File:PunakhaDzong.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Punakha
Sign in to savePunakha () is the administrative centre of Punakha dzongkhag, one of the 20 districts of Bhutan. Punakha was the capital of Bhutan and the seat of government until 1955, when the capital was moved to Thimphu. It is about 72 km away from Thimphu, and it takes about 3 hours by car from the capital. Unlike Thimphu, it is quite warm in winter and hot in summer. It is located at an elevation of 1,200 metres above sea level, and rice is grown as the main crop along the river valleys of two main rivers of Bhutan, the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu. Dzongkha is widely spoken in this district.
Weather now
cached 268h ago7-day forecast
via Open-Meteo
Place details
- Locality
- Dzomisa Mendagang
- Region
- སྤུ་ན་ཁ་རྫོང་ཁག་
- Country
- འབྲུག་ཡུལ།
- Population
- 21,500
- Timezone
- Asia/Thimphu
via OpenStreetMap · GeoNames
Key facts
- Settlement.name
- Punakha
- Settlement.native_name
- སྤུ་ན་ཁ་
- Settlement.native_name_lang
- dz
- Settlement.settlement_type
- Administrative centre
- Settlement.image_skyline
- PunakhaDzong.jpg
- Settlement.image_caption
- Punakha Dzong and the Mo Chhu
- Settlement.pushpin_map
- Bhutan
- Settlement.subdivision_type
- Country
- Settlement.subdivision_type1
- District
- Settlement.subdivision_name1
- Punakha dzongkhag
- Settlement.unit_pref
- Metric
- Settlement.area_blank1_km2
- 1110
- Settlement.elevation_m
- 1242
- Settlement.population_as_of
- 2017
- Settlement.population_total
- 6262
- Settlement.population_density_km2
- auto
- Settlement.timezone1
- BTT
- Settlement.utc_offset1
- +06:00
via Wikipedia infobox
Travel guide
Understand
Punakha had been Bhutan's capital from the 17th century up to 1955, when it shifted to Thimphu. When you visit the town, you still feel a regal yet peaceful aura. The dzong and the remains of unifying ruler Ngawang Namgyal are the major attractions within Punakha, though there are other sites to see and things to do. Punakha is part of the triad of Bhutan's three most visited travel destinations, along with Jakar and Paro.
Get in
There is an option of taxis or buses from Thimphu, passing through the scenic . The journey takes around one and a half to two hours. Shared taxis depart from Thimphu Bus Station and terminate at Khuruthang, which is around 5 km south of Punakha Dzong.
Get around
All attractions in the town (including the dzong) can be reached on foot. There is a taxi rank near the dzong, where taxis can be hired for visiting sites of interest outside the town, but within the valley.
See
Geon Tsephu (Guru Rinpoche Caves). A short drive up a rough road or two hour walk from the highway at Mitesgang, there is a small temple and sacred caves. It is said that Guru Rinpoche visited these caves after his retreat at Maratika in Nepal, and it was here that he was able to fully see the form of Amitayus, the Buddha of Long Life. As is common at many Bhutanese sacred sites, there are self risen characters in rock and places to scramble through while making dedications for the benefit of other beings and to remove one's own defilements. Pilgrims can lay their bedding at the temple or use the pasture just below for camping (though leeches are common in the summer). Mitesgang is around 12km down the valley Punakha Dzong. Koma Tsachu (Hot springs) are near the small community of Mitesgang. There are three bathing pools covered by simple roofs, and a four-roomed building with solar lighting, where sleeping bags and mats can be laid (there is no charge for staying in the building). Outside, there is ample room to pitch tents and rock overhangs to camp under.
Eat
On eastern side of the Punakha susension bridge: Main part of town:
Travel guide from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0)
~4 min read
Encyclopedic overview
8 sectionsContents
- Pungthang Dewachen Gi Phodrang
- Administrative Units
- Ritsha
- Festivities
- Climate
- See also
- References
- External links
Punakha () is the administrative centre of Punakha dzongkhag, one of the 20 districts of Bhutan. Punakha was the capital of Bhutan and the seat of government until 1955, when the capital was moved to Thimphu. It is about 72 km away from Thimphu, and it takes about 3 hours by car from the capital. Unlike Thimphu, it is quite warm in winter and hot in summer. It is located at an elevation of 1,200 metres above sea level, and rice is grown as the main crop along the river valleys of two main rivers of Bhutan, the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu. Dzongkha is widely spoken in this district.
== Pungthang Dewachen Gi Phodrang ==
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Punakha” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.
Gallery (5)
On the map
2 mapped locations