A festival in Chhoekhor, Bumthang, whose closing ceremony is a fire blessing: people jump through the flames to purify themselves.
Thangbi Mani is one of the most striking festivals in Bumthang. The highlight is the Mewang, the fire blessing, performed in an open ground at night: lay monks carry out the purification rituals while people jump over the flames to purify themselves. It is believed the festival brings peace and prosperity, and ensures a better harvest for the whole community.
Several mask dances are performed alongside it.
Getting to Bumthang means the long drive east over Pele La and Yotong La, so this trip doubles as a central Bhutan tour. It comes back through Phobjikha.
Dates follow the lunar calendar and fall in autumn.
What stands out
- The Mewang fire blessing at night, when people jump through the flames
- Bumthang's seventh and eighth century temples
- Phobjikha valley on the way back west
- Taktsang early in the trip, before the drive east
The itinerary
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Day 1 7,480 ft
Arrive Paro
Met at the airport, with the afternoon in the Paro valley.
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Day 2 10,150 ft
Paro: the walk up to Taktsang
The Tiger's Nest before the long drives begin.
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Day 3 7,610 ft
Paro to Thimphu
The short drive up to the capital, and the afternoon there.
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Day 4 7,610 ft
Thimphu
The dzong, the museums and the market.
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Day 5 4,100 ft
Thimphu to Punakha
Over Dochula into the warm valley.
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Day 6 8,530 ft
Punakha to Bumthang
The long drive east over Pele La and Yotong La.
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Day 7 8,530 ft
Thangbi Mani: first day
The festival at Thangbi Lhakhang in Chhoekhor. Mask dances through the day.
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Day 8 8,530 ft
Thangbi Mani: the fire blessing
The Mewang, performed after dark in an open ground. Lay monks carry out the purification rituals and people jump over the flames.
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Day 9 9,840 ft
Bumthang to Phobjikha
West again into the glacial valley, arriving in the afternoon.
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Day 10 7,480 ft
Phobjikha to Paro
Gangtey Goemba in the morning, then the long drive west.
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Day 11 7,480 ft
Departure
Morning transfer to the airport.
What is covered
- All internal transport with a private vehicle and driver
- A licensed English-speaking Bhutanese guide throughout
- Accommodation in government-approved three-star hotels, or better on request
- All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- All entry fees to monuments, dzongs and museums
- Bhutan visa processing and the visa fee
- The Sustainable Development Fee
- All internal taxes and the government royalty
- International flights to and from Bhutan
- Travel insurance, which we ask every guest to arrange
- Drinks, laundry, telephone and other personal expenses
- Tips for your guide and driver
- Anything not listed as included
The fire ceremony happens after dark and it is cold in Bumthang in October. Bring more warm clothing than you think you need.
This is a local festival, not a large one built for visitors. Numbers are small and the atmosphere is different from Paro or Thimphu.
On this trip
Other trips
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