Punakha is just incredible! Situated between stunning mountains in Bhutan, this destination is full of surprises. You simply have to visit the Punakha Dzong - this beautiful fortress where two rivers converge. The locals refer to it as the "palace of happiness," and believe me, it will make you happy as well!
Feel like some adventure? Go rafting on the Mo Chhu River - so much fun! The hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten is worth it because of the jaw-dropping views.
The fertility temple is quite the conversation starter (you'll see why when you visit!), and walking across the big suspension bridge gives you butterflies, but in a good way.
The weather's nice year-round, but spring is extra special with all the flowers. Check out ourBhutan tour packages for the full experience of Punakha tourist attractions and other must-see places to visit in Bhutan!
Best Things To Do In Punakha | Places to Visit & Explore
1. Check Out Punakha Dzong (But Not Like Everyone Else Does)
Look, every tourist visits Punakha Dzong, and for good reason - it's absolutely gorgeous! Sitting right where two rivers meet, this massive fortress is jaw-dropping. But here's what typical guides won't tell you...
Go late in the day, like an hour or two before closing. Most tour groups show up in the morning, but by late afternoon, you might have entire courtyards to yourself. We sat alone for 20 minutes in one of the most beautiful spots in Bhutan because we timed it right!
The monks are usually more relaxed than too. One older monk saw us admiring some ancient woodwork and took us aside to show details we would've completely missed. That's the kind of moment that makes Punakha's tourist attractions worth braving the crowds for.
Pro tip: The dzong looks Amazing from across the river, too. Ask your driver to stop at the viewpoint on the opposite bank for photos that will make your Instagram followers jealous.
Location: Near the confluence of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers, Punakha
Timings: March–September: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Oct–Feb: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Entry Fee: INR 300 (50% discount for students with a valid ID)
2. Hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten (With a Twist)
This is absolutely one of the Best Things To Do In Punakha. Most folks drive to the trailhead, hike up, snap pics, and head back. Here's what we suggest instead:
Pack a small picnic. Nothing fancy - just fruit, water, maybe some local cheese if you can get it. When you reach the top, find a quiet spot on the far side away from where most people gather. The views are just as spectacular, but you'll have them mostly to yourself.
We spent almost two hours up there just watching the light change over the valley. A local farmer was working in the fields below, and the patchwork of fields and winding blue ribbon of river made us feel like we were looking at a living painting, making it one of the top things to do in Punakha.
The hike isn't terrible - our moderately out-of-shape selves managed it without dying - but wear decent shoes. We saw someone trying it in flip-flops. Don't be that person!
Location: About a 15-minute drive from Punakha town, followed by a 1-hour hike
Timings: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Entry Fee: Free; donations are appreciated
Suggested Read:Bhutan in April
3. Go Rafting Without the Tourist Price Tag
Want some Adventure in Punakha? Rafting the Mo Chhu River is an absolute blast! But here's the thing - the rates some tour companies charge for international tourists are ridiculous.
We made friends with a local guide at our guesthouse, who connected us with a rafting operator who mainly works with domestic tourists. Paid about half what the fancy companies charge, got the same experience. The rapids aren't super intense (mostly class II with a few class III), but the scenery makes it worth doing.
Seeing Punakha Dzong from the water gives you a completely different perspective - it's how people approached it for centuries before roads. Plus, the water is this gorgeous turquoise color that photos just don't do justice to.
One warning though - even in hot weather, that water is Cold! We went in May and
nearly lost our breath when we hit the first splash zone.
Location: Mo Chhu River, near Punakha Dzong
Timings: Summer (April–October): 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Winter (November–March): 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Entry Fee: Approximately INR 10,000 per raft (up to 6 passengers)
4. Visit the Chimi Lhakhang (Fertility Temple)
We're not making this up!Chimi Lhakhang is known as the fertility temple, dedicated to a saint nicknamed the "Divine Madman" who taught Buddhism using... let's call it unconventional methods.
