviews left by our invaluable clients we have served here and decide by yourself.
Breakfree Adventures also operates other highly rated Bhutan tours and trekking such as: Bhutan Highlights Tour, Jumolhari Circuit Trek, Dagala Thousand Lake Trek, Punakha Tshechu Festival Tour, Enter The Dragon Tour etc.
Bhutan doesn’t issue tourist visa to an individual. In order to acquire travel visa to Bhutan, a person has to book a tour with a registered touring operator. Breakfree Adventures is a registered touring operator, which can acquire Bhutan travel visa for tourists. Upon booking Punakha Tshechu Festival tour with us, you will be asked for documents’ scan and photo copies, and we will fill up forms and dispatch necessary letters to tourism department of Bhutan, and within 10-14 days you will get your travel visa to Bhutan. Yes, it’s that easy when you book Punakha Tshechu Festival Tour with us. Click here to learn more about processing done to acquire travel visa to Bhutan.
You might be wondering how to book this tour, as we are based on Kathmandu Nepal. Don’t worry you can book this tour no matter where you are in the world. After booking this tour you will be asked for documents and necessary details to advance your visa processing. You will also get information about flight booking to Bhutan, as flight to Bhutan only operates from select airports in South East Asia.
Arrive Paro by the Bhutanese National Carrier (Druk Air) flying over the world’s highest mountains and finally landing at the lush green Paro valley. A cool and clean fresh air greets the visitor as stepping down from the plane, the first gift of Bhutan. After clearing customs and visa formalities, meet the representatives and the Bhutanese guide, and a short tour brief by the guide then transfer to Paro town for lunch. Then drive towards Thimphu (the capital of Bhutan) for about 1 & half hours drive. En-route Thimphu, one can do a short hike to Tamchog Monastery, a private temple owned by the descendants of famous Tibetan bridge – builder Thangthong Gaylpo. Later on continue the drive to Thimphu.
In Thimphu, visit Buddha point for a stunning view of Thimphu city and Takin Compound- on the way to the viewpoint over Thimphu is the home of Bhutan’s national animal, the Takin. Then continue to Tashi Choe Dzong- the fortress of the glorious religion was initially constructed in 1641 and rebuilt by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk in the 1960s, Folk Heritage Museum – a 300 year old traditional house converted into a museum, Centenary Farmers Market, the new authentic craft bazaar.
Overnight at Hotel in Thimphu.
After breakfast, drive for about 3 hours to Punakha. Climb up the mountain road to Dochula La Pass at 3,140m/10,301ft. On clear weather, the pass commands a wonderful panorama of the Eastern Himalayas. From the pass, descend through varied forest and finally emerging into the highly cultivated valley of Punakha. In Punakha, visit Punakha Dzong. Located at the confluence of the Pho-chu (male-river) and Mo-chu (female-river), the Punakha Dzong is arguably the most impressive dzong in the country.
Overnight at Hotel in Punakha.
We will spend whole day in the festival which will accompany with various mask dances and folk dancers along with jokers actions in the crowd.
Overnight at Hotel in Punakha.
Whole day in the interesting Punakha festival or in the afternoon we can proceed for other sightseeing like visiting Khamsum Yulay Temple or Wangdue excursion visit Rinchingang.
Overnight at Hotel in Punakha.
Drive to visit a stunning hill-top nunnery – Sangchen Dorji Lhundrup Chholing. Have a chat with the nuns and enjoy the charm of the surrounds! The main temple is dedicated to the bodhisattva of compassion (Avaloketeshvara) and next to the temple is a beautiful Stupa and there are slate carvings of religious figures. Re-crossing Dochula and stopping at Thimphu for lunch. Arrive Paro in the afternoon and check hotel.
Overnight at Hotel in Paro.
This morning, make an excursion to Taktsang Monastery – this has to be the monastery with the most outstanding setting in Bhutan. Set on a vertical cliff face at 2,950m/96,78ft above sea level, it defies all engineering logic. For the energetic, hike 2 hours up to get a more dramatic view of the monastery. (The hike demands a certain level of fitness and a pony ride to the monastery can be arranged at additional cost). Just on the outskirts of Paro town, visit Kyichu Lhakang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan and have the opportunity to meet the local villages in a local farm house.
Overnight at Hotel in Paro.
Your final day in Bhutan, will be on Paro. Getting an opportunity to visit and observe the hidden beauty of Bhutan is on itself a once in a lifetime opportunity. Many people regret not having booked a longer stay, but we Breakfree Adventures will do our best to extract all the juices from your beautiful 4 day in Bhutan.
Depending upon your flight time you will be dropped off at the International Airport three hours prior your departure for check in formalities. Our representative will be there assisting you, bidding you farewell and wishing you a safe flight back home as you head back towards your homeland with unforgettable experience and tons of memories you made while exploring the untouched Himalayan gem.
At Breakfree Adventures we are always seeking ways to improve travel and trekking experiences of our clients as we wish to provide best service in an unbeatable price.
