Calendar Events
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Calendar of Events 2021 Culture Bhutan has a profound cultural diversity. With more than 80 percent of the country being Buddhists, the ways of the Buddhist practice has had a huge impact on the Bhutanese culture. The influence of Buddhism is very visible in the everyday life of the Bhutanese people. The country boasts of thousands of monasteries and the landscape is dotted with stupas, prayer wheels, prayer flags and many other insignias celebrating the Buddhist religion. The preservation of culture has always been accorded the highest of priorities and it was outlined as one of the four main pillars of the country’s unique development philosophy of Gross National Happiness. 2 © Ricardo Viana © Ricardo 3 is a religious festival that begins on the 10th day of the Tshechu Bhutanese calendar. During the festival, monks and laymen dances, folk dances, receive blessings and perform mask dances over a stretch socialize. Besides the religious dances and of three to five days in a temple or songs, atsaras are a major attraction during the monastery. The mask dances are tshechu. Atsaras usually don hilarious looking performed to commemorate the life of masks with large protruding noses and often Guru Padmasambhava and other great with a phallus dangling from the head. They Buddhist masters. signify enlightened wisdom and their acts are intended to cleanse the collective sin of Tshechus customarily conclude with the people gathered to witness the religious the unfurling of a Thongdrel (large dances. scroll painting) of Lord Buddha, Guru Rinpoche, Zhabdrung and other The festival is also an occasion for people to enlightened beings. Tshechus are grand wear their best finery, socialize and make events where entire communities come merry. More importantly, people attend together to witness religious mask tshechus to gain merit. 4 Dzongs Dzongs or fortresses are castle-like structures that were built as defensive forts against external invasions. Built on strategic locations, dzongs are symbolic of Bhutan’s rich history and are valued as national heritage. Dzongs showcase the brilliance of Bhutan’s unique architectural designs. Today, the dzongs serve as the office of local civil administration and also house the monastic community. 5 Adventure Bhutan’s mountainous geography and rugged topography provide exciting opportunities for adventure activities of all kinds. From hiking, trekking and kayaking to river rafting, mountain biking and fishing, the choice is abundant. Bhutan truly offers one-of-a-kind experience for travelers seeking adventure in an unspoiled and unexplored environment. 6 Mountain biking/Cycling Kayaking and Rafting Trekking The rugged, mountainous terrain of The glacier fed rivers of Bhutan Bhutan’s rich natural environment Bhutan provides an ideal landscape for originating in the eastern Himalayas makes it a trekker’s paradise. It is mountain biking. It offers both on-road and gushing down to the southern a bountiful destination for nature and off-road trails with breathtaking foothills provide an ideal challenge for lovers with virgin mountain lakes, scenery. The sport is gaining popularity water sports like kayaking and rafting. imposing glaciers, rich Himalayan among both visitors and Bhutanese The pristine natural setting and the ecosystem which is home to many alike. sheer variety of the rivers’ courses endangered birds and animals. Most provide a unique opportunity to trekking routes are in the northern There are a variety of biking routes explore Bhutan’s beautiful wilderness. parts of the country taking you available ranging from smooth teasingly close to the snowlines journeys on paved roads to challenging Adventurous travelers will not be and letting you experience amazing off-road dirt trails that wind through disappointed by the rugged, untamed natural landscape. rough terrain. The sport offers a certain waterways of Bhutan. The rivers are intimacy with the environment that is plentiful with strong currents varying From a short two to three day trek seldom experienced in vehicles. between slow, gentle flows in some to a grueling trek of more than places and powerful, raging torrents 31 days called the Snowman trek There are numerous opportunities for that can be found throughout the – considered to be the toughest optional hikes with a bit of climbing country. Although adventure sports trek in the world – Bhutan offers thrown in - with one in particular and tourism are relatively recent all kinds of trekking experience. that is more than seven hours. You introductions to Bhutan, they are Most trekking routes also offer a peddle the pads over two miles (3,400 rapidly gaining popularity. wonderful opportunity for wildlife meters) above sea level. Your effort is enthusiasts