Punakha sits in a sultry, fertile and beautiful valley at the junction of the Mo Chu (Female River) and Pho Chu (Male River). Punakha served as Bhutan’s capital for over 300 years.
Punakha Dzong
Commanding the river junction is the gorgeous Punakha dozong, built in 1637 by Zhabdrung and served as house of capital till 1955. At present Punakha fort use for district administrative offices, court of justice and winter resident for spiritual leader of Bhutan, Je Khenpo along with monks. Hereditary coronation and 2011 royal wedding held in Punakha fortress.
Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten
A couple of hours hike leads to Khamsum Yuelley Chorten, perched high on a hill on the opposite bank of river, stands the 30m tall chorten took eight years to build and consecrated in 1999, is dedicated to the fifth king.
Chimi Lhakhang
On the hillock in the centre of the valley below Sobsakha is the yellow-roofed Chimi Lhakhang, built in 1499 by the cousin brother of Lama Drukpa Kinley in his honour after he subdued the demoness of the nearby Dochula with his ‘magic thunderbolt of wisdom’. Because of Lama Drukpa Kinley, popularly known as Divine Madman practiced the crazy wisdom by sleeping more the 5000 women in his life, where Chimi Lhakhang is known as a temple of fertility and people from Bhutan and outside world coming for blessing to conceive children.
Dochu La Pass
After 45mins drive from Thimphu towards Punakha arrive at Dochu La Pass (3150m), marked by a large arrays of prayer flags and an impressive new collection of 108 stupas, built in 2005. On a clear day, the pass offers a panoramic view of 10 different high Himalayan mountain ranges of Bhutan.