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DarjeelingTour Plan

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Festivals

The calendar

Festivals worth planning a journey around. Most follow lunar or local calendars, so dates move each year: check current status before you travel.

January

Kalimpong and NeoraMaghe SankrantiMid-January, first day of the Nepali month of Magh (usually 14 or 15 January)Gangtok and East SikkimLosoongDecember, first day of the eleventh Tibetan month West and South SikkimMaghe Sankranti MelaMid-January, from 1 Magh (about 14 January), for about a week

February

Darjeeling HillsLosarFeb–Mar, Tibetan new year (lunar calendar)Kalimpong and NeoraLosarFeb–Mar, Tibetan new year (lunar calendar)Gangtok and East SikkimLosarFeb–Mar, Tibetan new year (lunar calendar)North SikkimLosarFeb–Mar, Tibetan new year (lunar calendar)West and South SikkimPemayangtse ChamFeb, 28th–29th day of the 12th Tibetan month, just before Losar (lunar calendar)West and South SikkimBumchuFeb–Mar, 14th–15th day of the 1st Tibetan month (3 March in 2026)BhutanPunakha Drubchen and TshechuFeb–Mar, around the 1st lunar month (lunar calendar)Dooars and the TeraiJalpesh Mela at ShivaratriFeb–Mar, Mahashivratri (lunar calendar)

March

Darjeeling HillsLosarFeb–Mar, Tibetan new year (lunar calendar)Kalimpong and NeoraLosarFeb–Mar, Tibetan new year (lunar calendar)Gangtok and East SikkimLosarFeb–Mar, Tibetan new year (lunar calendar)North SikkimLosarFeb–Mar, Tibetan new year (lunar calendar)West and South SikkimBumchuFeb–Mar, 14th–15th day of the 1st Tibetan month (3 March in 2026)BhutanParo TshechuMar–Apr, five days ending on the 15th day of the 2nd lunar month (lunar calendar)BhutanPunakha Drubchen and TshechuFeb–Mar, around the 1st lunar month (lunar calendar)Dooars and the TeraiJalpesh Mela at ShivaratriFeb–Mar, Mahashivratri (lunar calendar)

April

BhutanParo TshechuMar–Apr, five days ending on the 15th day of the 2nd lunar month (lunar calendar)

May

Darjeeling HillsSaga Dawa and Buddha JayantiMay–Jun, full moon of the fourth Tibetan month Gangtok and East SikkimSaga DawaMay–Jun, full moon of the fourth Tibetan month North SikkimSaga DawaMay–Jun, full moon of the fourth Tibetan month

June

Darjeeling HillsSaga Dawa and Buddha JayantiMay–Jun, full moon of the fourth Tibetan month Gangtok and East SikkimSaga DawaMay–Jun, full moon of the fourth Tibetan month North SikkimSaga DawaMay–Jun, full moon of the fourth Tibetan month

July

BhutanHaa Summer FestivalJuly, two days (check each year)

August

Gangtok and East SikkimPang LhabsolAug–Sep, 15th day of the seventh Tibetan month North SikkimTendong Lho Rumfaat8 August every year West and South SikkimTendong Lho Rumfaat8 August (Sikkim state holiday), celebrations over about three days West and South SikkimPang LhabsolAug–Sep, 15th day of the 7th Tibetan month; Ravangla holds about a week of events Dooars and the TeraiKaram Puja in the tea gardensAug–Sep, Ekadashi of the bright half of Bhado (lunar calendar)

September

Darjeeling HillsDashainSep–Oct, ten days ending on Vijaya Dashami Kalimpong and NeoraDashainLate Sep–Oct, 15 days ending on the full moon of Ashwin (lunar calendar)Gangtok and East SikkimPang LhabsolAug–Sep, 15th day of the seventh Tibetan month West and South SikkimPang LhabsolAug–Sep, 15th day of the 7th Tibetan month; Ravangla holds about a week of events BhutanThimphu TshechuSep–Oct, three days from the 10th day of the 8th lunar month (lunar calendar)Dooars and the TeraiDurga Puja in Siliguri and JalpaiguriSep–Oct, five days ending on Dashami (lunar calendar)Dooars and the TeraiKaram Puja in the tea gardensAug–Sep, Ekadashi of the bright half of Bhado (lunar calendar)

October

Darjeeling HillsDashainSep–Oct, ten days ending on Vijaya Dashami Darjeeling HillsTiharOct–Nov, five days around Diwali Kalimpong and NeoraDashainLate Sep–Oct, 15 days ending on the full moon of Ashwin (lunar calendar)Kalimpong and NeoraTiharOct–Nov, five days around the new moon of Kartik (lunar calendar)BhutanThimphu TshechuSep–Oct, three days from the 10th day of the 8th lunar month (lunar calendar)BhutanJambay Lhakhang DrupOct–Nov, several days in the 9th–10th lunar month (lunar calendar)Dooars and the TeraiDurga Puja in Siliguri and JalpaiguriSep–Oct, five days ending on Dashami (lunar calendar)Dooars and the TeraiBhandani PujaOct, the day after Dashami (Ekadashi), lunar calendar

November

Darjeeling HillsTiharOct–Nov, five days around Diwali Darjeeling HillsGhum Festival of the Darjeeling Himalayan RailwayLate Nov–early Dec (2026 edition planned 28 Nov–6 Dec)Kalimpong and NeoraTiharOct–Nov, five days around the new moon of Kartik (lunar calendar)BhutanJambay Lhakhang DrupOct–Nov, several days in the 9th–10th lunar month (lunar calendar)BhutanBlack-necked Crane FestivalOn or around 11 November every year (fixed Western date)

December

Darjeeling HillsGhum Festival of the Darjeeling Himalayan RailwayLate Nov–early Dec (2026 edition planned 28 Nov–6 Dec)Kalimpong and NeoraChristmas24–25 December Kalimpong and NeoraGaeboo Achyok remembrance at Damsang20 December every year Gangtok and East SikkimKagyed DanceEarly December, 28th–29th day of the tenth Tibetan month Gangtok and East SikkimLosoongDecember, first day of the eleventh Tibetan month North SikkimLosoong and the Phodong chaamDec, 28th–29th day of the 10th Tibetan month, then Losoong

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