Drukair’s more flights to Hong Kong and Singapore
The national flag carrier of Bhutan, Drukair, announced that it will open up new services to Hongkong and Singapore. The national airline currently operates between five countries- Bhutan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Nepal, and India, flying to the Indian cities Delhi and Kolkata, and making stopovers at key places like Guwahati, Baghdogra, and Bodhgaya in India. Karma Tshering, the director of BhutanTravelAgency.com made global travel media aware of this development in Bhutan Tourism. He also said Bhutan travel has become simple like never before.
The new destinations will be included after the recently ordered Airbus A319 begins to operate in Bhutan.
The inclusion of these cities will ease the tourist traffic of the in Bhutan, especially during the festive months of September, October and November, when several major festivals and the perfect weather entices travellers into Bhutan by the droves for Bhutan Thimphu Festival Tours.
The Thimphu festival held annually beside the stunning fortress of Thimphu also known as Tashichhodzong, is a major tourist attraction during autumn. The festival is actually two events that take place in succession, beginning with the Thimphu Drubchen. The festivals are held based on the lunar calendar, and so their dates vary annually. This year, the Thimphu Drubchen, which continues for five days, will begin on September 20.
The Thimphu Drubchen, also known as the Lhamoi Drubchen, is a festival dedicated to the female protecting deity of Bhutan, Palden Lhamo. The festival is said to have been conceptualised by the reincarnation of a saint who was close to the founder of medieval governance in Bhutan, Zhabdrung Nagwang Namgyel. The festival also honours Zhabdrung and Drukpa Kagyud, his school of Buddhism, widely followed in Western Bhutan.
The Thimphu Tshechu begins immediately following the conclusion of the Drubchen. It is one of the many similar festivals held annually in the districts of Bhutan during various times of the year. However, every Tshechu is unique, and the Thimphu Tshechu is popular with tourists as well as locals.
The Thimphu Tshechu is a three day event, dedicated to the 8th century saint credited with introducing Buddhism to Bhutan, Guru Rinpoche. The festival consists of various dances with intricate masks and elaborate costumes. The dances, depicting deities, lords, yogis, and great saints, have remained unchanged in their choreography for centuries. They have a mesmeric quality, with their precise steps and beats, and people believe that watching these dances will bring them great merit.
The highlight of the Thimphu Tshechu, especially for the locals, is the Guru Tshengye Cham, or the dance of the eight manifestations of Guru Rinpoche. It is believed that Guru Rinpoche appears in the midst of the people during this dance, and that it watch it is to be blessed by the Guru himself.
On the final day of the festival, a Guru Thongdroel, a giant appliqueimage of the saint, is hung from the walls of the central tower of the Tashichhodzong. ‘Thongdroel’ can be literally translated to ‘release on sight’, meaning that to look upon the image is to release all negative karma.
The Thimphu Drubchen and Tshechu is an important event for the locals, who turn up in their best outfits with their entire families, and enjoy the festivities while also meeting old friends, picnicking and having a good time while also ensuring that their children learn the basics of Buddhism. It is a great opportunity for tourists to interact with locals, and get interesting photography, and especially, to get a sense of what Bhutan is really about.
With the addition of these new flights, Thimphu festival clearly seems to be the one which will benefit from it. Already one of the biggest attraction for Bhutan festival tourism, it’s the tourist who stands to gain reports Karma Tshering, the director of BhutanTravelAgency.com
The Thimphu Tshechu offers a wonderful respite to your holidays in Bhutan, and imbues your travel Bhutan experience with some spiritual meaning.
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