Dochula Pass

Dochula Pass is a mountain pass in Thimphu District, Bhutan, noted for a conspicuous memorial ensemble of chortens and for mountain viewpoints at high elevation. The pass lies on the principal highway between the capital Thimphu and the Punakha valley.

The prominent feature is the set of 108 white-washed chortens known as the Druk Wangyal Chortens, arranged on a ridge and surrounded by short paved paths and lookouts. On clear days the pass provides sweeping views of the surrounding hills and distant Himalayan peaks, and there are basic visitor facilities adjacent to the parking area.

The chorten ensemble at the pass was commissioned in the early 2000s as a memorial to Bhutanese soldiers and as a symbol of national unity; the site has since become a formal stopping point on the Thimphu-Punakha route. The pass has long been used as the main vehicular crossing on this road corridor and as a natural viewpoint for travelers.

Dochula sits at high elevation on the road linking Thimphu with the Punakha valley, roughly a short drive from Thimphu city; the terrain is mountainous with mixed forest and ridge-top viewpoints.

• Elevation and views: Sits at roughly 3,100 metres above sea level and is a roadside pass on the highway between Thimphu and Punakha, offering panoramic mountain views on clear days.
• Memorial chortens: Home to a 108-chorten memorial complex built in the early 21st century to honor fallen Bhutanese soldiers, visible from the main car park and walking areas.

What to See #

• Druk Wangyal Chortens: A compact group of 108 memorial chortens commissioned as a single ensemble and set alongside walking paths and viewpoints at the pass.