Jambay Lakhang Drup-Naked festival

Jambay Lakhang Drup-Naked festival

Why Choose Jambay Lhakhang Drup- Naked festival?

Last updated April 8, 2026

Those wishing to experience a mystical dance festival in the town of Bumthang can join this Jambay Lhakhang Drup-Naked festival. Over the course of five days, the Jambay Lhakhang Drup festival is observed by the locals. It is an intriguing celebration that is held to honor the founding of the Jambay Lhakhang Temple

The Jambay Lhakhang Drup festival in Bhutan is a very well-known event in the country and is hosted in the ancient Jambay Lhakhang, which dates back to the 7th century. This temple is one of the 108 that were constructed by Srongtsen Gampo, the Tibetan King, in a single day. Guru Rimpoche was summoned to Bhutan from Nepal by the local King of Bumthang, who's name was Sindhu. This was done in order to tame the bad spirits that were causing mayhem in the valley. At twelve in the morning, a group of sixteen guys will do a dance that is completely naked. This is one of the more unusual dances that may be seen at this festival. However, the main dance is esoteric and therefore not shown openly but takes place inside the temple premises only. This dance was developed in an effort to divert the attention of the malevolent spirits who were preventing the construction of the temple. At twelve o'clock in the morning, the "Ter Cham" or "The Fire ceremony," more commonly referred to as the "naked dance," is carried out.

Along with getting to experience the mystical majesty of the Jambay Lhakhang Drup Festival, you will also visit the central highlights of Bhutan like Thimpu, Paro, Punakha, and Gangtey. The Tiger’s Nest Monastery is also visited which lies slightly away from Paro. Numerous Dzongs and monasteries will also be visited and short hikes that showcase the natural beauty of the hills surrounding the Himalayas will be seen. Archery battles can also be seen during this festival.

During the trip to experience the Jambay Lhakhang Drup festival, you will also get to experience the natural beauty, architecture, and culture of Bhutan. So join Accessible Adventure on this Mystical trip of a lifetime.

Best Season Jambay Lhakhang Drup- Naked festival

There is no “Best Season” for the Jambay Lhakhang Drup Naked Dance Festival as the date is fixed according to the Tibetan lunar calendar. However, the dates for the festival are usually around November. For the year 2022, the Jambay Lhakhang Drup festival is set to be celebrated from the 8th to the 11th of November. Dates for other years will be released in time by the Bhutanese authorities.

Why Jambay Lhakhang Drup- Naked festival with Accessible Adventure?

Accessible Adventure is a travel and tour company run and managed by a group of seasoned Nepalese citizens. This staff has extensive experience organizing and managing Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet vacation destinations throughout the Himalayas.

We are a significant and rising travel company based in Kathmandu, Nepal, with over a decade of experience organizing successful tours with one-of-a-kind quality services at affordable prices. During your stay with us, you will have access to all of the Himalayan vacation destinations that we provide.

Each of our holidays is painstakingly planned and managed, and we consistently receive good comments from both previous and present customers and clients. They are quite pleased and grateful for the value of the vacations we provide.

Trip Summary

Day 1

Day 1: Arrival in Paro (2,250m) travel and stay at Thimpu

When you arrive in Paro, our tour guide will be there to meet you and take you to your accommodations. After completing the necessary procedures for obtaining a visa and clearing customs, your guide will assist you in making your way to Thimpu, the capital city of Bhutan. The whole driving time is approximately one and a half hours, during which you will get the opportunity to see the Tamchhog Lhakhang, which is a place of worship that has been passed down through generations among the iron bridge builders of Bhutan.

The city of Thimphu is famous for its breathtaking Bhutan dzong, its clean air, and its kind locals. In the event that you arrive in time, you will make a trip to Tashichho Dzong, also known as Thimphu Dzong, which is widely considered to be the most stunning dzong in all of Bhutan and serves as the administrative center for the country's government. You will also have the opportunity to tour the National Library and Folk Heritage Museum, which is a historic house that dates back 300 years and has been converted into a museum.