All our hands are on deck to make your travel and trekking in Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan an experience to last lifetime. You are a call/email away from booking a The Best Holiday with us.
The itinerary mentioned and explained above is a standard itinerary. Depending upon your requirements and need we can tweak things here and there to either shorten or lengthen the duration of your Punakha Tshechu Festival Tour. Please inquire us at: [email protected] or call at +977-9851014557 for more information regarding Punakha Tshechu Festival Tour.
We also operated private trips.
The citizen of Bangladesh, Maldives and India do not require VISA to enter Bhutan. People from other countries except from Bangladesh, Maldives and India need a VISA permit while traveling to Bhutan. The VISA processing for Bhutan requires a readable color copy of passport via email that has at least six month of validity from the date of exit from Bhutan. The file Scan Copy should be forwarded to via email in JPEG or PDF format. The passport number and picture of the applicant should be visible in the e-document.
The application should be processed at least 10 days prior to the date of entry to Bhutan. The tourism council of Bhutan then issues a VISA clearance letter and fax or email it to the local travel agent. Please note that the VISA service is not offered in Bhutan, travelers have to buy full-service package from the local tour operator. Travelers traveling by air are required to produce a printed VISA clearance copy at the time of check-in for Druk Air flight. People traveling by land to enter Bhutan via Phuentshoking or Samdrup Jonkhar are required to produce a VISA clearance letter at the immigration center. The actual VISA is stamped in your passport on your arrival in Bhutan.
There are several cities that have direct flights to Bhutan. There are two airlines Druk air and Bhutan airlines running the flights to Bhutan. Druk air is the national carrier of Bhutan. With its fleet of Airbuses A319-115 and ATR 42 the airlines fly from different Asian countries to the Paro international airport, Paro (PBH); which is only the international airport in Bhutan. There are daily direct flights from Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu to Paro International Airport.
The flights from Indian cities to Paro International Airport with the airport name and their codes are listed below:
Bagdogra Airport, Bagdogra (IXB)
Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi (DEL)
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata (CCU)
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai (BOM)
Likewise, there flights from other countries with the codes are as follows:
Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand (BKK)
Shahjalal International Airport, Bangladesh (DAC)
Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore (SIN)
Note: The flight schedule and timings are subject to change. If you want to know more about the flight schedules and tour to Bhutan please feel free to contact us. We can also help to find you the cheapest fares available.
The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan lies in south Asia between China and India. Climate and weather vary according to the altitude, season and place of visit. Bhutan is open all year around for the visitors but it is better to make the travel arrangements as per your preference and nature of visit.
The ideal time to visit Bhutan is spring (March-May) and Autumn/fall (September-November). These are considered to be the best time to visit Bhutan to get the maximum adventure and trouble free experience. Summer and winter also have their own specialties that could draw the attention of tourists during these seasons. During the spring the weather mostly remains clear and climate is fantastic. It is also the best time to visit for the nature lovers to experience the mystifying beauty of nature. Varieties of flowers and plants bloom in this season that makes your adventure an exotic one. The route opens for Jomolhari and Druk Path treks from mid-April to May.
Summer (June-August) in the other hand could get tricky at times due to the early arrival of monsoon. The month of June would be great for traveling if the monsoon is pushed further. Usually monsoon is in full swing by early July. Travelers who would strive to get some trekking experience on muddy trail while witnessing swollen rivers, green forests and flourishing paddy field could choose late summer to plan their adventure. The view of open clear blue sky after the rain is something that strikes you with its mystifying beauty.
Fall (September-November) is another favorable and crowded season after spring. The weather gets mild despite cold mornings and evenings. Tourists from all around the world thong to Bhutan during this season to witness Black-Necked-Crane festival. The month of October has its own significance and the valley turn into a shade of gold as the farmers prepare to harvest their rice crops during this month.
Winter season (December to February) is not that crowded with tourists in comparison to other seasons. Planning your adventure during the winter could be a better idea if you want to avoid the hustle-bustle of the peak season. During the winter Bhutan may see some snow fall. The temperature level goes down (even below freezing point) during some winter days.
Bhutan lies in South Asia between China and India in the Himalayas, weather in Bhutan depends upon the altitude. In the northern parts of the country where mountains rise up to 7,000m, weather conditions are similar to arctic. Southwards, closer to India, the weather is hot and humid in the summer and cool in winter. The monsoon rains are usually heavy. Winters can be a good time to visit the lower parts, but then the highest areas are freezing.
The best times to visit Bhutan are spring (March-May) and autumn (late September – November) when the weather is warm, dry and sunny but always throw in a couple of warm clothes into your travelling gear when you travel to Bhutan regardless of the season.
