Punakha Dzong
Top Destination : Punakha Dzong
Punakha Dzong is arguably the most beautiful dzong in the country, especially in spring when the lilac-colored jacaranda trees bring a lush sensuality to the dzong’s characteristically towering whitewashed walls. This dzong was the second to be built in Bhutan and it served as the capital and seat of government until the mid-1950s. All of Bhutan’s kings have been crowned here.
The Punakha Dzong (the palace of great happiness or bliss), is the administrative centre of Punakha District in Punakha, Bhutan. The dzong was constructed by Ngawang Namgyal, in 1637–38. It is the second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan and one of its most majestic structures. The dzong houses the sacred relics of the southern Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, including the Rangjung Kasarpani and the sacred remains of Ngawang Namgyal and the tertoen Pema Lingpa.
The Dzong is located at the confluence of the Pho Chhu (father) and Mo Chhu (mother) rivers in the Punakha–Wangdue valley. The source of the Mo chu river is in the northern hills of Ligshi and Laya in Bhutan, and in Tibet. The Pho Chu River is fed by glaciers in the Lunana region of the Punakha valley. After the confluence of these two rivers, the main river is known as Puna Tsang chu.
In view of the healthy climate in the region, Punakha is the winter capital of Bhutan. The head of the clergy of Bhutan with his entourage of monks spend the winter in this dzong. Jacaranda trees grow around the dzong, blooming with mauve flowers in the spring. Punakha is also the center of Bhutan’s longest suspension bridge (Punakha Suspension Bridge) and is about 7.5 km (4.5 miles) by car to Chimi Lhakhang, the Divine Madman’s fertility temple.
Few Interesting Facts
- Before Thimphu was the capital of Bhutan, Punakha served as its capital until 1955.
- Punakha Dzong is associated with a famous legend, according to which, Sage Padmasambhava prophesied that “a person named Namgyal will arrive at a hill that looks like an elephant”. True enough, Ngawang Namgyal, 1st Zhabdrung Rinpoche, came across the peak of the hill which resembled the trunk of an elephant. He built the dzong in 1637-38.
- Punakha is known as the rice bowl of Bhutan, since it produces a major part of the rice in Bhutan, along with red and white rice.
- Chimi Lhakhang, which means the Fertility Temple, is a Buddhist monastery built by Ngawang Choegyel, the 14th Drukpa hierarch, over half a millennium ago. It is famous as a fertility inducing magnet, and is visited by a large number of couples wishing to conceive.
- Punakha suspension bridge is one of the most visited places in Bhutan. Spanning almost 1860-180 meters in length, it is located at a very impressive height above the River Po Chu.
- The most popular festival of Punakha is Punakha Tshechu. The highlight of the festival is the unfurling of thongdrol, which is a large tapestry of Guru Rinpoche.