Paro Tshechu
Bhutan's most famous tshechu, held at Rinpung Dzong with five days of sacred masked dances drawing visitors from around the world.
Location
Rinpung Dzong, Paro
Duration
5 days
Month (AD)
March/April
Highlights
Five days of masked dances at Rinpung Dzong, predawn thongdrel unfurling, one of the most photographed events in Bhutan.
Tips for Visitors
Book accommodation months in advance — Paro fills up during the tshechu. Arrive before dawn on the final day for the thongdrel viewing.
Paro Tshechu is Bhutan's best-known festival internationally and one of the oldest, held annually at Rinpung Dzong in the Paro Valley. Over five days, monks and laypeople perform elaborate masked dances in the dzong courtyard, each dance conveying Buddhist teachings about compassion, karma, and the triumph of good over evil. The highlight is the predawn unfurling of a massive thongdrel depicting Guru Rinpoche, which is displayed only for a few hours before sunrise. The festival transforms Paro into a gathering place for Bhutanese from across the western valleys, all wearing their best gho and kira.
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