Category : Punakha Wangdi District

Gangtey Gonpa Lhakhang is also known as Gangtey Sanga Choeling Goenba is located on a hilltop at an altitude of 2800m above sea level offering a stunning view of the Phobjikha Valley, home to endangered black-neck cranes. This monastery was founded here in 1613 by Gyalse Pema Thinley, the grandson and reincarnation of the mind of Pema Lingpa, and the goenba was built by Tenzing Legpai Dhendup, the second reincarnation. The current abbot, Kuenzang Pema Namgyel, is the ninth reincarnation.

Gangtey Gonpa Lhakhang or Gangtey Monastery, is an important monastery of Nyingmapa school of Buddhism, the main seat of the Pema Lingpa tradition. The Monastery has been completely restored under the present Gangteng Tulku, H.E. Rigdzin Kunzang Pema Namgyal from 2002–2008.The rebuilt monastery was consecrated by the present incarnation of Pema Lingpa on the October 10, 2008, graced by the fourth King of Bhutan.

Everyone including Bhutanese who visit to Gangtey will make visit to the monastery and most of the foreigners after visiting monastery, we do the Gangtey Natural Hike. The hike is the most easiest hilke in Bhutan but we can see the Phobjikha valley so beautifully. This is valley is the home to black neck crane birds in the winter. In summer they move to Tibet.

Phobjikha valley is a glacial valley and is the winter home of the black necked cranes. This valley is a designated conservation area and borders Black Mountain National Park. It is located at an altitude of 9840 feet above the sea level and is 2 hrs drives from Wangduephodrang.

This valley is covered by a rich sward of grass in the marshy land where special variety of dwarf bamboo (Yushania microphylla) grows on which the black-necked cranes feed.The valley is rich in faunal biodiversity and has, apart from the globally threatened black-necked cranes Grus nigricollis, 13 other globally threatened species. It has an area of 163 square kilometer.The valley and hills surrounding it are rich in wildlife. The fauna recorded are the muntjacs (barking deer), wild boars, sambar, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan serow, leopards and foxes

The main crop in this valley is potatoes. They export potatoes to India and with that money they buy their essentials lasting for a year. The most important festivals in the valley are Gangtey Festival and black neck crane festival, where lots of tourist are attracted for this festivals. Both the festivals are held at the courtyard of Gangtey Gonpa Lhakhang. Everyone is cordially welcome to witness these festivals.

Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten is an impressive example of our fine Bhutanese architecture and art. The third Queen, Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck built it. It took almost eight and half years to complete it. It was built to help to remove negative forces and promote peace, stability and harmony in this changing world and the wellbeing and long life of our beloved monarch. The chorten is located at a hilltop surrounded by beautiful rice fields near the Mo Chhu, river. The hike to the temple is rewarded with scenic beauty and spiritual bliss.

We can reached to the Chorten by walking through the paddy fields and trekking uphill through the forest. It will take about 45mins uphill and about 45mins on your return. On your way back we can walk through the villages and our car and driver will wait for us at the bridge of Amankora, Punakha. The Chorten dominates the upper Punakha Valley with commanding views across the Mo Chhu and up towards the mountainous peaks of Gasa and beyond.

Welcome every one and those who visit Punakha Valley,please try and visit this Chorten. You will be thrilled with the views and your photo collection will increase. Experience the serenity of this country-Bhutan.

Chhimi Lhakhang is located on a hilltop and founded by Lama Drukpa Kuenley-the Divine Madman. It is 25mins walk across the field from the road at Sopsokha.

Lama Drukpa kuenley subdued the demoness of the Dochula with his “Magic Thunderbolt of wisdom”. A wooden effigy of the lama’s thunderbolt is preserved in the temple, and the childless women can go to the temple to receive a wang (blessings) from the saint. This temple is also know as temple of fertility. There is a statue of lama and his dog, as well as that of the Lama Zhabdrung, Sakyamuni, Chenrezig and lama’s brother Ngwang Chogyal, who actually built this temple in the year 1456.

Chhimi Lhakhang is one of the best and popular tourist spots in Punakha and Wangdue region. Many Bhutanese couple also visit this temple for the blessings of child. And there are many stories of such prayers are being answered.

Drukpa Kuenley was also the sait who advocated the use of phallus symbols as paintings on the walls and as flying wooden phallus on the house tops at four corners of the eves. This phalluses are used to drive away the evil spirits, eyes and malicious gossip. You will see a lot on the wall paintings as you walk through the Bhutanese houses.

Punakha dzong is the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan and located majestically at the confluence of Pho Chhu (Male River) and Mo Chhu (Female River) in Punakha. This dzong was built by Shabdrung Ngwang Namgyel in 1637. The dzong houses the most scared relics of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, the Rangjung Kasarpani and the sacred remains of Zhabdrung Ngwang Namgyel. This relic is a self-created image of Avalokiteswara that miraculously emerged from the vertebrae of Tsangpa Gyarey the founder of the Drukpa School when he was cremated.This dzong was the administrative center and the seat of the Bhutanese government until 1955, when the capital was moved to Thimphu. Today it still serves as the winter residence of our central monastic body beside the administrative and religious center for Punakha district.

p style=”text-align: justify;”>Punakha Dzongkhag has been inextricably linked with momentous occasions in Bhutanese history. It is the second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan and one of the most majestic structures in the country.On October 13, 2011, the wedding of the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, and his fiancé, Jetsun Pema, was held at the Punakha Dzong.

p style=”text-align: justify;”>Punakha valley has a pleasant climate with warm winters and hot summers. It is located at an average elevation of 1200 meters above sea level. Owing to the favorable climatic conditions, rice grows very well in this region and is the main cash crop cultivated here.

p style=”text-align: justify;”>Come and visit the most beautful dzong in Bhutan.