- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- Thimphu, Bhutan
Bhutan festivals · 2027 guide
Druk Wangyel Tshechu 2027: masked dances against the Himalaya at Dochula
A one-day festival at Dochula pass, performed by members of the Royal Bhutan Army, with the 108 chortens and snow peaks behind. Held every year on 13 December.
- 13 December 2027
- Dochula pass, Thimphu
- Fixed date every year
13 Dec
Date every year
2011
Year the festival began
3,100 m
Approximate altitude of Dochula
1 h
Drive from Thimphu
About the festival
A festival unlike any other
The Druk Wangyel Tshechu was started in 2011 and is held every year on 13 December at Dochula pass, between Thimphu and Punakha. It honours the Royal Bhutan Army and the victory of December 2003, when Bhutanese forces led by the fourth King cleared insurgent camps from the southern forests. The 108 Druk Wangyal chortens at the pass were built in memory of that campaign.
Unusually, the dances are performed by soldiers rather than monks, including dances created especially for this festival. On a clear December day the Himalaya stretches across the horizon behind the dancers, which makes this one of the most photogenic festivals in Bhutan. It is also one of the easiest to reach, about an hour from Thimphu.
- Danced by the Royal Bhutan Army
- Snow peaks behind the dancers
- Easy day trip from Thimphu
Festival facts
Druk Wangyel Tshechu 2027 at a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates in 2027 | 13 December 2027 |
| Venue | Druk Wangyel Lhakhang grounds, Dochula |
| District | Thimphu (western Bhutan) |
| Altitude | About 3,100 m, so cold in December |
| Getting there | About 45 minutes to 1 hour from Thimphu; 2 hours from Punakha |
| Views | Clear December mornings often show Gangkar Puensum and Masang Gang |
| Facilities | Café and parking at the pass; crowds are large, so arrive early |
| Entry | Free and open to visitors with a licensed guide; the SDF and visa rules apply as on any day |
Dates follow the Department of Tourism’s tentative festival list for 2027 and the lunar calendar. They can shift by a day or two, so we confirm them before you book flights.
What you will see
Highlights of Druk Wangyel Tshechu
Army dances
Masked and folk dances performed by soldiers.
108 chortens
The memorial chortens completed in 2004.
Himalayan views
Snow peaks across the northern horizon.
Druk Wangyal Lhakhang
A temple completed in 2008.
Big crowds
Families from Thimphu and Punakha.
Photography
One of the most photographed festivals in Bhutan.
History and meaning
The story behind the festival
December 2003
In December 2003 the Royal Bhutan Army, led by the fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, removed militant camps from southern Bhutan. Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck commissioned the 108 chortens at Dochula in memory of the soldiers, and they were completed in 2004. Druk Wangyal Lhakhang followed in 2008.
A festival by soldiers
The Druk Wangyel Tshechu was first held in 2011. The dances, performed by army personnel, celebrate the victory and honour the King and the soldiers, mixing traditional cham with newer choreography.
Planning
How to plan your visit
Planning
Leave Thimphu early to find a good spot and catch the mountain views before cloud builds. Bring warm layers, a hat and gloves. Our Dochula Pass guide covers the chortens and the Lungchuzekha hike. In Bumthang, the Nalakhar Tshechu starts on the same day.
Etiquette
How to behave at a Bhutanese festival
Festivals are religious events first, so dress as you would for a temple: long sleeves and long trousers or a long skirt, and no hats inside the dzong or temple. Never walk across the dance ground, even when it looks empty between dances. Photography is usually allowed from the edges without flash, but some rituals and inner temples are off limits; your guide will tell you when to put the camera away. Ask before taking close-up portraits.
Arrive early for a good spot, bring water, a hat and a cushion or mat, and expect to be teased by the atsaras, the masked clowns who keep the crowd in order. If someone offers you food or a cup of tea, it is polite to accept. Our guide to Bhutanese festivals explains the dances in more detail.
Trips
Build a trip around Druk Wangyel Tshechu
Every trip is private, so we can time it to the festival dates and add the places nearby.
Before you go
Travel rules for 2027
Every visitor except Indian, Bangladeshi and Maldivian nationals needs a visa, which costs USD 40 and is arranged by your tour operator. The Sustainable Development Fee is USD 100 per adult per night until 31 August 2027; children under 6 pay nothing and children aged 6 to 12 pay half. Indian visitors pay INR 1,200 per night. Tourists travel with a licensed guide beyond the first checkpoint and stay in certified hotels or homestays.
The SDF does not change during festival weeks, but hotel rooms near popular festivals fill early. See our visa and SDF guide and Bhutan travel rules.
Druk Wangyel Tshechu: questions
Every year on 13 December at Dochula pass.
Members of the Royal Bhutan Army rather than monks.
About 45 minutes to an hour by road.
No. Bhutanese festivals are free. You attend with your licensed guide, who also explains the dances.
The Department of Tourism lists 13 December 2027 as the tentative 2027 dates. Lunar dates are occasionally adjusted, so we reconfirm before you book flights.
More festivals
Other festivals around the same time
See Druk Wangyel Tshechu in 2027
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will check the festival date, hold hotels nearby and send a day-by-day plan with one price that includes the SDF, visa, guide and car.
Photo credits, via Wikimedia Commons: Ngang Lhakhang, the Swan Temple, in Bumthang (Arian Zwegers from Brussels, Belgium, CC BY 2.0); Trashigang Dzong above the river (Christopher J. Fynn, CC BY-SA 3.0).
