Festival
Nabji Lhakhang Drup
A village festival round a pillar of peace
- 24–26 December 2026
- Nabji Lhakhang, Trongsa
The festival
What happens
Nabji is a village in the warm, forested south of Trongsa district, in the country of the Monpa, held to be among the oldest inhabitants of Bhutan. Its name comes from the word for an oath. The story is that in the 8th century two kings were at war, Sindhu Raja of Bumthang and Nawoche from the plains of India, and that Guru Rinpoche brought them here and made them swear peace on a pillar of stone.
The pillar stands inside the village temple and is shown to visitors. Marks on it are held to be the handprints of the two kings and of the saint.
The festival
The Drup is held in the eleventh month of the Bhutanese calendar, in December or January, to honour Guru Rinpoche and to mark the founding of the temple. Monks and the people of the villages of Nabji and Korphu perform the dances together. Accounts of it describe a black hat dance followed by a fire blessing, like the Mewang of Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang, and a sacred dance held at night. A record made of it in 2005 lists, for the first day, a procession of the temple’s relics, a dance of warriors and the black hat dance, with the fire blessing after dark; for the days after, the dance of the Lord of Death and his consort, dances of the ging with sticks, swords and drums, and the dance of the lords of the cremation grounds; and towards the end the dances handed down from the saint Dorje Lingpa, among them a sword dance and the dance of the heroes.
Practical notes
- The road ends at the village school, 115 km from Trongsa, and the temple is half an hour’s walk beyond. The drive takes about four hours.
- There are no hotels. Visitors sleep in village homes or camp, as walkers on the Nabji trail do.
- Nabji is low, at about 1,300 m, and mild even in midwinter. The passes on the way to Trongsa are not.
- Trongsa Tshechu ends a few days before this festival begins, in the winter of 2026.
See it for yourself
A trip planned around Nabji Lhakhang Drup
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.
- 11 days / 10 nights
- Starts and ends in Paro
From US$2,635 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
-
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
-
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 Trongsa
We cross Pele La into central Bhutan. The dzong comes into view across the gorge a good half hour before the road reaches it. In the afternoon we visit the watchtower museum above the town.
- Travel
- About 3 hours of driving, plus stops
- Altitude
- Trongsa, 2,200 m
- Overnight
- Trongsa
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 5
Trongsa to Nabji
A long drive south down the valley of the Mangde Chhu, dropping more than a thousand metres into broadleaf forest where golden langurs live. From the end of the road we walk half an hour to the village.
- Travel
- 115 km, about 4 hours
- Altitude
- Nabji, about 1,300 m
- Overnight
- Nabji
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 6
Nabji Lhakhang Drup
A day and an evening at the festival, with a visit to the temple to see the stone pillar of the oath.
- Altitude
- Nabji, about 1,300 m
- Overnight
- Nabji
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 7
Nabji to Trongsa
We walk back to the road and drive north to Trongsa, visiting the dzong in the late afternoon.
- Travel
- 115 km, about 4 hours
- Altitude
- Trongsa, 2,200 m
- Overnight
- Trongsa
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 8
Trongsa to Bumthang
A short drive over Yotong La and down through the Chumey valley, where yathra, the patterned woollen cloth of Bumthang, is woven. In the afternoon we visit Jakar Dzong.
- Travel
- About 2 hours of driving
- Altitude
- Bumthang, 2,600 m
- Overnight
- Bumthang
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 9
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 10
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
-
Day 11
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$3,505 |
| 2 travellers | US$2,835 per person |
| 3 or more travellers | US$2,635 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
Kingdom in Full
Haa, Bumthang, Trongsa and 2 more
Eleven days and seven valleys, from Haa in the far west to Bumthang in the centre, with every major dzong on the way.
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 Nabji Lhakhang Drup
Hotels near festival grounds fill early. Tell us your dates and we will check what is still available.