Plan your trip · Bomdila

What's on in Bomdila

Bomdila's calendar is Buddhist and Monpa, set mostly by the lunar calendar, so dates move each year. It is quieter than Tawang, but Losar and the monastery holy days are well worth planning around.

Nothing dated is confirmed for Bomdila right now, so here is the year instead — the fixtures that come round annually, and what each one means for a visit.

The year in Bomdila

Bomdila's calendar runs through most of the year, with the busiest weeks in the clear, comfortable months and a quieter stretch in the heaviest rain. Broadly, Oct – Mar is when visiting is most comfortable here, and that is when the calendar is busiest — which also means accommodation is most expensive and books furthest ahead.

Most of these follow lunar calendars and move by weeks from year to year, so treat the windows below as the season rather than the date, and confirm the year’s dates before you book around one.

Across Arunachal Pradesh

Losar

🗓️ February–March

The Monpa new year, with prayers and masked dances at the monasteries.

Planning: Dates follow the lunar calendar; an Inner Line Permit is needed either way.

Nationwide

Diwali

🗓️ October–November

The biggest holiday of the year — lamps, sweets, fireworks and a week of visiting family. Cities are lit up and markets stay open late.

Holi

🗓️ March

Coloured powder and water, thrown at anyone within reach, mostly through the morning.

Navratri and Dussehra

🗓️ September–October

Nine nights of fasting, music and dance, ending with Dussehra. What it looks like changes completely by region — garba in Gujarat, pandals in Bengal, processions in the south.

Eid al-Fitr

🗓️ shifts ~11 days earlier each year

The end of Ramadan. The old quarters of Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Bhopal are at their best in the evenings through the preceding month, when food streets run past midnight.

Makar Sankranti and Pongal

🗓️ mid-January

The harvest turn, marked with kites in the west and north and four days of Pongal in Tamil Nadu.

Losar (usually February or March)

Losar is the Monpa and Tibetan new year and the biggest celebration of the year here. Homes are cleaned and decorated, new prayer flags go up, and families visit each other with food and butter tea. The monasteries hold special prayers, sometimes with masked dances. Much of it is family time, but the town is at its most festive in the days before and after.

Buddhist holy days

Buddha Purnima (known in Tibetan tradition as Saka Dawa), usually in May or June, is marked with prayers and butter lamps at the monasteries. Other holy days bring special prayers through the year. Ask at the monastery about dates when you arrive.

Nature's calendar

Some of Bomdila's best "events" are seasonal:

Black-necked cranes in the Sangti valley near Dirang, usually from November to March.
Rhododendron season on the hillsides, usually March to May.
Spring birding at Eaglenest, peaking around March to May.
Apple and kiwi harvest around Dirang in late summer and autumn.

Nearby: Tawang Festival

The Tawang Festival, usually in late October or early November, is a day's drive further on. Many travellers plan their Bomdila stay around it on the way up or back.

Visiting respectfully

Ask before photographing ceremonies or masked dancers.
Dress modestly and remove shoes in prayer halls.
Stay clear of the dance area during performances.

National festivals such as Holi and Diwali, which appear on generic calendars, are low-key here. See the best time to visit Bomdila.

Questions

Bomdila — FAQ

When is Losar in Bomdila?

Usually in February or March, following the lunar calendar. Check the year's dates before planning a trip around it.

Are there masked dances in Bomdila?

Monasteries sometimes hold masked dances at Losar and on other holy days, but dates vary. The best-known masked dance festival in the region is Torgya at Tawang.

Is the Ziro Music Festival near Bomdila?

No. Ziro is in a different part of Arunachal, a long day's drive away with a different entry route.