How to Plan a Perfect Punakha Valley Trip in Bhutan?

About Punakha
Punakha is a small beautiful town in the valleys of Himalaya mountain ranges. It is located on the banks of two beautiful rivers – Pho and Mo Chhu. At one point in time, Punakha was the centre and capital of Bhutan. It is also home to the most sacred relic of Bhutan – Rang Jung Kharsapani. More on that later.

Punakha is most probably the beautiful destination of Bhutan and one of the must-visit destinations in Asia. This is a place that you must visit to experience the best natural landscapes and the old Buddhist architecture of Bhutan. There are also some shopping places in Punakha where you may want to get some souvenirs.

Few Interesting Facts You Must Know about Punakha Before Traveling

•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.

How to reach Punakha?

By Air: If you are travelling by air, the best way to reach Punakha is by flying to Paro. From Paro in Bhutan, Punakha is just 120 km away. You can take the most scenic bus ride and reach Punakha.

Alternatively, if you are travelling from India, you can fly to the nearest airport in India – Bagdogra. Then take a train or bus journey into Bhutan.

By Train or Roads from India: You can enter Bhutan by road from the Jaigaon in West Bengal, which is situated on the Indo-Bhutan borders. Hasimara is the nearest railway station to Jaigaon.

How to get a visa or a tourist permit in Bhutan?

Bhutan Tourism Board has a policy of “High-Value Low Impact” tourism. Only a limited number of people are allowed to enter Bhutan. Citizens from India, Bangladesh and Maldives can obtain tourist permit in Bhutan on arrival. Under certain treaties and agreements, there are no charges for Visa for citizens of India, Bangladesh and the Maldives.

Best Tourism Places to Visit in Punakha

Below are the top things to do that will make you fall head over heels for Punakha, not quite literally!

• Punakha Dzong: One of the main reasons to visit Punakha in Bhutan is the Pubakha Dzong. It is built at the convergence of the two rivers of Punakha – Pho and Mo Chhu. The architecture is very ancient, as it is the second oldest Dzong after Simthoka Dzong. Punakha Dzong is the most majestic Dzong and also the second-largest in Bhutan. Today it is the administrative building of Punakha district. In spring, it is even more beautiful, as the jacaranda trees around it are full of lilac-coloured flowers.

• Chimi Lhakhang: Chimi Lhakhang is a Buddhist monastery or temple in Bhutan. It is widely known as the fertility temple of Bhutan. It is said that any childless couple who pays a visit is granted with a baby. The temple is dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kunley, the 15th-century Tibetan magician, saint and exponent of ‘crazy wisdom.’ Chimi Lhakhang is also a place where Phalluses are worn as charms. It is one of those tourist attractions in Punakha that you must visit when visiting Punakha.

• Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten: Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten was built in 2004 by the Queen Mother. It is a classic example of the beautiful traditions of the country. You can reach here after a scenic hike of around 45 minutes. Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten is situated on a ridge above the Punakha valley. The view down below is very very pretty. This Chorten is one of the best places to visit in Bhutan.