“Gomphu Kora is a vibrant and culturally significant religious festival in eastern Bhutan, celebrated with colorful rituals, mask dances, and traditional ceremonies that bring together locals and pilgrims to honor Guru Rinpoche’s spiritual legacy”
The sacred site of the Gomphu Kora temple of Trashiyangtse in eastern Bhutan will hold a spiritual and historical event popularly known as Gomphu Kora Tshechu (Festival). The name “Gomphu Kora” translates to “Meditation Cave Circumambulation,” as it involves devotees circumambulating a revered cave where Guru Rinpoche meditated to subdue an evil spirit. Gomphu Kora Festival is a significant cultural and religious event in Bhutan, particularly for the people of the eastern part of Bhutan.
Here are the key aspects of the festival’s significance;
Spiritual Significance of the Site
The term “Gomphu” means “Meditation Cave,” while “Kora” refers to the act of circumambulating this sacred cave. The festival location, with its historical links to Guru Rinpoche, makes it an important pilgrimage site. It is believed that the energy of the site can help pilgrims achieve spiritual growth.
Religious Importance
The festival is associated with Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) who brought tantric Buddhism to Bhutan. According to legend, Guru Rinpoche meditated at Gomphu Kora during the 8th century to subdue a demon that had been terrorizing the area. The site where he meditated became sacred, and the festival commemorates this event.
Rituals and Celebrations
The highlight of the festival is a circumambulation of the temple, which is called “kora.” Pilgrims walk around the temple, with the belief that doing so will purify their sins and help them accumulate merit. The festival also features religious dances (cham), which are an integral part of Bhutanese festivals, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.
Cultural Exchange
Gomphu Kora is known for drawing pilgrims from different regions, particularly from Arunachal Pradesh in India, where the Monpa people, who share cultural and religious ties with Bhutan, participate in the festival. This cross-border attendance highlights the deep spiritual connection between Bhutan and communities in neighboring regions.
A Unique Local Celebration
Unlike some of Bhutan’s larger festivals, Gomphu Kora retains a more intimate, rural character. The festival is a key event for the local people and is essential in preserving local traditions and identity. It also serves as an occasion for social gatherings and community bonding.
In summary, the Gomphu Kora Festival celebrates Bhutanese culture, spirituality, and heritage, honoring Guru Rinpoche’s legacy and offering participants a chance for spiritual purification and communal unity. It’s a vibrant expression of Bhutanese faith and tradition, drawing people from Bhutan and beyond.
Day 01. Arrive to Samdrup Jongkhar via Guwahati
Our guide will receive you at Guwahati Airport with Indian Car and driver and transfer to Samdrup Jongkhar. The Indian car and driver’s duty will finsh their duty at hotel. This same car and driver may come to drop our guest at Guwahati airport. Check in the hotel and stroll around Samdrup Jongkhar town. Dinner and over night stay at hotel Samdrup Jongkahr.
Meal Plan: Welcome Dinner Accommodation: Hotel
Day 02. Samdrup Jongkhar – Trashigang
After our breakfast, we will drive to Trashigang. En-route we will visit to Khaling Handloom Center and explore and learn the art of weaving culture in Bhutan and at Kalung, visit to Kanglung Zangtopleri Lhakhang. Then transfer to Trashigang Hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel Trashigang.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 03. Trashigang Stay
Today we will witness Gomphu Kora Festival. In the afternoon, we will go to Trashi Yangtshi and visit to Chhorten Kora and stroll around Trashi Yangthsi town. Explore the town famous for the arts of traditional wood bowl making Daapas and Bhutanese paper making. Then evening drive to hotel Trashigang. Dinner and over night stay at Trashigang Hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 04. Trashigang Stay
Today we will explore Rangjung and Radhi villages with picnic lunch. At Rangjung, we will visit to Rangjung Osel Chholing Monastery. At Kardung, we will visit to Khardung Animi Dratshang and learn their way of life. Lunch served as hot picnic lunch. Enjoy the rice bowl valley (Radhi Valley) of eastern Bhutan. Evening at leisure and dinner and overnight stay at hotel Trashigang.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 05. Trahsigang – Mongar
After our breakfast, we will drive to Mongar. On the way visit to Mongar Ngatshang Lhakhang and learn the lifestyles of Bhutanese monks. You can visit their living rooms and ask about their life styles. Lunch at Mongar. After lunch, visit to Mongar Dzong and Mongar Yalang Lhakhang, where a very few tourist have an opportunity to visit this monastery. Dinner and over night stay at hotel Mongar.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 06. Mongar – Lhuentshi
After breakfast, we will drive to Lhuentshi, the most remotest district in Bhutan. Not many people and tourist have visited this place or district. You will have an opportunity to explore and experience the true living styles of Bhutanese way of life. Visit to Lhuentshi Dzong and then visit to Bhutanese Farm House, where we are going to stay over night here in Bhutanese farmhouse. After having some introduction to the farmhouse and having some welcome drinks, we will explore the area near our Farmhouse. It will be your wonderful experience once in your lifetime.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 07. Lhuentshi – Mongar
Explore the valley till lunchtime like visiting Khoma Village and learn and appreciate the art of Bhutanese weaving and textile. . Have lunch at farmhouse and drive to Mongar. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel Mongar.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 08. Mongar – Samdrup Jongkhar
Drive to Samdrup Jongkhar. You will have lot of opportunities for you photo shoot and stop where every necessary. We will have picnic lunch or at local restaurant on the way. On reaching Samdrup Jongkhar, our guide will completed the immigration formalities for your tomorrow’s departure to Guwahati. In the evening, you will meet the Indian driver, who will take you to Guwahati Airport tomorrow. Your Bhutanese guide and driver will bid you farewell at today’s dinnertime as they will leave to Thimphu very early morning, next day.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 09. Samdrup Jongkhar – Guwahati
Today after your breakfast, your Indian driver and car will take you to Guwahati airport. We wish you a very safe and comfortable journey back to your country. Thank you very much visiting Bhutan through our company and we hope to see you again in Bhutan some day.
