Holiday Guide for Bhutan in 2024

Bhutan 2024
Bhutan
2024

Bhutan information

Nestled in the eastern Himalayas, Bhutan is known as the Thunder Dragon Kingdom. Public holidays are a combination of Buddhist festivals and honouring the royal family. Most holiday dates are determined on the Bhutanese calendar, which is lunar based.

Population: 771,612
Capital: Thimphu
Calling Code: (975)
Time Zone: +6 UTC
Currency: Bhutanese ngultrum
Language: Dzongkha

List of National Holidays in Bhutan in 2024

Winter Solstice


Winter Solstice

Bhutan: In the Bhutanese calendar, this is the first day of Winter and the shortest day of the year.

Traditional Day of Offering

 Long Weekend! 
Traditional Day of Offering

Bhutan: In eastern Bhutan, the first day of the 12th Bhutanese month is celebrated as a new year.

Losar


Losar

Bhutan: Tibetan New year, also known as Losar, is the most important festival in the Tibetan calendar

Losar Holiday


Losar Holiday

Bhutan: Second day of public holidays to mark the lunar new year

Birth Anniversary Of His Majesty the King


Birth Anniversary Of His Majesty the King

Bhutan: The current Druk Gyalpo or "Dragon King" of the Kingdom of Bhutan was born on February 21st 1980. He became King on December 9th 2006.

Birth Anniversary Of His Majesty the King Holiday


Birth Anniversary Of His Majesty the King Holiday

Bhutan: Second day of public holidays to mark the birthday of the King of Bhutan

Birth Anniversary Of His Majesty the King Holiday

 Long Weekend! 
Birth Anniversary Of His Majesty the King Holiday

Bhutan: Third day of public holidays to mark the birthday of the King of Bhutan

Death Anniversary of Zhabdrung


Death Anniversary of Zhabdrung

Bhutan: Honours a 17th century Tibetan Buddhist lama who first united Bhutan as a nation-state.

Birth Anniversary of the 3rd Druk Gyalpo


Birth Anniversary of the 3rd Druk Gyalpo

Bhutan: Jigme Dorji Wangchuck the 3rd Druk Gyalpo, who began Bhutan's first steps toward modernisation, was born on May 2nd 1929.

Lord Buddha's Parinirvana


Lord Buddha's Parinirvana

Bhutan: This is a Buddhist festival that marks the death of the Buddha.

Birth Anniversary Of Guru Rinpoche


Birth Anniversary Of Guru Rinpoche

Bhutan: Guru Rinpoche, was an 8th-century Buddhist master from the Indian subcontinent, venerated as a "second Buddha" in Tibetan Buddhism.

First Sermon Of Lord Buddha


First Sermon Of Lord Buddha

Bhutan: A public holiday on the fourth day of the sixth month in the Bhutanese calendar

Thimphu Drubchen

 Long Weekend! 
Thimphu Drubchen

Thimphu: Celebrated three days before Thimphu Tshechu, this festival dates back to the early 18th century.

Thimphu Tshechu

 Long Weekend! 
Thimphu Tshechu

Thimphu: Tshechu are annual religious Bhutanese festivals held in each district of Bhutan

Thimphu Tshechu Holiday


Thimphu Tshechu Holiday

Thimphu: Second day of public holidays in Timphu for the Tshechu festival

Thimphu Tshechu Holiday


Thimphu Tshechu Holiday

Thimphu: Third day of public holidays in Timphu for the Tshechu festival

Blessed Rainy Day


Blessed Rainy Day

Bhutan: Marks the end of the monsoon and farming season and the beginning of the harvest season in Bhutan.

Dassain


Dassain

Bhutan: Durga Puja is one of the largest Hindu festivals that involves worship of Goddess Durga symbolising power and triumph of good over evil in Hindu mythology.

Coronation day of His Majesty the King

 Long Weekend! 
Coronation day of His Majesty the King

Bhutan: A public coronation ceremony for His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was held on 1 November 2008

Birth Anniversary of the 4th Druk Gyalpo

 Long Weekend! 
Birth Anniversary of the 4th Druk Gyalpo

Bhutan: Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the 4th Druk Gyalpo, was born on 11 November 1955.

Descending Day of Lord Buddha

 Long Weekend! 
Descending Day of Lord Buddha

Bhutan: Marks return of Lord Buddha to earth from the heavenly realm after three months of teaching

National Day


National Day

Bhutan: The Day commemorates the coronation of the first Druk Gyalpo (Dragon King) of modern Bhutan. It is Bhutan's most significant national holiday and is widely celebrated throughout the country.