The Gangtey Tshechu Festival 2024, Festival dates: 16 – 18th September 2024 (3 days), Venue: Gangtey goenpa monastery, Gangtey valley.
Punakha dzong in Bhutan.
Tallest statue of sitting Buddha in Bhutan.
Throngdroel ceremony at Gangtey festival.
Gangtey tshechu festival 2024 is held at Gangtey goenpa in the Phobjikha valley. The monks and local people perform various kinds of mask dances and folk dances during this festival. The festival concludes with receiving of blessings for the spiritual wisdom and power – Ngedup Langwa.
The cost given below is inclusive of sustainable development fee (SDF) of US $ 100 per person per night and Bhutan visa fee – US $ 40 per person.
Entrance fees for monuments and festivals visits to be paid separately.
Nature of trip: Private & guided Bhutan travel.
A short stop on the way to view Tamchog lhakhang.
This monastery was built in the 15th century by Thang Tong Gyalpo, popularly known as “The Iron bridge builder”. He built 108 bridges across Tibet and Bhutan, out of which 8 were built in Bhutan.
In the afternoon, visit to:
– National memorial chorten (1974) built in honor of the third King, late His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.
– Tallest statue of sitting Buddha in the world (51.5 meters) at Kuensel Phodrang.
– Craft bazaar where you can buy Bhutanese handicrafts and art works.
In the evening, visit Tashichho dzong, seat of the national government and the central monastic body.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Changangkha lhakhang, the oldest temple in Thimphu built in the 12th century by Phajo Drugom Shigpo.
Takin preserve center (A weird looking animal believed to be a mix of goat and a cow and has baffled the zoologists).
Sangay gang view point.
Dupthop lhakhang one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan.
Lunch at Simply Bhutan, where you can enjoy typical Bhutanese dishes, ara, witness folk dances and many more.
In the afternoon, visit to:
National postal museum where you can print your photos on the official Bhutanese stamps.
The school of 13 arts and crafts (Painting school).
In the evening, free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
On the way, visit to:
– The beautiful Dochu La pass (3140 m) with 108 stupas and the beautifully arranged Himalayan mountain ranges.
– Chimi lhakhang built in 1499 by lama Drukpa Kuenley (Popularly known as “The divine madman”). The temple is also called “the temple of fertility”. Lama Drukpa Kuenley (1455 – 1529) was one of the Bhutan’s favorite saints who was born in Tibet. He travelled throughout Bhutan and Tibet using songs, humor and outrageous behavior to spread his teachings of salvation through sex.
In the afternoon, visit to:
– Punakha dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Punakha is the winter residence of Je Khenpo. Punakha was also an ancient capital of Bhutan until the rule of the second king of Bhutan.
In the evening, hike to Khamsum Yulley monastery.
– This monastery was built by Her Majesty the Queen Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck. Perched high on a hill on the bank of the river, the chorten houses paintings belonging to nyingmapa traditions.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
– This bridge connects the two sides of the Pho chu river. You will get a great view of the river, valley, temple, and a good boost of adrenaline as well. It serves both for locals and tourists who want to visit the temple.
Then drive to Gangtey. A short stop on the way to view Wangdue Phodrang dzong.
– This dzong was built in 1638 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and was razed by fire in 2012.
While in Gangtey, visit to:
– Gangtey Gompa monastery built in 1613 by Gyaltse Pema Thinley, the grandson and mind reincarnation of Pema Lingpa. The present abbot, Kunzang Pema Namgyal is the ninth re-incarnation.
– Crane information center.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
In the evening, explore Phobjikha valley (3000 m), the most beautiful glacial valley in the Himalayas and the roosting ground of the rare black- necked cranes in winter.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
We take a short stop at Dochula pass.
After lunch, witness archery matches at Changlimithang stadium.
Then free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Then drive to Paro and visit to:
Ta dzong built in 1649, an ancient watch tower which now houses the national museum of Bhutan.
Rinpung dzong built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The dzong presently functions as the administrative centre of Paro district.
In the evening, visit to a Bhutanese farm house.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
– The primary monastery was built around Guru Rinpoche’s meditation cave in the 1684 by Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgay. This incredible monastery clings to the edge of a sheer rock cliff that plunges 900 meters into the valley below. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche, the tantric mystic flew here on the back of a flying tigress.
In the afternoon, visit to:
– Drugyal dzong built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It served as a defense post against the Tibetan forces in the ancient days.
– Kichu lhakhang built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan king Srongtsen Gampo. He built 108 temples in a single day to pin the ogress to the earth forever. Six of these temples lie in Bhutan.
In the evening, free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
The iconic Tiger’s nest monastery in Paro.
Phobjikha valley.
Yes, you can witness Gangtey tshechu if you book 8 days Bhutan trip.
Yes, you can visit the Tiger’s nest monastery in Paro valley if you book Gangtey festival tour.
The Gangtey festival 2024 will be held at the courtyard of famous Gangtey Gonpa in Gangtey valley.
Yes, you can consult a Buddhist astrologer in Thimphu, Punakha or Paro if I book Gangtey festival tour.
No, you cannot see the rare black-necked cranes during Gangtey tshechu as these birds will arrive in the valley only by the 1st week of November.
Yes, the folk dances are very much a part of the Gangtey festival.