This is hands-down one of the most quirky Things To Do In Punakha. The 20-minute walk to the temple takes you through avillage in Bhutan where literally every house is decorated with colorful paintings of... well, penises. Some are small. Some are Enormous. Some have eyes. Some have faces. And nobody bats an eye about it!
The temple itself isn't architecturally amazing compared to others in Bhutan, but the whole experience is just so bizarre and unique.
Apparently, if you're hoping for a baby, the resident monk will tap you on the head with a wooden phallus and give you a blessing. Several couples there were taking it very seriously when we visited.
Location: Near Sopsokha village, Punakha
Timings: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Entry Fee: Free; donations are appreciated
5. Walk Across the Punakha Suspension Bridge (If You Dare)
This massive suspension bridge spans the Po Chhu River and gives incredible views of the surrounding valley. It's one of those Punakha tourist attractions that's worth your time.
Full disclosure - it's a little scary if you're afraid of heights. It sways. It bounces when people walk. And looking down through the gaps in the floorboards to the rushing river below might make your knees shake.
But the views are absolutely worth it! About halfway across, we ran into an older Bhutanese woman crossing with a massive sack of rice on her back. She found tourists' terror hilarious and kept saying something in Dzongkha that made her laugh harder each time.
Go early if you want good photos without strangers in them. By mid-morning, there's a steady stream of tourists and locals using the bridge.
Location: Near Punakha Dzong, spanning the Po Chhu River
Timings: Open all day
Entry Fee: Free
Suggested Read:Solo Trip to Bhutan
6. Visit a Nunnery That's NOT in the Guidebooks
Most tourists stick to the main attractions, but the Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery was one of our favorite spots in all of Bhutan. It's relatively new, super peaceful, and the views from up there are insane.
What makes this place special is the nuns themselves. Unlike some famous monasteries where monks seem tired of camera-wielding tourists, the nuns here were incredibly welcoming. One young nun practicing her English chatted with us for almost an hour about life in modern Bhutan and the challenges young women face.
The craftsmanship inside is incredible too - there's a massive bronze statue that took our breath away. And unlike crowded main temples, you can actually sit in peace and soak in the atmosphere.
For anyone planning a Family trip to Punakha, this is especially great for kids because
It’s less formal and stuffy than other religious sites.
Location: On a ridge overlooking the Punakha Valley
Timings: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Entry Fee: Free
7. Soak in Hot Springs Like a Local
About two hours from Punakha proper are theGasa hot springs, nothing like the fancy spa experiences you might picture. This is the real deal - rustic stone pools where locals come to soak their aches and pains away.
We're not going to lie - the changing facilities are very basic. But stripping down to your swimsuit and soaking in these mineral-rich waters while chatting with Bhutanese families doing the same? Priceless cultural experience.
An elderly man with knees so bent from arthritis that he could barely walk told us (through our guide's translation) that he comes twice a year to soak for a week straight. By the end, he can walk almost normally again. Whether it's the minerals or just the heat, we don't know, but our post-hiking muscles certainly appreciated it!
If you're looking for authentic Things To Do In Punakha, this beats any sanitized tourist experience any day.
8. Explore Talo Village Without a Crowd
We stumbled on Talo by accident. Our guide mentioned it was his home village, so we asked if we could stop by. Best spontaneous decision of our trip!
This village is insanely clean and tidy - apparently it's famous for it. The traditional houses are gorgeous, with all those intricate wood carvings and paintings that Bhutan is known for. But unlike the "traditional village experiences" some tour companies set up, this is just... real life.
We ran into our guide's aunt, who insisted we come in for butter tea (fair warning: it's an acquired taste - imagine salty tea with a stick of butter melted in). Sitting in her kitchen while she gossiped with our guide in Dzongkha, occasionally remembering to include us with enthusiastic gestures and smiles, was one of those travel moments you just can't plan for.
The monastery up on the hill is beautiful too, but it was the everyday village life that made this one of the Top things to do in Punakha.
