Explore Punakha

Punakha (Dzongkha: སྤུ་ན་ཁ་) 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, Thimphu. 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 Chu and Mo Chu. Dzongkha is widely spoken in this district.

Punakha—the valley so blessed—was once the capital of Bhutan. The landscape is breathtaking and the valley sits on an unusually quiet at the confluence of two rivers. The visit to this valley will come with three-fold benefits, and those are; first, you will get to visit the valley that looks no less beautiful than Paro valley. Second, you will get to see the some of the rare birds like white-belled herion which are as rare of blue diamond in the world. And third, that the valley is so sacred. The majestic dzong was built by Zhabdrung Rinpoche in 17th century and remain as his main seat till his death.