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Best 4 Punakha Things to Do and Must-have Experiences 2024

07 September 2022 Last updated at 12:06

As one of the top must-visit tourist destinations in western Bhutan, Punakha has different kinds of attractions for sightseeing as well as many local featured activities to join to excite your body and calm your mind. Along all experiences, visiting Punakha Dzong to learn Bhutan’s history and see impressive architectures and making a leisurely hiking to see Chimi Lhakhang are two of the most recommended top things to do in Punakha. If you travel to Punakha at the right time, witnessing Cham Dance and local celebration during Tshechu Festival and enjoying adventurous river rafting can be additional surprises beyond a regular tour. Furthermore, Punakha and other destinations in Bhutan still provide various themed travel ideas, like thrilling cycling, scenic mountain hiking, archery, special religious pilgrimage, photography, bird watching, meditation and spiritual wellness, etc. Tibet Discovery is always ready to design a unique Bhutan travel for you based on your requirements.

Best Things to Do in Punakha
1

Enjoy Splendid Punakha Dzong Sightseeing Tour

Best Time to Go: March to May

Recommended Length of Visit: about 2 ~ 3 hours

Punakha Dzong is the No.1 tourist attraction and top landmark attracting travelers to visit Punakha. It is an imposing beautiful palace and fortress with over 300 years’ history, which now still serves as “ the Winter Palace” for central monk body.

In 1637, Ngawang Namgyal, 1st Zhabdrung Rinpoche built Punakha Dzong at the confluence of Po Chhu and Mo Chhu based on an old prophesy of Padmasambhave. Since then, Punakha Dzong has been the residence palace where rulers lived, host site of many national events, the seat of government and a very sacred religious center. It suffered from fires and glacier floods many times and got years of painstaking restoration. Now, Punakha Dzong is the second largest and second oldest Dzong in Bhutan, known as a super example of this style building in the kingdom. Except valuable Buddhist treasures kept inside, you can walk through the wooden bridge, closely see the brownish yellow roofs, and elaborate carved windows and beams, white walls, monks in red robes, and dreamlike jacaranda blossom in spring. A bright architectural artwork sits in lush forest-covered valley by riverside.

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Best Things to Do in Punakha
2

Take Idyllic Trekking to Chimi Lhakhang

Best Time to Go: March to May, September to November

Length of Hiking: about 1 hour (temple visiting is 1 hour around)

Built in 1499 by Lama Drunkpa Kuenley’s cousin, Chimi Lhakhang is a small but interesting Buddhist monastery respected and famous by the locals. It’s known as “ Temple of the Divine Madman”, which praises Kuenley, a Buddhist master dispelled demons and taught Buddhism in crazy ways. Small in size, the temple has great imfluence of Bhutan’s reproduction worships.

Women often visit Chimi Lhakhang to pray for babies, and their wishes will come ture miraculously. So it is honored as “ the Temple of Fertility” where people think themselves are blessed by Kuenley. Whether you drive from Thimphu or from downtown Punakha to visit Chimi Lhakhang, you need to pull over on Thimphu-Punakha Highway and take a short hiking trip from main road. During a nearly 1-hour short trek, you will pass through a tranquil village that has massive images of phallus, small gift shops, cafés, restaurants and lovely green paddy fields. You will walk in un-paved mud road, some parts up and down, but it’s quite a relaxing adventure which be rewarded by the greenery, blue sky, mountains, and marvelous views of farmlands. The country road trekking is more memorable than seeing the temple for most travelers.

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Things to Do in Paro
3

Make Cultural Exploration of Punakha Tshechu & Drubchen

Festival Date: Mid/End of February or Early March

Venue: Punakha Dzong

In Punakha, there are two big festivals you may meet to see religious culture and local customs in majestic Punakha Dzong. One is Punakha Drubchen, which takes place in the first month of the lunar year, usually in late February or early March to honor previous military victory. Local Bhutanese will dress traditional battle gear and perform ancient fights and many religious mask dances ( Cham Dance) during the festival, to memorize their protective deities.

The 3-day Tshechu Festival followed is the most important annual event of Puankha. It is established in many places of Bhutan to honor Padmasambhawa. Monks and Buddhist followers will dress exquisite costumes and play Cham Dance telling famous tales about this master. The foremost part is to unfold a huge thangkha of Padmasambhawa on the last day. People believe seeing the sacred image can wash off sins, get blessings and good luck in next year. If you happen to visit Punakha during the festival, you can see those distinctive dances, how religious culture and local daily life are integrated and inherited.

Best Things to Do in Punakha
4

Try Interesting River Rafting in Punakha

Best Time to Go: March to April, November to December

Time Needed: about 1 hour to 1.5 hours

Many now-capped high peaks in the north and south-north valleys bring river rafting a new way to explore Bhutan. Based on your level, you can choose to make downstream rafting journey on gentle Mo Chhu River or Po Chhu River with rough current. It’s really a cool and fun adventure to sit in a boat, view Punakha Dzong and green mountains along the riversides. Family travelers, young tourists with friends are highly recommended trying this. You have nothing to worry about, even if you are a first timer, because local Bhutanese agency will handle all details. Before boarding, you have to wear life-jacket, helmet provided, and learn basic rafting principles and call signs explained to you. It’s advised to protect your phone, camera and prepare change of west clothes.

How to Plan Your Bhutan Tour

A Bhutan trip usually starts from Paro where the Bhutan’s only international airport is located in, then travel eastward to Thimphu and Punakha, which is the most classic itinerary in Bhutan, taking 5~6 days to finish. Never miss the icon of Bhutan - Tiger’s Nest (the symbol of Bhutan) in Paro. If your time is quite limited, you can skip Punakha. If you want an in-depth Bhutan tour, we suggest you extend your trip to Phobjikha, Gangtey, Trongsa and Bumthang in central Bhutan, which costs you about 9~10 days. You can also spend more time in Bhutan to explore more features of Bhutan, such as trekking, birding, Tshechu festival, etc. It is strongly recommended to travel Bhutan with Nepal. Check Nepal Bhutan tours to find a suitable tour or contact us to customize your own unique experience.

☞ 5 Days Bhutan Classic Tour (Paro & Thimphu & Punakha)

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