Dochula and Punakha – The Gems of Bhutan
A lot has been talked and written about Bhutan in our recent posts but we have not mentioned much about the famous Dochula Pass and the administrative city Punakha. Dochula Pass and Punakha – the gems of Bhutan is our attempt to bring out the beauty of these two places through our lens and experiences.
Dochula Pass is a mountain pass in the Himalayan region of Bhutan and is located in the east west road to Punakha from Thimphu. A pass knows for its 108 chorterns, this is covered all around by cypress and the beautiful Himalayan ranges. Located at more than 10000 ft above the sea level, the Dochula Pass is usually cold and windy. We were blessed to have bright sunshine when we reached.
The 108 chorterns on the pass are built in three levels and it is auspicious to take three rounds of the chorterns. The Dochula Pass also has a Druk Wangyal Lhakhang temple built opposite to it to mark the 100 years of monarchy in Bhutan.
Once done with the Dochula Pass we proceeded to the Punakha Valley of Bhutan. A special permit is needed to visit Punakha which is different from the permit issued to visit Bhutan. All thanks to our driver cum guide Shauk from R. S. Travels, our permits were arranged without any hassle. The first and the most important place in Punakha is the Punakha Dzong.
Also known as the King’s Coronation site, this is also the most beautiful Dzong in the entire Bhutan. The location of this Dzong is pristine as it stands on the banks of the rivers Pho Chu and MoChu. The civil courts are held during the summers and it serves as the King’s residence during the winter season as Punakha remain warm. Interacting with the locals and kids during our visit to the Dzong was the best part.
As it was evening, we headed out to the suspension bridge in Punakha over the river Pho Chu. This is one of the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan and connects the villages on the other side of the river to the Dzong. We spent some good time on the bridge, playing around, meeting the locals and enjoying the nature’s beauty. The serenity in the air here makes you like this place a lot. After spending a beautiful day at Dochula, Punakha and the famous suspension bridge we called it a day and started our journey back to Thimphu.
PS: This trip was sponsored for RoadtoTaste by RS Travels, Jaigaon and the experiences or views shared are solely of the author and is not influenced in any way.
To get your bookings done from RS Travels, you can check their website or connect with them on Facebook.
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