Daily Summary

Duration1.15 hr

Distance50 km

Accommodation3* Hotel

MealsB,L,D

Mountain SeenBhutan Himalaya

Day 2

Day 2: Thimphu to Punakha (1,250m)

After breakfast today, we will depart Thimpu and make our way to Punakha. Today, we will take a break at Dochula Pass, which is located on the way to Punakha, which served as the capital of Bhutan from 1907 until 1955. Today, we will be making our way to Punakha. This popular tourist site is noted for its stunning views of the Himalayas in every direction. In addition to this, it is the site of the 108 Druk Wangyal Chortens, which were built as a memorial to the Bhutanese soldiers who lost their lives fighting in a battle in the year 2003. These chortens are situated on a small hill.

We also make a stop at the Pho Chhu Suspension Bridge, which, at a length of 160 meters, holds the distinction of being Bhutan's longest suspension bridge. There is a possibility that you will be able to catch stunning views of Punakha Dzong and the Pho Chhu Valley from this bridge.

Daily Summary

Duration2 hr

Day 3

Day 3: Punakha to Gangtey (2,900m)

After breakfast, make your way to Gangtey valley, also known as Phobjikha, which is not only one of the most breathtaking locations in all of Bhutan but is also the winter home of the endangered black-necked cranes, which migrate from the Tibetan Plateau each year. You will visit the Black Necked Crane Information Center and Gangtey Monastery while you are here. Gangtey Monastery dates back to the 17th century and is situated on a tiny hill that rises from the valley floor. It is bordered by a big community. This facility features an observation area that comes complete with a powerful telescope, allowing guests to have the greatest possible view of the cranes. The extensive valley, which is home to Bhutan's most well-known marshes, is well-known for the breathtaking beauty of its landscape as well as the singularity of its cultural traditions. The valley is home to 13 other species that are in danger of extinction on a global scale, in addition to the globally endangered black-necked cranes Grus nigricollis.

Daily Summary

Duration2 hr

Day 4

Day 4: Gangtey to Bumthang (2,745m)

Following breakfast, we will depart Gangtey and make our way to the Bumthang valley. It should take roughly 5 hours to complete. Before arriving in the Chumey valley, which is the first of Bumthang's four valleys, we will go through agricultural fields, forests, and a steep mountain pass known as Yotong La, which is 3,400 meters in elevation. The Bumthang valley is enormous and features a completely unique landscape that visitors can take pleasure in viewing. Jakar is the most important town in the valley. The sole brewery in Bhutan, which produces Red Panda wheat beer, is located in Jakar. Chhoekhor, Tang, Chhume, and Ura are the names of the gewogs that make up Bumthang's constituent parts. The valley is expansive and home to a variety of ecosystems, including a forest of evergreen trees. Bumthangkha is a Tibeto-Burman language and the name was given to the language spoken in the region of Bumthang. There are four different valleys in Bumthang, and each one of them has its own distinct language.

Daily Summary

Duration4 hr

Day 5

Day 5: Bumthang Sightseeing; Attend Jambay Lhakhang Drup Festival

The first part of your day will be spent taking in the attractions in and around Bumthang. Temples such as Tamshing Lhakhang, also known as the temple of Good message, are well-known for the collections of printings that they have since they are considered to be excellent examples of the style that is prevalent in the region. In addition to this, it is well-known for being one of the few institutions that is still carrying on Pema Lingpa's teachings. Following our time at this temple, we travel to the "Body Imprint Temple," also known as Kurjey Lhakhang. The Jambay Lhakhang is a temple that was constructed in the 7th century by King Songtsen Goempo of Tibet. It is located not too far away from the Kurjey Lhakhang. The ambitious goal of the King of Tibet was to establish a total of 108 Buddhist temples across the territories of Tibet and Bhutan as part of his mission to spread Buddhism.After a few more journey, we make it to the Jakar Dzong. The magnificent Jakar Dzong, which is located in Bhutan and has a perimeter of more than 1,500 meters, is undeniably a remarkable example of Bhutanese architectural grandeur. The name Jakar comes from the term "Bjakhab," which means "The white bird." You will then experience the Jambay Lhakhang festival's first day, which will begin in the evening. The first night of the festival starts at about 8:30 in the evening. You will be able to see a wide variety of chams (dances) throughout the course of the festival. These chams include the Terchham (Naked Dance), which was first started by Terton Dorje Lingpa and others. Villagers from Norgang, Changwa, and Nangsiphel are the ones that put on these performances for visitors.