This is a sample itinerary, intended to give you a general idea of the likely trip schedule. Numerous factors such as weather, tour conditions, group options and the physical condition of participants, may dictate itinerary changes either before departure or while on tour. We reserve the right to change this schedule in the interest of our guests, safety, comfort and general well being.
Start planning your tailor-made Dream Holiday to Bhutan – The Land of happiness!
In order to experience the best and rewarding fulfillment clients must plan in advance the different logistics that you have in your minds before actually venturing into the world of trips. You might have wishes and hopes for which you need to plan.
The following information will help you to plan your dream trip to Bhutan.
1. When and how to visit Bhutan?
Choose your traveling date like Arrival/Departure date. You also need to choose entry/depart Bhutan via AIR or LAND.
By Air: Druk Air, the national carriers is the only service operator in the kingdom and operates several flights per week from Bangkok (Thailand), Delhi & Kolkata (India) and Kathmandu (Nepal) to Paro (Bhutan). The Paro International Airport is located about an hour and a half drive from Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan.
Paro airport is daylight restricted, and the flights are totally dependent on the weather. As a result, sometimes flights are delayed. It is therefore a good idea to keep at least 24 hours of transit time for connecting flights out of Paro. You might also want to consider traveling on a non-restricted ticket so that if you miss a connecting flight, you can be rerouted or seated on the first available carrier.
Sometimes flights into Paro are disrupted because of unfavorable weather conditions. If this occurs, the flight will stop for the night at the transit airport. To be prepared, you may want to carry your essential personal items in your carry-on luggage.
By Land: Phuentsholing, a Bhutanese town in the southwest has road access to India. It is located about 170 km from the Indian domestic airport at Bagdogra, West Bengal. Phuentsholing is about 172 km from Thimphu the capital city of Bhutan and is about 6hours drive distance. And S/
2. What are your itineraries?
All the tours can be customized and extended as per our valued client’s requirements. There are sample itineraries for your kind reference and it will give you some general idea of the likely trip scheduled.
Complete the tour request form and submit it to us. Send us correct name list. We will send you the flight reservation status via email.
After confirming your reservation, we need the scanned copy of member’s passport.
Please remit us full payments and send us the copy of remittance paper via email. Visa will not be accepted without full payment.
We will send you the flight ticket copy and Visa Clearance Copy prior to your departure to Bhutan via email. You need to print out and carry along with you.
Start packing and looking forward to have a memorable trip in the LandThunder Dragon, DrukYul.
Hot stone bath (Dhotsho) is a traditional bath of Bhutan, where a tradition of heating up stones and then soaking in the water that is in turn heated by the stones. This is also a curative method and is used throughout the country We Bhutanese belief that this bath has so much of medicinal benefits. Some diseases are curable-like joint pains, hypertension, stomach disorder, arthritis and many other minor diseases. Especially for the old age, where we have lots of body pains, joints pains helps a lot by this Hot Stone Bath (Dhotsho).
I think, the minerals in the rocks have certain chemicals, which can cure certain disease of our body. Hot stone bath has no side effects. It is in its pure natural form. We can organize the hot stone bath during your stay in Bhutan.
The Bhutanese textiles are rich, vibrant, and colorful and are a complex art form as well as an integral part of the Bhutanese culture. This Bhutan weaving experiences will give you an insight about the rich textiles in Bhutan. You can sit one of the handlooms of Bhutan and weave your self practically. We promise that you will really enjoy this with great satisfaction in your life.
We will also see or learn the natural coloring and dyeing. You can bring your own materials like handkerchief to dye and color. So visit Bhutan and experience it practically by yourself.
Folk Performing Arts & Music in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan
We have Cultural Program Performing groups, which they will perform like Traditional folk songs, dances and keeps original tunes and dances alive. Moreover, new choreography for some traditional and regional songs is sometimes developed.
The troupe also performs mask dances that have historical and spiritual significance.
Tiger’s Nest is most visited spot in Bhutan and it is much awaited by every tourist who visits Bhutan to climb to Tiger’s Nest.
It takes about 2 hrs 30mins up steep climb through the forest of pine, oak and Rhododendron. However you can ride the horse and climb till the Taktshang cafeteria.
The above activities can be incorporated easily into your travel itinerary. However some activities need to pay some additional fees. So let us know which activities you would like to experiences so that we will include in your invoice.
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Email: info@authenticbhutantours.com
Cell: 00975-17343434
Get inspired by the trip ideas on our website and in our brochures. Then speak to us for first-hand expert advice and if you’re ready, start planning your trip in detail.
