Punakha

Punakha is a town and administrative center in Punakha District, in central Bhutan. It lies at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers and is one of the country’s most historically significant sites. The town is known for its fertile valley and pleasant winter climate.

Punakha served as the capital and seat of government of Bhutan from 1637 until 1907, when the capital moved to Thimphu. The Punakha Dzong, also called Pungtang Dechen Phodrang Dzong, stands at the heart of the town. Built in 1637–38 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, it has functioned as both fortress and monastery and is among Bhutan’s most celebrated examples of dzong architecture, housing relics and the central administrative offices of the government and monastic body.

Two major annual festivals take place in Punakha: Punakha Drubchen, which commemorates the 17th-century unification of Bhutan, and Punakha Tshechu, a series of masked dances that draws visitors from across the country.

Nearby points of interest include Chimi Lhakhang, a temple dedicated to the Divine Madman and a popular site for blessings, and the Punakha Suspension Bridge, a wooden pedestrian bridge across the Pho Chhu River that connects visitors to the dzong area.

The Punakha valley is a productive agricultural region, renowned for rice and various fruit crops, aided by its milder climate at lower elevation relative to much of Bhutan. The town is accessible by road from Thimphu and serves as a gateway to the surrounding Punakha Valley’s rural communities.