The road winds a from Simtokha Dzong into pine forest and through small villages for 20 kms and then opens miraculously on to the Northern Ridges of the mountains. The view over the Himalayan panoply at Dorchula Pass at 10,500 ft is one the most spectacular in all Bhutan.

Punakha lies about 2 hours drive from Dorchula down low in its valley. Commanding a sparse population, Punakha Dzong is home to the central monk body and the Je Khenpo during the milder winter months.

A temperate climate and natural drainage from the Phochu (male) and Mochu (female) rivers, the fertile Punakha Valley produces abandoned crops and fruits. Punakha served as the capital of Bhutan until 1955.

Punakha Dzong was strategically built at the junction of the two rivers in the 17th century by the first Shabdrung to serve as the religious and the administrative center. In spite of four catastrophic fires and a devastating earthquake that destroyed many historic documents, Punakha Dzong houses sacred temples including the Mercheng where the embalmed body of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal lies in the state.

The Dzong has been fully restored by the present king. In 1993 the largest Thongdrel, a religious embroidery compose entirely of appliqué on silk brocade. That has ever been created was  dedicated to the Dzong and the people of the Punakha valley by his majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck and the Je khenpo at a three day consecration which brought to the Bhutan’s nobility.