mountain pass
Dochula Pass
A 3,100 m pass on the Thimphu-Punakha road crowned by 108 memorial chortens. On clear days the roadside terrace unveils a panorama of Bhutan's snowcapped eastern Himalaya.
17 km · about 20 min drive
Punakha, Bhutan · Asia
Punākha is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Pajo, 29km from Phobjikha Valley.
Punākha is a town located in Punakha, Bhutan. With a population of 21,500, it is an important destination in Asia.
On a road trip, Punākha sits in Bhutan. It's in the Asia/Thimphu time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Punākha to your route.
The Punakha Dzong, also known as Pungthang Dewa Chhenbi Phodrang (meaning "the palace of great happiness or bliss"), is the administrative centre of Punakha District in Punakha, Bhutan. Constructed by Ngawang Namgyal, 1st Zhabdrung Rinpoche, in 1637–38, it is the second oldest and second-largest dzong in Bhutan andRead more
one of its most majestic structures. The dzong houses the sacred relics of the southern Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, including the Rangjung Kharsapani and the sacred remains of Ngawang Namgyal and the tertön Pema Lingpa.
Punakha Dzong was the administrative center and the seat of the Government of Bhutan until 1955, when the capital was moved to Thimphu. It has been the venue for coronation of all the kings of Bhutan since 1907. It is on Bhutan's Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage Site inclusion.
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Punākha offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Punākha is located in Punakha, Bhutan, Asia. The coordinates are 27.5914 latitude, 89.8774 longitude.
Punākha has a population of approximately 21,500 people, making it a town in Bhutan.
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5 notable places within an hour's drive.
mountain pass
A 3,100 m pass on the Thimphu-Punakha road crowned by 108 memorial chortens. On clear days the roadside terrace unveils a panorama of Bhutan's snowcapped eastern Himalaya.
17 km · about 20 min drive
national park
A wide U-shaped glacial valley at around 3,000 m where several hundred black-necked cranes winter from late October to March, circling Gangteng Monastery on arrival and departure.
29 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
A sacred Buddhist monastery clinging to a sheer cliff face 900 meters above the Paro Valley floor.
52 km · about 60 min drive
scenic viewpoint
A viewpoint on the trail to Paro Taktsang, looking across a forested gorge at the monastery clinging impossibly to a 3,000-foot cliff face.
52 km · about 60 min drive
mountain pass
Bhutan's highest motorable road at 3,988 m, a narrow asphalt climb through hemlock and rhododendron forest between the Paro and Haa valleys, with prayer flags in their thousands at the top.
58 km · about 65 min drive
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