12 Things to Do In Punakha

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Buddhist Temple (2)
Cultural Village (1)
National Park (1)
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1. Punakha Dzong

2 km from city center

Historical Site

Punakha Dzong is the second oldest and second largest dzong in the country. It was here that the first national assembly was held in 1953 and it remained the seat of the Government of Bhutan until 1955. Not only does this dzong boast of Bhutanese architectural marvel, but it also remains culturally important for housing sacred relics of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Top Attraction

1 km from city center

Bridge

The second-longest suspension bridge in Bhutan, Punakha Suspension Bridge is perched over the Mo Chhu and Po Chhu (river) and is about 160-180 meters in length. It is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the world that connects Punakha Dzongkhag to the rest of the valley. Believed to be built by Thangtong (Read More) Gyalpo, the bridge has undergone several years of renovation.

7 km from city center

Temple

Chimi Lhakhang, Bhutan's famous fertility temple, sits on a round hillock about 10km from Punakha town, reached by a short walk through rice fields. Built in 1499 in honour of Drukpa Kunley, the 'Divine Madman' who taught Buddhism through humour and unorthodox sexual imagery, the temple is covered in phallic symbols, and visitors traditionally receive a fertility blessing with a wooden phallus.

8 km from city center

Buddhist Temple

Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten is a four-storey chorten built in 2004 by Bhutan's Queen Mother, Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck, to bring peace to the world and clear obstacles for the country. It sits above the Mo Chhu valley, reached by roughly a 30-minute uphill walk from a prayer-wheel-lined trailhead through rice fields, and its murals of Buddhist deities are paired with wide views back over (Read More)the Punakha valley.

Punakha Travel Packages

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8 Nights / 9 Days

Bhutan Bliss: 8N/9D Tour Package

Phuntsholing(2N) → Thimphu(2N) → Punakha(2N) → Paro(2N)

₹57,250/person

6 Nights / 7 Days

7-Day Bhutan Discovery: Thimphu, Punakha, Paro & Tiger’s Nest

Phuentsholing(1N) → Thimphu(2N) → Punakha(1N) → Paro(2N)

₹39,500/person

7 Nights / 8 Days

8-Day Bhutan Highlights Tour: Thimphu, Punakha, Paro and Tiger's Nest

Phuentsholing(2N) → Thimphu(2N) → Punakha(1N) → Paro(2N)

Sold By: Himalayan Voyagers(5.0 )

₹45,000/person

8 Nights / 9 Days

Enchanting Bhutan: 8N/9D Himalayan Odyssey

Phuntsholing(2N) → Thimphu(2N) → Punakha(2N) → Paro(2N)

₹ 67,500

12% off

₹59,000/person

7 Nights / 8 Days

Best of Bhutan: 7N/8D Road Trip to Thimphu, Paro, Punakha & Phuentsholing with Phobjikha valley.

Phuentsholing(2N) → Thimphu(1N) → Punakha(2N) → Paro(2N)

₹52,000/person

7 Nights / 8 Days

Wonders of Bhutan 7 Nights/8 Days Tour

Phuntsholing(2N) → Thimphu(2N) → Punakha(1N) → Paro(2N)

₹52,000/person

View All Packages For Punakha

5. Dochula Pass

Instagram Worthy

17 km from city center

Hills & Valleys

Dochula Pass holds 108 memorial chortens, the Druk Wangyal Chortens, built in honour of Bhutanese soldiers who died in the country's military operations. Perched over 3,000 metres on the Thimphu-Punakha highway, the pass offers some of Bhutan's best mountain views on a clear day, and its slopes are strung with five-coloured prayer flags: blue for sky, red for fire, green for water, white for cloud (Read More)s, and yellow for earth.

Top Things To Do

Water Sports

Mo Chhu is the gentler of Punakha's two rivers, making it the default choice for first-time rafters, kids, and older visitors. The 5.6-mile stretch covers 10 rapids at a beginner-friendly Grade I-II difficulty, starting near the bridge to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten and ending below Punakha Dzong. Its twin, the Pho Chhu, is faster and rougher, reserved for experienced rafters only.

7. Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang

7 km from city center

Buddhist Temple

Overlooking Punakha, Wangduephodrang and Toebesa Valleys, Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery is a temple as well as a nunnery perched over a ridge. Initially, the complex had 41 nuns with 70 rooms but now it houses over a hundred nuns. With a 14-foot bronze statue of Avalokiteshvar (Read More)a and few other bronze statues, the nunnery was consecrated by his holiness Je Khenpo.

Seasonal only

2 km from city center

Fairs & Festivals

The Punakha Drubchen and Tshechu run back-to-back each year at Punakha Dzong, usually falling in February or March. The Drubchen opens with the Pazap, a masked re-enactment of Bhutan's 1639 victory over an invading Tibetan army, performed by men in traditional armor with swords and shields inside the dzong's courtyard. It leads directly into the Tshechu, where monks and lay dancers perform masked (Read More)cham dances linked to Guru Rinpoche. Villagers from across the Punakha valley turn out for both.

2 km from city center

River

Starting from Gasa Dzongkhag district near Tibet and Bhutan border, the Mo Chhu(River) flows towards Punakha in the central region of Bhutan. It then joins the Po Chhu from the northeast of Bhutan. The confluence of the two rivers is right below the Punakha Dzong which is a treasure trove of experiences as activities like Rafting and Kayaking are carried out here.

4.2 /5

28 km from city center

National Park

Jigme Dorji National Park is Bhutan's second-largest national park, spanning 4,316 square kilometres, named after the country's third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. It shelters the takin (Bhutan's national animal), snow leopard, blue sheep, and red panda, though most of the park lies well north of Punakha town toward Gasa District, so visiting typically means a full day trip rather than a quick stop (Read More).

28 km from city center

Village

Popular for rice cultivation, the Ritsha village is where you would find both red and white rice grown in Bhutan. Located in Punakha on the banks of Mo Chu and Pho Chu river this village is famous for its majority production of rice. The word Ritsha means "at the base of the hill". The village is surrounded by the rivers, paddy fields and hills making it one of the must visit places in Punakha.

Hidden Gem

7 km from city center

Cultural Village

Talo village sits on a ridge above Punakha valley at about 2,800 metres, roughly an hour's drive from Punakha town. Talo Monastery anchors the village and ranks among Bhutan's most sacred sites for its ties to the reincarnations of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The Talo Gung family here is the ancestral seat of Bhutan's Queen Mothers, wives of the Fourth King. Each spring the village hosts the three- (Read More)day Talo Tshechu festival, with masked dances and the classical Zungdra performed by the local dance troupe.

Thimphu

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Paro

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Phobjikha Valley (Gangtey)

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FAQs on Punakha

What are the top sightseeing places in Punakha?

The top sightseeing places in Punakha are Punakha Dzong, Rafting and Kayaking in Mo Chhu River, Punakha Suspension Bridge, Mo Chhu (River), Chimi Lhakhang, Jigme Dorji National Park.

How much does a package cost for Punakha?

The packages for Punakha start at INR 21000 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here

How can I commute within Punakha?

You can mostly travel through this area on foot. However, if required then there is a taxi stand near Dzong where you can hire a cab for going to any place you like.
Read More

Places To Visit In Punakha

"Bhutan’s ancient capital with river confluence and dzong"

12 Things to Do In Punakha

1. Punakha Dzong

2. Punakha Suspension Bridge

3. Chimi Lhakhang

4. Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten

Punakha Travel Packages

Bhutan Bliss: 8N/9D Tour Package

7-Day Bhutan Discovery: Thimphu, Punakha, Paro & Tiger’s Nest

8-Day Bhutan Highlights Tour: Thimphu, Punakha, Paro and Tiger's Nest

Enchanting Bhutan: 8N/9D Himalayan Odyssey

Best of Bhutan: 7N/8D Road Trip to Thimphu, Paro, Punakha & Phuentsholing with Phobjikha valley.

Wonders of Bhutan 7 Nights/8 Days Tour

5. Dochula Pass

6. Rafting and Kayaking in Mo Chhu River

Top Hotels In Punakha

7. Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang

8. Punakha Drubchen / Tshechu festival

9. Mo Chhu (River)

10. Jigme Dorji National Park

11. Ritsha Village

12. Talo Village

Places To Visit In Nearby Places

FAQs on Punakha

What are the top sightseeing places in Punakha?

How much does a package cost for Punakha?

How can I commute within Punakha?

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