Daily Summary

Day 6

Day 6: Go Sightseeing in Bumthang (2,745m)

Today, you have the option of making a second trip to Jambay Lhakhang to take part in more of the celebrations there, or you could go on an excursion to Tang Valley, which is the most remote valley in the Bumthang province. During the excursion, you will travel to the Ugyen Chholing Palace, which was constructed in the 16th century by the Trongsa Penlop Tshokey Dorji. The trek will take around 45 minutes. The palace's primary structure houses an enthralling museum that provides an authentic look into the lives of a Bhutanese noble family. Then you will head to visit the 14th century Tang Rimochen Lhakhang, where Guru Rinpoche meditated, as well as Mebar Tsho (Burning Lake), where some of Guru Rinpoche's treasures were discovered in the 15th century by the famous treasure discoverer Pema Lingpa. Both of these locations are located in the same region.

Daily Summary

Duration4–5 hr

Day 7

Day 7: Bumthang to Gangtey (2,320m)

After taking in the spiritual celebration, we will, following breakfast, drive along the same path back to Gangtey as we came. It is going to be a more lengthy trip, lasting approximately 8 hours.

Daily Summary

Duration4.3 hr

Distance155 km

Day 8

Day 8: Gangtey to Paro (2,250m)

Today, we will continue our journey toward Paro by driving for around five hours across Dochula Pass. Upon arrival in Paro, you will get the opportunity to take a stroll around the town's streets and enjoy the local way of life as well as the cuisine.

Daily Summary

Duration4 hr

Distance166 km

Day 9

Day 9: Trek to Taksang Lhakhang (Tiger's Nest)

After breakfast, we take a short drive to the foot of Tiger's Nest, where we begin our two-hour ascent to the monastery cafe, where we are rewarded with a breathtaking panorama of Taktsang. After another half-hour of hiking, we'll reach the majestic Taktsang Monastery and be greeted by the resident monks. It is thought that from Singye Dzong in Eastern Bhutan, Guru Rimpoche flew on a flaming tigress to here, Bhutan's holiest monastery, where he meditated for three months. Beginning in the eighth century, under his leadership, Buddhism in Paro flourished. He flew here from Tibet on the back of Yeshe Tsogyal, who he turned into a flying tigress for the trip. He landed on the cliff, which he "anointed" as the place to build a monastery. People have called him the "protector saint of Bhutan" because he brought Buddhism and the Nyingmapa school of Mahayana Buddhism to Bhutan. In the monastery, there are eight caves. Four of them are pretty easy to get to. Padmasambhava is thought to have entered the first cave on the back of a tiger. This cave is called "Tholu Phuk," and the cave where he meditates is called "Pel Phuk."

All of the monastic structures are cut directly into the cliff face, which has extraordinarily steep slopes. Despite its intimidating appearance, the monastery complex may be reached from multiple directions. These include the northwest by a path through the forest, the south via a path used by devotees, and the north via the "Hundred Thousand Fairies".

We descend back and stay overnight in Paro.

Daily Summary

Day 10

Day 10: Leaving Paro and continuing our journey

Our tour guide will take you to the Paro International Airport today so that you can go on to your next destination. Tour service end.

Daily Summary

AccommodationTeahouse

MealsB,L,D