Punakha

DISCOVER PUNAKHA

About Punakha

Once the capital of Bhutan, Punakha remains one of the Kingdom's most cherished places and is still the winter seat of the Je Khenpo, the chief abbot of Bhutan. Each year, the central monastic body travels down to its warm, sheltered valley, continuing a tradition that has endured for centuries. Blessed with a temperate climate, Punakha is fed by two rivers: the Pho Chhu (male) and the Mo Chhu (female). Their waters meet beside the majestic Punakha Dzong, one of the most beautiful fortresses in the country. Thanks to this natural drainage and gentle weather, the valley is wonderfully fertile, yielding abundant crops and fruits, including terraced rice fields that glow green in summer. The journey to Punakha is a highlight in itself. Along the Thimphu-Punakha road, the Dochula Pass (3,050 m) offers sweeping views of the distant Himalayas. On a clear day, the snow-capped peaks stretch across the horizon, framing the 108 memorial chortens that line the pass and making it one of the most photographed spots in Bhutan.