Festival
Talo Tshechu
Three songs on a ridge above Punakha
- 16–18 March 2027
- Talo Goenpa, Punakha
The festival
What happens
Talo Goenpa stands at about 2,800 m on a ridge above the Punakha valley, a steep drive up from the river through chir pine and then oak. The monastery was founded in 1767 and became the seat of the mind incarnations of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the unifier of Bhutan, several of whom lived and are remembered here. The village around it is known for the care with which its houses are kept.
The tshechu is held for three days in the second month of the Bhutanese calendar, in March or April, in the monastery’s courtyard.
The three songs
Talo has the masked dances and the atsaras of any tshechu. What people come for are the Mani Sum, three songs performed by the dancers of Talo, one at the close of each day. The first, Samyi Sala, is linked to the temple, which is held to be modelled on Samye in Tibet. The second, Drukpa Dungey, tells of the line of the Zhabdrungs. The third, Thowachi Gangi Tselay, is a song of thanks, and with it the festival ends.
They are sung in zhungdra, the oldest style of Bhutanese song: slow, unaccompanied, with long held notes, danced in a line with small steps. The songs are regarded as belonging to Talo and are performed in this form only here.
With Paro Tshechu
In 2027 Talo Tshechu falls on 16 to 18 March, and Paro Tshechu begins on the 18th. Three hours of driving separate them, so the two fit into one week.
Practical notes
- Talo is some 1,500 m higher than Punakha and much cooler. Bring a warm layer even when the valley is hot.
- The road up is narrow and steep. It takes 45 minutes to an hour from Punakha, and there is a short walk up from where the cars stop.
- Stay in Punakha. There are no hotels at Talo.
- The last song of each day comes late in the afternoon. It is worth staying for.
See it for yourself
A trip planned around Talo 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.
- 7 days / 6 nights
- Starts and ends in Paro
From US$1,595 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
Talo Tshechu
We drive up to Talo for the day. The dances fill the morning and early afternoon, and we stay for the song that closes the day. On the way down we stop at Nobgang, the village on the ridge below.
- Travel
- About an hour each way
- Altitude
- Talo, about 2,800 m
- Overnight
- Punakha
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 4
Punakha
We walk up through the rice terraces to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten for the view down the valley, and cross the suspension bridge above the dzong in the afternoon.
- Altitude
- Punakha, 1,242 m
- Overnight
- Punakha
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 5
Punakha to Paro
We drive back over Dochu La and on to Paro. In the afternoon we visit the National Museum and Rinpung Dzong.
- Travel
- About 130 km, 4 hours
- Altitude
- Paro, 2,200 m
- Overnight
- Paro
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 6
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 7
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$2,125 |
| 2 travellers | US$1,715 per person |
| 3 or more travellers | US$1,595 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
- 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.
Festival tour
Paro Tshechu Festival Tour
Paro, Thimphu, Punakha
Eight days timed to the Paro Tshechu: Thimphu and Punakha first, then two days of masked dances and the thongdrel at dawn.
Cultural tour
Complete Western Bhutan
Thimphu, Punakha, Phobjikha and 1 more
A week through four valleys: Thimphu, Punakha, the high crane valley of Phobjikha, and Paro with Tiger's Nest.
Where
Talo Goenpa, Punakha
- Punakha The valley below Talo
Punakha
The old capital, where two rivers meet
Wangdue Phodrang
A rebuilt dzong, Pele La and the way to Phobjikha
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 Talo Tshechu
Hotels near festival grounds fill early. Tell us your dates and we will check what is still available.