Gom Kora Tshechu — three days at the meditation cave of Guru Rinpoche, in the Trashiyangtse valley.

What a visitor encounters

• The black rock

  The principal sight at Gom Kora — a 30-metre black-rock outcrop beside the river, held to bear the body-imprints of Guru Rinpoche's meditation. Pilgrims circumambulate it through the festival's principal night.

• The night circumambulation

  On the final festival night, pilgrims circumambulate the black rock continuously from dusk to dawn. The atmosphere is reverent and the lit-lamp tradition is photographically distinctive.

• The eastern circuit

  Combine the Tshechu with the broader eastern circuit — Trashigang, the textile valleys of Khoma and Khaling, the Sakteng wildlife sanctuary (Brokpa community), and the trek to Merak. The eastern circuit is substantially less visited than the western, and the cultural is older.

• Accommodation in trashiyangtse

  Trashiyangtse has limited accommodation — Karma's Resort and Norjin Resort are the principal options. Most visitors base in Trashigang (3 hours' drive) at the Lingkhar Lodge or Druk Deothjung Resort and travel to Gom Kora for the festival days.

Frequently asked

When exactly is Gom Kora Tshechu 2026?

26–28 March 2026, per the Department of Tourism's published calendar. The dates are calculated from the Bhutanese lunar calendar (9th–11th day of the 2nd lunar month) and shift each Gregorian year.

How does Gom Kora differ from the western tshechus?

Older in character, smaller in scale, with a stronger pilgrimage. The all-night circumambulation of the black rock is unique to Gom Kora. The chams cycle includes the Phacham (boar-headed cham of the Pema Lingpa lineage), which is rare in the western dzongs.

How do I get to Trashiyangtse?

Approximately 2–3 days of driving from Paro via Thimphu, Bumthang, Mongar, and Trashigang. We typically combine the festival with the eastern circuit and build a 10–12 day itinerary that ends with a domestic Drukair flight from Yongphula (Trashigang) back to Paro. The eastern Bhutanese roads are improved substantially since 2020 but the journey remains a undertaking.

Is the festival crowded?

Substantially less crowded than the western tshechus. The international cohort is small, and the Bhutanese attendance is regional — the families of eastern Bhutan attend, but the cross-country diaspora visit is rare. The atmosphere is intimate.

Should I plan the all-night circumambulation?

Your guide will brief you on the timing and the protocol — the circumambulation runs continuously from dusk to dawn, and individual visitors join for whatever duration suits them. Many international visitors attend for two or three hours after dinner; some stay until midnight; only the most committed stay until dawn. The decision sits with you.