Travel Guide Punakha

Punakha was Bhutan's capital and seat of government until 1955, and is still the capital of the eponymous district. It is located 72 km from Thimphu (3h drive). The Dochu pass (3,050 m) links the two valleys. Weather permitting, you can see the entire eastern Himalayan range, including Bhutan's highest peak, Gankar Punsum (7,540 m). People come here to visit the "Palace of Great Happiness", the Punakha Dzong, built on the banks of the Mo Chhu, Bhutan's main river. It's a splendid, impressive edifice surrounded by jacaranda trees in bloom in spring. It was here that Bhutan's first king, Ugyen Wangchuck, was crowned. He ruled the kingdom from 1907 to 1926. The valley's banks are planted with rice fields producing red and white rice, as the Mo Chhu and Pho rivers irrigate the land. The picturesque village of Ritsha, built of stone and unbaked earth, is worth a visit for its panoramic view, surrounded by rice paddies. This particular hydrology is also the cause of flooding from melting glacier lakes. An impressive suspension bridge over the river is also well worth a visit.