Punakha Dzong, Buddhist monastery at Punakha valley, Bhutan
The Punakha Dzong stands at the meeting point of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers, with its six-story central tower and traditional Tibetan Buddhist architecture.
Built in 1637 by Ngawang Namgyal, this monastery served as Bhutan's administrative center and governmental seat until the capital moved to Thimphu in 1955.
The monastery hosts the annual Punakha Tshechu Festival, where monks perform ceremonial dances and display a large thangka depicting religious figures.
Visitors can reach the monastery through a covered wooden bridge, and the best time to visit is during winter when the monk body relocates from Thimphu.
The dzong contains the Machey Lhakhang chamber, which preserves the embalmed remains of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, accessible only to the king and Je Khenpo.
Location: Punakha
Inception: 1638
GPS coordinates: 27.58194,89.86306
Latest update: May 27, 2025 08:49
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