Bhutan Festivals in November

Bhutan has a long and varied history with Buddhism, and as with most Buddhist countries, festivals are a major part of the celebrations and rituals of the faith. With more than 50 festivals of different kinds held throughout the year in the kingdom, it is little wonder that tourists favor heading to this formerly isolated Shangri-La at the festival times, to get the best view of the culture and people of Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon.

Since most of the festivals in Bhutan are held in autumn, November is one of the best months to visit Bhutan with fine weather and colorful festivals to experience. Here is the detailed travel guide about planning a Bhutan festival tour in November.

Top 5 Popular Festivals in November

Of the many festivals that are held throughout the year, there are actually 16 in November alone, and it is one of the three biggest months of the year for festivals in the kingdom. While every month has some form of festival, the largest number are found in the last three months of the Gregorian calendar, in October, November, and December.

Black Necked Crane Festival

Neither a religious festival nor a social gathering, the Black-Necked Crane Festival is held on every November 11th in the Phobjikha Valley in Wangdue Phodrang. Held in the courtyard of the famous Gangtey Lhakhang, the festival celebrates the return of the endangered birds to Bhutan for their winter migration. After so long visiting the area in the winter months from their summer grounds in northern Tibet, the cranes have become a major part of the daily lives of the local people throughout the winter, and are classed as an auspicious sign when they arrive. As the flocks of cranes come into the valley, they circle the temple three times before landing in the reed beds by the river, and do the same as they take off to leave at the end of winter.

The festival features performances from the local people of mask dances and the famous Crane Dance, as well as conservation-themed performance by the local schoolchildren. The festival is also held to bring awareness of the importance of conserving the environment for these endangered birds.

Jambay Lhakhang Drup

The Jambay Lhakhang Drup is one of the most interesting events in Bhutan’s festival calendar. The Jambay Lhakhang is one of the two Lhakhangs built in Bhutan by the Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo, in the 7th century to put down an ogress, and is believed to be one of the oldest buildings in the kingdom. The festival is a celebration of the commemoration of the establishment of the temple itself, as well as to honor the Guru Rinpoche, as all festivals in Bhutan do.

In addition to the traditional Cham Dances seen at festivals all across Bhutan, which are based on the life and Eight Manifestations of Padmasambhava, the Jambay Lhakhang Drup has some unique dances that are found only here. One is the famous Fire Blessing known as the Mewang, while the other is known as the Ter Cham, and is the sacred “naked dance”. Performed at night in a closed courtyard (for obvious reasons), the dance is performed to bless the infertile women of the area so that they may bear children.

Jakar Tsechu

Held in the Jakar Dzong in Bumthang, known as the most beautiful Dzong in Bhutan and the “Dzong of the White Bird”, the Jakar Tsechu is a celebration of the birth anniversary of Padmasambhava, known in Bhutan as Guru Rinpoche. Tsechu are the traditional religious festivals in Bhutan, and are always held on the tenth day of the month in the Bhutanese calendar, with the Jakar Tsechu starting on November three and lasting for five days. The Tsechu starts with a few days of prayers for the monks as they prepare for the festival by asking for blessings from the gods, and begin in earnest on the opening day with rituals and ceremonies to honor the Second Buddha, Guru Rinpoche.

After the ceremonies are completed, the festivities of the Tsechu begin, starting with the masked Cham dances of the monks and lamas. Mostly done in honor of Guru Rinpoche, the dances are taken from the many dances performed during his lifetime. Songs and dances are also performed by the local villagers at the Tsechu, and the social part of the event begins, with picnics, sports, and even trade markets for the farmers.

Dechenphu Tsechu

While most of the Tsechus in Bhutan are dedicated to Guru Rinpoche, the Dechenphu Tsechu is a little different, being dedicated to a powerful guardian deity of Bhutan known as Gay Ngyen Jakpa Melen. Held in the Dechenphu Lhakhang in a small valley in Thimphu, the festival is a typical example of a one-day Tsechu, beginning in the morning with the normal Tsechu rituals and ceremonies. After the ceremonies are concluded, the festivities and dances begin, including many of the ancient Cham dances such as the Zhananga Cham, Genyen Kunchaam, Shazam Cham, and Nga Cham. Many other traditional dances and folk dances are also performed by the local villagers, as well as singing from the women and Atsara performances in the intervals between dancing.

