Explore the ‘palace of great happiness’
Translated to mean ‘palace of great happiness or bliss’, this 17th-century Dzong in the Punakha Valley, constructed in 1637, was the second fortress Dzong built in the country with the towering white walls forming an astoundingly beautiful contrast to the surrounding lush greens and crystal blues. Celebrated as one of Bhutan’s oldest, largest and most striking fortified monasteries, the Punakha Dzong holds a very special and sacred place in all of Bhutan’s peoples’ hearts.
The very first National Assembly was held here in 1953, as well as the royal wedding between King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema in 2011. It is also the winter home of the central monastic body (Bhutan’s royal family), and holds a very important relic over which many wars were fought with the Tibetans. All of Bhutan’s kings are crowned here before they can take their throne in Thimphu.
Punakha Dzong’s magnificence is especially striking in the spring when the lilac-coloured jacaranda trees are in full bloom.
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