- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- Thimphu, Bhutan
Bhutan festivals · 2027 guide
Wangdue Tshechu 2027: masked dances in a rebuilt dzong
Three days of masked dances at Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, rebuilt after the 2012 fire and consecrated in 2022. Expected on 8 to 10 October 2027.
- 8 to 10 October 2027
- Wangdue Phodrang Dzong
- Thongdrol on the last day
8 to 10 Oct
Expected dates in 2027
1638
Year the dzong was founded
2022
Year the rebuilt dzong was consecrated
30 min
Drive from Punakha
About the festival
The festival comes home
Wangdue Phodrang Dzong was founded by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in 1638 on a ridge above the Punatsang Chhu. A fire destroyed it in June 2012, and for ten years the Wangdue Tshechu was held on open ground away from the dzong. The rebuilt dzong was consecrated on 11 November 2022, and the festival has since returned to its courtyards.
The Wangdue Tshechu runs for three days in early autumn. It is known for the Raksha Mangcham, the Dance of the Ox, and on the final morning a great thongdrol of Guru Rinpoche is unrolled. Because it falls just before the Thimphu Tshechu, you can see both on one trip, and Wangdue is only half an hour from Punakha.
- Back in the dzong since its rebuilding
- Known for the Dance of the Ox
- Thongdrol on the final morning
Festival facts
Wangdue Tshechu 2027 at a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates in 2027 | 8 to 10 October 2027 |
| Venue | Wangdue Phodrang Dzong |
| District | Wangdue Phodrang (western Bhutan) |
| Altitude | About 1,300 m |
| Getting there | About 30 minutes from Punakha, or 3 hours from Thimphu |
| Thongdrol | Unrolled at dawn on the last day |
| Accommodation | Stay in Punakha or Lobesa nearby |
| 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 Wangdue Tshechu
Raksha Mangcham
The Dance of the Ox, a highlight of this festival.
Thongdrol
A giant thangka of Guru Rinpoche at dawn.
The new dzong
Rebuilt with traditional craft after the 2012 fire.
Local crowd
Families from Wangdue and the valleys around it.
Atsaras
Masked jesters working the crowd.
Autumn light
Clear October days in the warm valley.
History and meaning
From fire to festival
The 2012 fire
On 24 June 2012 fire swept through the 17th-century dzong. The sacred relics were saved, but the building was lost. India contributed Nu 1,000 million to the reconstruction, and craftsmen rebuilt it over a decade using traditional methods. It was consecrated on 11 November 2022.
The Dance of the Ox
The Raksha Mangcham is part of the dances that show the judgement of souls after death, with the ox-headed raksha among the attendants of the Lord of Death. It is one of the dances visitors remember best from Wangdue.
Planning
How to plan your visit
Combine it with Thimphu Tshechu
Stay in Punakha for the Wangdue Tshechu on 8 to 10 October, then drive to Thimphu for the Thimphu Tshechu on 10 to 12 October. The Gangtey Tshechu in Phobjikha follows on 13 to 15 October.
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 Wangdue 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.
Wangdue Tshechu: questions
Expected on 8 to 10 October 2027 at Wangdue Phodrang Dzong.
Yes. Since the rebuilt dzong was consecrated in 2022, the Tshechu is held there again.
The Dance of the Ox, part of the dances about the judgement of the dead.
No. Bhutanese festivals are free. You attend with your licensed guide, who also explains the dances.
The Department of Tourism lists 8 to 10 October 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 Wangdue 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: Countryside in Wangdue Phodrang (Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 4.0); The rebuilt Wangdue Phodrang Dzong in December 2025 (Tashidor, CC BY-SA 4.0); Tashichho Dzong in Thimphu (Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0).