Prakar Duechoed

Held in the Prakar Monastery in the Chumey Valley in Bumthang, the Prakar Duechoed is a traditional Tsechu that is performed every year in the village of Prakar. A festival that lasts around three days, the Tsechu consists of the usual rituals and ceremonies followed by performances of Cham Dances, Atsaras, singing, and social gatherings. For the villagers of this small community in the Chumey Valley, the Tsechu is an important event and holds a special significance. The Tsechu here is a celebration of the rich cultural and religious heritage of the village, and many believe that just by witnessing the famous Cham Dances they will be absolved of the sine committed in the previous year.

In the Prakar Lhakhang, the most important dance is the Demon Dance, where the demon enters the Lhakhang, heralded by the sound of the drum and gong, and performs the last dance of the Tsechu, with plenty of wild spinning and tremendous leaping around the courtyard in front of the onlookers. In wild displays of acrobatics, the demons are chased off by a masked dancer, with a flashing of whips and the clashing of discordant drums and gongs. As the dances end, the final night of the Tsechu is also marked by the people praying at the tomb of Thugse Dawa Gyeltsen, the second son of Pema Lingpa, whose son, Tenpe Nyima, built the Lhakhang in Prakar in the 16th century and later interred his own father there.

More Bhutan Festivals in November

November in Bhutan is a time for many festivals, and there are a total of 16 major festivals throughout the month. Unsurprisingly, the Bumthang Dzongkhag has more festivals than anywhere else at this time of year, and is a popular place for visitors to Bhutan to travel to in November for the amazing festivals.

Not all the festivals are born in religion. While most are devout celebrations of Guru Rinpoche, there are a few that are nothing to do with Buddhism. The first, the Black-Necked Crane Festival, is an event to celebrate the return of the birds in winter and raise awareness of the need for conservation.

The other major non-religious festival in November is the celebration of the Birth Anniversary of His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck. Held on the 11th of November in the Gregorian calendar (His Majesty was born on November 11, 1955), the celebration is held in the football field arena in Thimphu, and every Dzongkhag in Bhutan observes the day with a wide variety of cultural programs and events.

All Bhutan Festivals in November, 2023

Festival	Venue	Start Date	End Date
Black Necked Crane Festival	Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha	Nov 11	-
Mongar Tshechu	Mongar Dzong, Mongar	Nov 19	Nov 22
Trashigang Tshechu	Trashigang Dzong, Trashigang	Nov 20	Nov 23
Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham	Jambay Lhakhang, Bumthang	Nov 27	-
Nalakhar Tshechu	Ngaa Lhakhang, Bumthang	Nov 27	Nov 29

What’s the Weather like in Bhutan in November?

November is the tail-end of autumn in Bhutan, and is the time when temperatures begin to drop ready for the winter months. One of the last months of the year for trekking in the kingdom, November is the best time for the less remote trails, as well as the festivals. Temperatures through November average from around 7 to 9 degrees in the daytime to as low as 1-2 degrees at night, depending on where you are. Punakha is still warm at this time of year. Rains are almost unheard of in November, and the skies are mostly clear and bright, with plenty of sunshine hours throughout the days and only a day or two of cloudy skies.

How to Arrange a Bhutan Festival Tour in November

Arranging a tour of Bhutan in November is actually very easy. Once you have decided on which festivals you would like to see and where you want to visit in Bhutan, all you need to do is book your tour with a registered travel agency for Bhutan, and the travel agency does the rest for you. From arranging your visa to providing your hotel accommodation, meals, transport, and guide, everything is sorted out before you come to Bhutan, and all you need to do is arrive and enjoy the festivals.

However, November is still part of the peak season in Bhutan, and with so many great festivals throughout the month, it can be a busy time of year, by Bhutanese tourism standards. Because of this, it is advisable to book your trip well in advance, to ensure you can get a place for the festival you are wishing to visit.

Conclusion of Experience Bhutan Festivals in November

November is one of the three main months for festivals in Bhutan, which normally runs from October through December, before the intense cold of January sets in, and people get ready for the largest festival in Bhutan’s long history, the New Year celebrations. With around 16 festivals in November alone, and around 51 for the final quarter of the year, there is nowhere like Bhutan of amazing Buddhist festivals.

It is easy to arrange your trip to Bhutan in November. Being more hassle-free, you can customize your private Bhutan festival with us, which can be 100% tailored to your interests and covers every detail of your trip, from the Bhutan Visa application to daily itinerary arrangement.

But remember that, November is also a high season for Bhutan tourism, so it is highly suggested to make your reservation as early as possible.