Festival
Tamshing Phala Chhoepa
The boar dance, at the temple Pema Lingpa built
- 10–12 October 2027
- Tamshing Lhakhang, Bumthang
The festival
What happens
Tamshing Lhakhang stands on the east bank of the river in the Chokhor valley, facing Kurjey Lhakhang across the water. It was built by Pema Lingpa, the saint of Bumthang and finder of hidden teachings, at the start of the 16th century, and it is still the main seat of his tradition in the valley, with a community of more than a hundred monks. Its walls carry some of the oldest paintings in the country.
The festival is held for three days from the 10th day of the eighth month of the Bhutanese calendar, in September or October. In 2027 it falls on the same days as Thimphu Tshechu.
The boar dance
The festival takes its name from its first dance, the Phag Cham, in which the dancers wear the masks of boars. The story is that when Pema Lingpa was looking for a place to build, the goddess Dorji Phagmo, who is shown with a sow’s head, appeared to him in a vision and danced, and told him to learn the steps and perform them when his temple was consecrated. He wrote them down when he woke, taught them to his followers, and the dance has opened the festival ever since.
Other dances he is held to have composed follow over the three days. On the last day a blessing is given that belongs to this festival alone. Masked men strike each person on the back with a padded leather bag said to hold relics, firmly for a grown man and gently for a child, and people queue for it in the belief that it clears away the harm they have done and eases aches. The blessing is given on the last day of the festival.
Practical notes
- Bumthang lies at 2,600 m. Days in early autumn are warm in the sun and nights are cold.
- Inside the temple, no photography. Ask before photographing the blessing.
- Thangbi Mewang, up the valley, follows a few days later in 2027.
- Bumthang has a limited number of hotel rooms, and they fill when a festival is on.
See it for yourself
A trip planned around Tamshing Phala Chhoepa
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
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Day 5
Tamshing Phala Chhoepa
A day at the festival, across the river from Kurjey Lhakhang. Your guide explains each dance as it begins. Between dances we look at the old paintings inside the temple and, if you wish, you can try on the coat of chain mail that Pema Lingpa is said to have forged.
- Altitude
- Bumthang, 2,600 m
- Overnight
- Bumthang
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 6
The temples of Bumthang
We return to Tamshing if the day holds a dance or the blessing you have not seen, then walk across the footbridge to Kurjey Lhakhang and on to Jambay Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in the country.
- Altitude
- Bumthang, 2,600 m
- Overnight
- Bumthang
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
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.
Festival tour
Jambay Lhakhang Drup Festival Tour
Bumthang, Trongsa, Phobjikha and 1 more
Ten days to central Bhutan for the late-autumn festival at Jambay Lhakhang, known for its fire blessing and midnight dance.
Festival tour
Thimphu Tshechu Festival Tour
Thimphu, Punakha, Phobjikha and 1 more
Eight days in the clear weather of autumn, with the capital's three-day tshechu and, when the dates allow, a village festival in 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 Tamshing Phala Chhoepa
Hotels near festival grounds fill early. Tell us your dates and we will check what is still available.