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Punakha

Blessed with a temperate climate and drained by the Phochu-Mochu rivers, the fertile valley of Punakha, it served until 1955 as the capital of Bhutan and today, it is the winter seat of the Central Monk Body.

In 1615, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal built the fortress of Punakha at junction of the Phochu and Mochu rivers to serve as religious and administrative centres for Bhutan.

Punakha Dzong houses many sacred temples including the Lhakhang, where the embalmed body of Shabdrung Ngawang lies in state.

Damaged four times by fire in the late 18th and early 19th centuries and by earthquake in 1897, the Punakha Dzong has suffered the devastation brought by floods which sweep down valley as the snows melt in the great northern glaciers, while bridges which connect the Dzong with the fertile valley on either side were, until recent times, often completely destroyed.

The Dzong has been completely restored and permanent bridges built on either side. The road from Thimphu to Punkaha crosses the 10,218 ft high Dochu La Pass, site of one of Bhutan's most enchanting view.



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