Festival
Domkhar Tshechu
A village festival beside a royal palace
- 16–18 April 2027
- Domkhar, Chumey, Bumthang
The festival
What happens
Domkhar is a village in the Chumey valley of Bumthang, on the far side of the river from the hill of Tharpaling. Above it stands Domkhar Tashichholing, a palace built in 1937 by the second king, Jigme Wangchuck, as a summer home. It is still used by the royal family. Visitors may see its courtyard and the paintings on its outer walls, and no more.
The festival
The village holds its tshechu for three days in the third month of the Bhutanese calendar, in April or May. It is said to have been started by Longchenpa, the great teacher of the 14th century who founded Tharpaling on the hill opposite.
It is a small festival, put on by the village for the village: masked dances performed by local men, songs and dances by the women, and a good deal of eating and talking. It is not polished, and that is the point of coming. Its high point is the unrolling of a thongdrel, to bless the village.
With Ura Yakchoe
In 2027 Domkhar Tshechu runs from 16 to 18 April, and Ura Yakchoe, in the east of Bumthang, begins on the 18th. A stay of three or four nights in the valley takes in both.
Practical notes
- Bumthang lies at 2,600 m. April days are mild and nights still cold.
- The rhododendrons are in flower on the passes on the way in.
- Stay in Jakar, half an hour away.
See it for yourself
A trip planned around Domkhar Tshechu
A private trip, with your own guide and driver, timed so that you are there for the festival. Every day of it can be changed.
- 9 days / 8 nights
- Starts and ends in Paro
From US$2,195 per person Enquire about this trip
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Day 1
Arrive in Paro and drive to Thimphu
Your guide meets you at the airport and we drive to Thimphu. In the afternoon we visit the National Memorial Chorten and the Buddha Dordenma.
- Travel
- 54 km, about 1 hour
- Altitude
- Thimphu, 2,334 m
- Overnight
- Thimphu
- Meals
- Lunch, dinner
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Day 2
Over Dochu La to Punakha
We cross Dochu La, where 108 chortens stand on the pass and the Himalaya shows on a clear morning, and come down to Punakha. In the afternoon we walk through the fields to Chimi Lhakhang and visit Punakha Dzong.
- Travel
- 76 km, 2 to 3 hours
- Altitude
- Punakha, 1,242 m
- Overnight
- Punakha
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
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Day 3
Punakha to the Phobjikha valley
We drive up through Wangdue Phodrang to the wide glacial valley of Phobjikha, visit Gangtey Goenpa on its rise above the marsh, and walk the nature trail down through the pines.
- Travel
- 75 km, 2 to 3 hours
- Altitude
- Phobjikha, 3,000 m
- Overnight
- Phobjikha
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 4
Phobjikha to Bumthang, by Trongsa
We cross Pele La into central Bhutan, stop at Trongsa for the dzong and lunch, and reach Bumthang in the late afternoon.
- Travel
- About 5 hours of driving, plus stops
- Altitude
- Bumthang, 2,600 m
- Overnight
- Bumthang
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 5
Domkhar Tshechu
We drive back over the hill to the Chumey valley for a day at the festival, with a look at the palace above the village and at the workshops along the road where yathra, the woollen cloth of Bumthang, is woven.
- Travel
- About 50 km there and back, 1 hour of driving
- Altitude
- Bumthang, 2,600 m
- Overnight
- Bumthang
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 6
Ura, and the first day of the Yakchoe
We drive east over a low pass to Ura, the highest village in Bumthang, a cluster of stone houses round its temple. If Ura Yakchoe has begun, we spend the day at it.
- Travel
- About 100 km there and back, 3 hours of driving
- Altitude
- Ura, about 3,100 m
- Overnight
- Bumthang
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
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Day 7
Fly to Paro
The flight to Paro takes about 25 minutes. In the afternoon we visit the National Museum and Rinpung Dzong.
- Travel
- Flight of about 25 minutes
- Altitude
- Paro, 2,200 m
- Overnight
- Paro
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 8
Hike to Tiger's Nest
We walk up to Taktsang in the morning, with a rest at the teahouse on the way, and visit Kyichu Lhakhang in the afternoon.
- Travel
- About 7 km on foot, 4 to 5 hours
- Altitude
- Tiger's Nest, 3,120 m
- Overnight
- Paro
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
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Day 9
Depart from Paro
Your guide and driver take you to the airport after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Prices
What the trip costs
| Group size | Price in US dollars |
|---|---|
| Solo traveller | US$2,805 |
| 2 travellers | US$2,275 per person |
| 3 or more travellers | US$2,195 per person |
Prices are per person in US dollars and include the Sustainable Development Fee and the visa fee.
This trip runs privately, on the dates of the festival. Festival dates are tentative until the year itself, so confirm them with us before you book flights.
Included
- Sustainable Development Fee (US$100 per person per night)
- Bhutan visa fee (US$40) and visa processing
- 3-star hotels, in a twin or double room
- All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Licensed English-speaking guide throughout
- Private vehicle and driver, including airport transfers
- Bottled water in the vehicle
Not included
- Entry fees for monuments and museums, about US$90 per person
- Flights to and from Paro
- Domestic flight from Bumthang to Paro
- Travel insurance
- Tips for your guide and driver
- Drinks, laundry and personal spending
- Single room supplement, US$35 per room per night
See it for yourself
Other trips that fit this festival
Any of these can be timed to the festival dates. Tell us which days you want to be there.
Cultural tour
Heart of the Himalayas
Punakha, Phobjikha, Trongsa and 1 more
Nine days from Paro to Bumthang by road, through Punakha, Phobjikha and Trongsa, with a short flight back.
Cultural tour
Bhutan Grand Cultural Tour
Bumthang, Trongsa, Phobjikha and 1 more
Ten days from Paro to Bumthang, with three nights in central Bhutan and a day in the Tang valley.
Questions
Asked about this festival
Are festival dates fixed?
Most are not. Bhutan’s festivals follow the lunar calendar, so they fall on different dates each year. The Department of Tourism and the Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators publish a list for each year and label it tentative, because dates can still move.
Our festival calendar shows the official dates and the day we last checked them. Confirm with us before you book flights. The Black-Necked Crane Festival is the exception: it is held on 11 November every year. If you are deciding between festivals, read how to choose a Bhutan festival.
Can I take photographs at a festival?
Yes, in the courtyard or festival ground, from where you are sitting. Do not step into the dance area or block other people’s view, and ask before photographing anyone at close range. Photography is never allowed inside temples and shrines.
A few rituals may not be photographed at all, among them the midnight Tercham at Jambay Lhakhang. Your guide will tell you. Drones are not permitted.
What should I wear to a festival?
A festival is a religious occasion and Bhutanese come in their best clothes. Wear long sleeves and full-length trousers or a long skirt, and take off your hat inside a dzong. You will be sitting on stone for hours, often in strong sun, so bring a cushion, a sun hat for outside the dzong, water and a warm layer for the early morning.
Enquire
Plan a trip around Domkhar Tshechu
Hotels near festival grounds fill early. Tell us your dates and we will check what is still available.