Punakha
Punakha used to be the capital of Bhutan before the capital moved to Thimphu in 1955.Dochula Pass
On the way from Thimphu to Punakha, we went by the Dochula Pass(elevation ~3100m) where there were 108 memorial chortens(stupas) in honor of the Bhutanese soldiers who were killed in December 2003 against insurgents from India. The Dochula Pass elevation was similar to Tiger Nest. (Usually, tours like to start in Thimphu(elevation ~2200m), go through the pass to Punakha, and then end the tour with a Tiger Nest climb. If you don't experience symptoms of altitude sickness here, Tiger Nest should be okay).The Eastern Himalayas can be seen from the pass.
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| Dochula Pass |
Arriving in Punakha and Lunch
From the pass, we descended towards Punakha(~ elevation 1200m), where sights of paddy fields came into view.
We decided to have our lunch before a short hike through the paddy fields to our next stop, the Chimi Lhakhang Temple. The restaurant was in a quaint-looking house beside the paddy fields. It overlooked the farmland and the Temple, giving us a nice view from the meal table.
We had a sumptuous lunch of various vegetable dishes and a meat dish. At this point in the trip, we looked forward to every meal and this one did not disappoint. Our vegetarian dishes were most likely taken from the vegetable garden at the front of the restaurant? :)
Chimi Lhakhang Temple
After lunch, we took a short trek across the paddy field to the Chimi Lhakhang Temple. Although it was pretty warm, it was an enjoyable walk through the harvested fields with colourful prayer flags fluttering in the wind along the way.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimi_Lhakhang
Pho Chhu suspension Bridge
We were visibly excited when we saw the suspension bridge. At about 160m, it is considered one of the longest in Bhutan. With the prayer flags adorning the entire bridge, which was precariously suspended between the valley and clear, gushing water beneath, it made for a terrific sight, and perfectly captured the rugged and beautiful image of Bhutan I'd had in my mind prior to the trip.
Punakha Dzong
The Punakha Dzong is the administrative centre of the Punakha District. It is located at the confluence of the two river, the Pho Chhu(father) and Mo Chhu(mother) rivers. Our guide mentioned that one way to differentiate between the two is the 'female' river has a quicker flow as compared to the 'male' river. I'll leave you to interpret the meaning behind that.
The Punakha Dzong is majestic and serene. The traditional windows of the buildings are bright and colourful, adding to the overall beauty of their architecture. We did a tour of the different buildings.
After the visit, we crossed the bridge to the car park. The monks were feeding rice to the fish in the river, with many dogs for company. Maybe hoping for some as well? All in all, an idyllic setting that is relaxing, peaceful and fills one with a sense of contentment and happiness.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punakha_Dzong
Hotel
We stayed 1 night in Hotel Lobesa. It has a picture postcard view of the valley and the river. The staff are friendly and service-oriented, the buffet dinner is good (especially with the warm-up
plate provided) and the room was spacious. It was my favorite hotel during our stay in Bhutan.
The room is clean and spacious, with a commanding view of the surrounding.
Late afternoon view from the room.
The morning view was even more picturesque.
When we went back to our room after breakfast, a member of staff was waiting to take our luggage out of the room, who then passed it on to another member of staff to bring to the car. Great accommodation and service!
We then set off for our next destination, Paro.
On the same trip
Bhutan : Thimphu
Bhutan : Paro - Climbing the Tiger Nest
Bhutan : Paro, Hot Stone Bath, Weekend Market
Bhutan's Common Sights and Final Note