and photographers. rewarded with a breathtaking view and The river courses available in Bhutan an unforgettable experience. Riders offer something for all visitors, should have an adequate level of fitness regardless of experience: There are and stamina and be experienced easy routes for beginners and hair- enough in the art of mountain biking. raising runs for the veterans. Besides Tours are fully supported by a van the rafts and the kayaks, Bhutanese following riders. The van allows riders agents also organize walking and to rest should they require it. Many trekking expeditions along the scenic of the biking trails lead through small riverbanks. The best time for rafting villages and temples which can provide and kayaking is from March to April interesting and informative diversions and November to December. should you wish to take a break. 7 8 Entertainment Each and every festival in Bhutan is the most sought after form of entertainment. The Royal Academy of Performing Arts (RAPA) in Thimphu works to preserve the unique folk dancing heritage in the country and its dancers are expert in all forms of this unique art. The national sport of the country, archery, is also a celebrated sport and every game of archery attracts huge crowd of onlookers. Shooters shoot two arrows in one round and the target is located at a distance of 120 meters. Women dancers entertain the crowds and each team has its own dancers who cheer for their team and try to distract every archer of the opposing team. Every game of archery is an event where Bhutanese culture is at display in its glory. Similarly, there are other sports like Khuru (dart) traditionally played by men but also getting popular with women. After a busy day, taking a refreshing hot bath in a traditional hot stone bath is also very popular among tourists. Urban towns also have a good number of cozy restaurants and bars where you can have your dinner and while away time at your own pace. Singing enthusiasts have karaoke joints to go to and for the more energetic - nightlife in cities like Thimphu can be fun at various discotheques where people dance to the tunes of the latest best selling music numbers. 9 Besides the numerous religious events, Theme Bhutan also hosts a variety of theme based festivals, celebrating the country’s rich based culture and arcane lifestyle. Festivals like the Nomad Festival, Matsutake festivals Festival, Jumolhari Mountain Festival, to name a few, offer a glimpse into the unsullied culture of ethnic communities and their unique traditions. These festivals are a big draw among locals and tourists alike. 10 Birdwatching Bhutan is increasingly being described as the birding capital of the world. Bhutan boasts of about 800-900 species of birds (experts believe that there are many yet to be spotted) which is almost equal to the 925 species found in the US and Canada combined. About 50 species of the known birds are winter migrants. These include ducks, waders, birds of prey, thrushes, finches and buntings. The country harbors more than 16 species of vulnerable birds. Bhutan is home to many species of birds that are in danger of extinction, including the Imperial Heron, which is one of the fifty rarest birds in the world and the rare Black-Necked crane, which breeds in Tibet and then migrates over the Himalayas to Bhutan during the winter months. The cranes can be spotted in Phobjikha valley in cestern Bhutan, Bumthang in central Bhutan and in Bomdeling in eastern Bhutan. They migrate to these winter roosting sites in the months of September and October and fly back to Tibet between February and March. 11 JANUARY........................................14 JULY......................................................42 Nyilo | Traditional Day of Offering Haa Summer Festival | Lhamoi Doey-Phang | First Sermon of Lord Buddha FEBRUARY....................................16 Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the King AUGUST............................................44 Punakha Drubchen | Losar | Pelden Lhamoi Hungla Chokhor | A-Hoi Bonchoed | Matsutake Mushroom Drupchen | Phurba Dubchen | Trashiyangtse Tshechu Festival (Genekha & Thimphu) | Dongdorla Duechoed Khengzor Tshechu | Lichibi Tshechu | Punakha Takila Chham | Kesibi Chaa | Chukor Tshechu | Naktshang Tshechu | Nganglam Tshechu Tangsibi Mani | Tharpaling Thongdrol | Chenga Kora Chuzangang Tshechu SEPTEMBER.....................................48 Tour of the Dragon | Chha | Thimphu Drubchen| Bum Tashi MARCH............................................22 Festival | Dromche | Goenpung Tshechu | Kothakpa Tshechu Zhuri Duechoed | Gayden Choedpa | Namgang Haa Tshechu | Wangdue Tshechu | Terchen Drupchen Kora | Gasa Tshechu | Kharphug Lhasel | Zhemgang Geling Goenpa Tshechu | Dorjitse Kuchoed | Shaksing Tshechu | Tsirang Tshechu | Gomkora