The Punakha Dzong is highly regarded as the most beautiful piece of architecture in all of Bhutan. In addition to its beauty, the Dzong is also the second largest and second oldest in the country and boasts of a rich history. It is located in Punakha district, the former capital of Bhutan and today serves as the administrative centre of this region.
The setting of the Dzong is picture-perfect; the remarkable white, gold and brown structure is located on a riverbank amidst lush greenery and a mountainous backdrop.
History
A popular local legend narrates that Guru Rinpoche, the founder of Tibetian Buddhism stated that someone named ‘Namgyal’ will reach an elephant-shaped mountain. And sure enough, in the 17th-century, Ngawang Namgyal, the first Zhabdrung (great lama) arrived at this elephant-shaped mountain and chose the trunk-shaped spot for constructing the Dzong.
Though the Dzong had been victim to multiple earthquakes, floods and fires, it still stands strong after multiple renovations. Throughout its history and till date, the Dzong remains one of Bhutan’s most important structures. In fact, the coronation for all of Bhutan’s Kings took place here.
The Dzong
The Punakha Dzong was constructed with the idea of preserving Buddhist values. The Dzong is 180 metres long and 72 metres wide and is located near the confluence of the rivers Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu. You will need to cross the Bazam bridge over the river to reach the Dzong.
Unlike typical Bhutanese Dzongs which have only two Docheys (courtyards), the Punakha Dzong has three. The first courtyard houses a Bodhi tree in the centre and a long white Buddhist shrine. This area is mainly for administrative purposes.
The central tower or the utse is a majestic six-storeyed building that can be accessed from the second courtyard. This courtyard also contains the quarters for the monks and two large halls.
The third courtyard is considered the most important as it houses the main temple and the treasury. It also has the Machey Lhakhang, where the embalmed bodies of Zhabdrung Namgyal and Pema Lingpa, a revered saint are kept. However, only the King and the Je Khenpo, head of Bhutanese Buddhism are allowed to enter here.
Next is the one-hundred pillar hall, which actually contains only 54 pillars. The hall is famed for its intricate murals that reflect the life of Buddha and also houses large golden statues of the Buddha, Guru Rinpoche and Zhabdrung Namgyal. This is one of the few buildings that are open to visitors and its remarkable interior is highly appreciated.
Outside the northern walls of the Dzong, you can visit the dzong chung, which houses a large statue of Shakyamuni, believed to fulfil wishes.
Why should you visit?
The Punakha Dzong stands as an excellent example of Bhutanese culture, history and religion and is an integral part of any trip to Bhutan. The natural beauty of the location and the Dzong’s fine architecture will leave you spellbound and highly appreciative of Bhutanese culture.
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