Punakha Festival Tshechu 2024

Punakha, situated in the western part of Bhutan, serves as the winter residence of the Je Khenpo, Bhutan’s Chief Abbot, and holds immense historical significance dating back to the era of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in the 17th century.

Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel is celebrated as the unifier of Bhutan, credited with shaping the distinct cultural identity that sets Bhutan apart globally.

In the 17th century, Bhutan faced multiple invasions by Tibetan forces aiming to seize the revered relic, the Ranjung Kharsapani. Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel led the Bhutanese to victory against the Tibetans, commemorating this triumph by initiating the Punakha Drubchen. Ever since, the Punakha Drubchen (also known as Puna Drubchen) has evolved into an annual festival in Punakha Dzongkhag.

This festival stands out due to its vivid reenactment of the 17th-century battle with the Tibetan army. Local militiamen, known as pazap, don traditional battle attire, recreating the historic confrontation. This reenactment pays homage to the time when men from the eight Tshogchens (great village blocks) of Thimphu rallied to expel the invading forces, bringing about a phase of newfound internal peace and stability in the country.

In 2005, responding to appeals from the Punakha District Administration and locals to preserve Buddhist teachings and honor Zhabdrung Rimpoche’s noble deeds, the 70th Je Khenpo Trulku Jigme Choedra and then Home Minister His Excellency Lyonpo Jigme Yoedzer Thinley introduced the Punakha Tshechu.

Both the Punakha Drubchen and Punakha Tshechu play a crucial role in conserving Bhutan’s rich culture and traditions. These festivals not only serve as a platform for devout Buddhists to engage in prayer and pilgrimage but also showcase the profound heritage of Bhutan, leaving a lasting impression on both Bhutanese citizens and tourists visiting the country.

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Amelia Abigail

16:01 16 Jan 20

Most Luxurious... Bhutan Tour with Book Bhutan Tour!We decided to look around for a good tour company and visited Tourism Officials website. I am so glad we came across Book Bhutan Tour we checked their website and found highly appreciation letter from Swiss Embassy. Mr. Ram was very responsive, experienced and flexible to accommodate our requirements. The team of the tour guide and driver was just brilliant. I highly recommend Book Bhutan Tour.read more

Paul Jonas

14:15 16 Jan 20

Outstanding Journey... to Bhutan with Book Bhutan Tour!We had a fantastic 8- day tour of Bhutan with Book Bhutan Tour! The experience exceeded our expectations. Our guide Migma and our driver Raj were wonderful; both extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Raj in particular was an excellent guide and very sensitive and accommodating to our needs. He often anticipated our needs before we asked. Both men went out of their way to make sure our stay and journeys in Bhutan were complete, comfortable and harmonious. We highly recommend working with them! We would recommend them to anyone who wants to visit Bhutan. Mr. Ram was very friendly, expert and flexible to accommodate our requirementsread more

Mary Sofia

13:50 16 Jan 20

We decided to go... there and looked around for a good tour company. I am so glad we came across Book Bhutan Tour. Mr. Ram was very responsive, skilled and flexible to accommodate our requirements. The team of the tour guide and driver was just excellent - they spared no effort to make us feel comfortable. I highly recommend Book Bhutan Tour.read more

andrea magistrado

07:00 10 Dec 19

Just returned to... the Philippines from a 6 day tour of Bhutan. A magical place and the experience from this trip is probably one of the most memorable. Thanks in large part to our tour operator, Ram, who made the experience for us enjoyable and so much fun. Migma, our tour guide was knowledgeable and furnished us with all important details of all the places we’ve been to. Raj was an excellent driver so, thank you guys for the wonderful trip. My sisters and niece couldn’t have asked for a better group. You have shown us the best of Bhutan and we will recommend you to our friends for sure.read more

kelly martin

14:29 05 Aug 19

TEN DAYS TOUR IN... BHUTAN WITH BOOK BHUTA TOUR.Before visiting Bhutan, we did research and found Book Bhutan Tour website, we visited website and we found that they have serve the mostly Swiss Diplomats guests , for that reason we immediately reserve through Book Bhutan Tour. Ten days tour to Bhutan is an amazing experience. We are fortunate to have Nawang Drakpa (our guide) who is knowledgeable, kind and understanding. He ensures our safety and attentive to our needs. Would also like to praise our driver (Anil Gurung) who carefully drove along the winding mountainous road. Both of them look after our wellbeing. At some point of our tracks, they gave us a welcome surprise by bringing us picnics any time tea & coffee with a beautiful view of Bhutan. Thank you Book Bhutan Tour Mr. Ram Dorji Tamang for having Nawang and Anil! It is an unforgettable experience in Bhutan. We are already planning on coming back and we suggest everybody who is going to visit Bhutan to ask for Nawang as a guide and Anil as a driver!Thank you and best greetings from Australia.read more

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