Old and Young alike instinctively turns prayer wheels at every passing,Fingers grumplinig over Mala beads
Punakha district is the most beautiful and significant region at the heart of Bhutanese culture. It was in Punakha that Zhabdrung Ngwang Namgyel first established the Chhoesid Nyiden, the dual system of government. In 1651, Punakha was chosen to be the capital from where the newly unified kingdom would be administered.
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In 1907, Punakha was, again, the place where the Bhutanese people elected the first king, His Majesty Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck. Punakha served us the capital of Bhutan until 1955. It is the winter residences of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot) and the monk body. Its elevation is about 1300m above the sea level. It has a temperate climate and is good for growing rice, fruits and vegetables in abundance. Its rich fertile valley is fed by the Pho chhu and Mo chhu. The semi-tropical valley of Wangdiphodrang town is located south of Punakha. It’s about 30 minutes of drive from Punakha.The elevation of this valley is same as Punakha. The district is famous for its fine bamboo work and its slate and stone curving. It is the last town of western Bhutan before we enter into the central part of Bhutan
Punakha served as the capital of Bhutan until 1955 and still it is the winter seat of Je Khenpo (the chief abbot). Blessed with temperate climate and owing to its natural drainage from Pho Chhu (male) and Mo Chhu (female) rivers, the Punakha valley produces abundant crops and fruits. There are splendid views of the distant Himalayas at Dochula pas (alt. 3,050m) on Thimphu – Punakha road.
Chimi Lhakhang, known to the English speaking world as The Fertility Temple, is a Buddhist monastery, in the Punakha District of Bhutan, idyllically placed on a rotund hill. The monastery is renowned throughout Bhutan as a fertility inducing magnet, pledging that all who wish to conceive will find guidance at the temple. Thousands pilgrimage to The Fertility Temple in the hopes of having a child, as well as receiving a wang, blessing, from the saint with the ‘magic thunderbolt of wisdom.’
Placed strategically at the junction of the Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers, the Dzong was built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to serve as the religious and administrative center of the region. Damaged over the centuries by four catastrophic fires and an earthquake, the Dzong has been fully restored in recent years by the present monarch and displays the some of the best works of Bhutanese arts and crafts. The Dzong is open for visitors during the Punakha festival (early spring).
The Punakha Suspension Bridge is located very much near to the Punakha Dzong and is the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan built above the Po Chu river. The bridge is broad and built in a very nice way and you will be amazed to see that it doesn’t shake so much which can cause a sudden amount of panic among the tourists. The bridge also connects to the nearby villages. There are mountains surrounding the bridge from all the sides which also gives a breathtaking view.
Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten sits majestically on a ridge above Punakha valley with amazing view of the countryside and the hills below. It was built by the Queen Mother to ward off evil forces and bring peace and harmony for all living beings. It is one of the finest examples of Bhutanese architecture. It is located about 30 minutes drive from the town and a 45 minutes uphill hike from the base of the hill through rice fields.
