Tamshing Festival

During this tour, you will explore Central Bhutan, covering Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Gangtey, and Bumthang. In Bumthang, you will witness the annual Tamzhing Phala Choepa festival held at the Tamzhing monastery. This festival is deeply rooted in the history of the monastery's construction in the 16th century by Terton Pema Lingpa and his protective deity, Dorji Phagmo.

The festival, known as Phala Choepa, commemorates Terton Pema Lingpa's pivotal role in the monastery's creation. Legend has it that Pema Lingpa received the monastery's design from his deity, who appeared in the form of a pig. The highlight of the three-day festival is a series of ancient mask dances, including the Khandroi Gar Cham, a dance performed during the monastery's consecration over 500 years ago. Monks from Tamzhing Monastery perform these sacred dances, attracting visitors from across Bumthang and beyond to witness this cultural spectacle.