Punakha Holidays

What you can find in Punakha that you won't find anywhere else?

Delve into Bhutan’s centre and you’ll come across Punakha – an enigmatic town, lying in a fertile valley at the confluence of two rivers: Mo Chhu (Mother River) and Pho Chhu (Father River). Travellers are drawn to its mild climate, its unadorned nature, and its Punakha Dzong – a magnificent building crafted in the early 17th century. And there are plenty of mini trips to get excited about during your Punakha holidays. There’s the 15th century Chimi Lhakhang (or the ‘Fertility Temple') – that’s been lauded for its conception-giving guidance. And there’s also the Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang, another enchanting monastery that looms over the valley and reveals killer views of Punakha and its surrounds. Book a trip here and you can even meditate with the resident nuns.

What is there to do in Punaka?

As well as spending plenty of time exploring the dzong and greeting the 1,000 or so monks who live here, visitors to Punakha should also leave some time to get to grips with their beautiful valley surroundings. One of our favourite ways to do this is from the glacier-fed Pho Chu River on an adrenaline filled white water rafting adventure. As an alternative to the rafting, visitors could also take a walk through farmland up to Khamsum Yuley Namgay Chorten, a beautiful tiered shrine built on a ridge and dedicated to the king and the wellbeing of the people. There are stunning views from here across the patchwork valley of rice paddies and orange groves.