Layering Clothing
Bring your clothes according to the season and region of your travel. Based on your activity and the weather, you can make quick adjustments, by putting on more clothing if it is cold or taking off layers as it warms up. In the summer time, days can be quite warm, especially in the lowlands of Punakha and Phuentsholing, light cotton clothing is recommended for day time. But in most of the tourist and trekking areas, light woolen clothes for evenings and heavy woollens / down jackets for winter are necessary. A waterproof windbreaker is important for trekking and outdoor activities.
Comfortable and Sturdy shoes.
You have a lot of opportunity to walk around in Bhutan, you will be glad you wore sturdy shoes that keep your feet comfortable. Good shoes will let you explore the rural and allow you to have a long day walk. Bring sandals or slip ons to take off easily when entering temples.
Long pants / skirts
Wear particularly conservative clothing in the towns, women should wear long pants or long skirts, men should wear long pants and shorts are not appropriate for anyone. In the dzongs and temples, the legs and arms must be covered, and even threequarter-length capri pants are not acceptable for women.
Rain gear
Be prepared for occasional shower. A folding umbrella is a good idea to bring with.
Hat, Sunglass, Sunscreen & lip protection.
The sun can be scorching in Bhutan. Be sure to apply sunscreen in the morning and throughout your day.
DIFFERENT CURRENCY ACCEPTED BY BHUTAN BANK:
Credit cards are accepted only in major international hotels and high-end shops in Bhutan.
Bhutan travel requirements
Below are some points which you need to consider before your travel to Bhutan.
Traveling to Bhutan takes you to beautiful Buddhist monasteries and huge dzong fortresses, and see the vibrant and rich cultural heritage and the mystic mountains. Here are 10 things you know before traveling to Bhutan.
Flights to Bhutan massively depend on the weather conditions. Flights aren’t operated in poor weather conditions or at night, so there can be delays or flight cancellations. Paro airport is especially dangerous due to its location in a deep valley, which is surrounded by mountain peaks as high as 18,000 ft. Keep basic necessities with you through any possible delays or unexpected stop-overs.
Accidents might happen due to the poor road condition of Bhutan. Always wear your seat belt and driving by night isn’t suggested since roads are poorly lit and have many blind corners. If you have booked your trip with a travel agent, you will already have a car with a driver, so you don’t have to drive. Don’t leave your valuables inside the car when parking near tourist sites or villages.
B-Mobile SIM and Tashi Cell are the two mobile network provider companies in Bhutan. Your guide can help you get a SIM Card on arrival. 2G, 3G, and 4G connectivity are available and WiFi is available in most hotels in major cities but connectivity might be touch-and-go.
A dzong or monastery is a sacred site for Bhutanese so you need to dress appropriately. Don’t wear jeans, wrap your jacket around your waist, or notice if your jacket is unbuttoned or unzipped. No hats, shorts, short skirts, flip-flops, or t-shirts are allowed inside. Make sure your clothing covers your arms and legs.
Only the major towns have ATMs. Bank of Bhutan, Bhutan National Bank and Druk Punjab National Bank are the three banks that accept foreign credit cards. You can withdraw cash from ATM (Visa or MasterCard) but beware of the fees. You can exchange foreign currency for Nu, Bhutanese currency. $100 USD has a higher exchange rate compared to lower denominations bills.
Tiger’s Nest is closer to Paro town and is the most popular visited site in Bhutan among foreigners. It’s the most sacred Buddhist site located at 10,000 ft above sea level and was built in 1692. It can be reached upon 20 minutes’ drive from Paro to its base then hike above for about 4-5 hours. Using hiking boots and a walking pole will help the walk. Drink lots of water during the hike. Alternatively, you can also take a pony ride but until halfway, as it is also too steep to walk for ponies too.
You can travel to Bhutan through only the registered travel agency which shall provide you with a guide throughout your tour. Bhutan is in a remote location so having a guide to accompany you and also connect with the locals is a good idea and also important to enjoy your Bhutan journey.
Bhutanese food is spicy but delicious too. Bhutan’s most popular food is Ema Datshi which is rice and spicy chilies topped off with a delicious cheese sauce. Kewa datshi is made up of sliced potatoes and cheese and usually with chilies, too. You can try shakam paa, dried beef cooked with chilies and radish. Dumplings or momos are everywhere in Bhutan if you love them. If none of these sounds appetizing, you can try fried fern stalks or a tasty yak curry.
Ara is the traditional beverage in Bhutan which is a hot, highly alcoholic drink. It is also the national drink of Bhutan. The drink is made with yak butter, and eggs over rice whisky which is heated and then served. Ara is normally creamy, clear, or white in color.
The popular route tourist follows for the Bhutan tour is to visit Paro, Thimphu and Punakha and fly back. If you want to discover more then traveling to the southeast from Paro to Samdrup Jongkhar town is the ideal choice. From Samdrup, you can also cross the border to India via the Assam plains.
The eastern side of Bhutan is rarely visited by tourists which has so much to offer with secluded valleys and nature reserves, home to the very rare black-necked cranes. Localities like Trashigang and Mongar have local festivals which are far different from the touristy festivals that occur in and around Paro.
