Punakha Dzong

Punakha Dzong is a large 17th-century fortress-monastery in Punakha District, Bhutan, notable for its size, location and role in Bhutanese history. It was originally completed in the late 1630s and has served as an important administrative and religious center.

The dzong occupies a commanding site at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers and is composed of several courtyards, assembly halls and chapels decorated in traditional Bhutanese style. It has been the site of coronations, royal weddings and holds important religious relics.

Construction was completed under Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1637-1638; the dzong has undergone repairs and reconstructions after fire and flood damage over the centuries but retains its historical plan and functions. It continues to house monastic communities and district administrative offices.

Geographically the dzong lies in the Punakha valley, roughly 70-75 km by road from Thimphu depending on route, set in a riverine plain surrounded by low hills and agricultural terraces.

• Best viewpoints: Located at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers, the site offers strong photographic compositions from the riverbank and from the suspension bridge across the Mo Chhu.

What to See #

• Central fortress and assembly halls: A multi-courtyard fortress built on a spur above the confluence of two rivers, featuring large assembly halls, chapels and richly painted interiors typical of Bhutanese dzong architecture.
• Bridge and riverfront: A traditional suspension bridge spanning the Mo Chhu river that provides a prominent viewing point of the dzong and the river confluence.