Mystic Dochula...

It was around 4:45 pm when our car took a halt at Dochula pass. The Sun was about to set and surprisingly the whole area was getting covered with mystic chilled fog...
As it was during the holiday season, there was massive crowd in the Thimpu immigration office. Waiting for almost the whole day, we got the permit for Punakha at around 4 pm.

Dochula Pass is a mountain pass falling in the snow covered Himalayas within the Bhutan on the way from Thimpu to Punakha. At this pass, 108 memorial chortens or stupas known as "Druk Wangyal Chorten" had been built by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, the eldest Queen Mother. Besides the chortens, there is also a monastery named as the Druk Wangyal Lakhang.

Being situated at an elevation of 3,100 meters, the pass generally remains covered with the fog and the temperature is much lower here in comparison with Thimpu and Punakha. The view of the surrounding from the Chorten is mesmerizing. As per my opinion, the only drawback of the Chorten is that there is no self-description. Without having any personal guide or googling about the this place, you will not be able to know about its history and significance. But as other places, the stupas are also maintained well and it's treated as one of the sacred places of Bhutan.

By 1.5 hrs drive one can reach at Dochula from Thimpu town. There are 2 popular restaurants and restrooms adjacent to the pass to enjoy the majestic weather over a cup of coffee or snacks.