Location: Talo village, about 30 km from Punakha
Timings: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Entry Fee: Free
9. Go Bird Watching (Even If You're Not "Bird People")
Ok, so Phobjikha Valley is technically a side trip from Punakha (about a 2-3 hour drive), but it's SO worth it, especially if you're visiting between November and February when the black-necked cranes are in town.
We've never been hardcore bird watchers, but seeing these endangered cranes doing their bizarre mating dances across the valley floor converted us. They're massive birds, with striking black and white coloring that stands out against the golden winter grass.
The valley itself is stunning - wide open and ringed by mountains, completely different from Punakha's subtropical vibe. There's a simple nature trail you can follow, and the Crane Information Center has decent binoculars you can rent if you didn't bring any.
Even if you visit outside crane season, the valley's peaceful beauty makes it a worthy addition to your list of Things To Do In Punakha.
Suggested Read:Travel Guide For a Solo Female Traveler
10. Eat and Drink Like You Mean It
Listen, you haven't really experienced Bhutan until you've tried homemade ara (rice wine). Every family makes it slightly differently, and sampling it is basically a cultural obligation. At least that's what we told ourselves after our third glass at a farmhouse dinner!
Speaking of food, yes,Bhutanese cuisine is spicy. The national dish, ema datshi (chili cheese stew), will light your mouth on fire in the most delicious way possible. But here's a local secret - ask for "kewa datshi" instead, which is the same heavenly cheese sauce but with potatoes instead of chilies. Your taste buds will thank you.
If you're staying at a tourist hotel, break away for at least one meal at a local spot. In Punakha town, there's a tiny restaurant with a red door where we had the best momos (dumplings) of our entire trip.
Food experiences aren't usually listed among the Best Things To Do In Punakha, but they absolutely should be!
Best time to visit Punakha (Timing Is Everything)
The Best time to visit Punakha depends on what you're after. We went in May, which was perfect - the famous jacaranda trees were blooming purple all around the dzong, temperatures were warm but not hot, and the massive rhododendrons were exploding with color on the mountain slopes.
If you hate rain, avoid June through August. Punakha gets seriously wet during the monsoon season. October through April gives you the driest weather, with crystal clear mountain views.
Winter (December-February) in Punakha is actually quite pleasant because it sits at a lower elevation than most of Bhutan. While people are freezing in Thimphu, Punakha stays relatively mild.
Spring brings amazing flowers, while fall offers golden rice fields ready for harvest. Both are gorgeous, just different vibes.
Some Real Talk About Making Your Trip Amazing
- If you're serious about experiencing the best Things To Do In Punakha, don't rush it. So many tourists blow through Punakha in a single day, checking off the dzong and maybe one other site before heading back to Thimphu or Paro. What a waste!
- Give yourself at least 2-3 nights here. The magic of Punakha happens in the quiet moments - the misty mornings before other tourists arrive, the golden late afternoons when the light makes everything glow, the evenings when locals come out to socialize after the day's work is done.
- Accommodation-wise, there's everything from basic guesthouses to fancy riverside resorts in Bhutan. We split our time between a mid-range hotel and a farmstay, which gave us different perspectives on the area. The farmstay was hands-down the better experience - waking up to roosters and helping collect eggs for breakfast beats any 5-star hotel amenity!
- Transportation around the valley requires wheels. Most visitors come with a guide and driver as part of their Bhutan package. If you're one of the rare independent travelers (possible for some nationalities), you can hire local taxis in Punakha town, but be prepared to negotiate.
Conclusion
So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags, bring a journal to record all the unexpected moments, and prepare for Punakha to show you why it's the hidden gem of the Himalayas. Trust me, after eating momos with locals, soaking in hot springs under starlit skies, and walking meditation paths through pine forests, you'll be planning your return trip before you even leave.
Oh, and one last Things To Do In Punakha - just breathe. In our crazy, always-connected world, Punakha is a reminder of what life looks like when lived at human speed. It might be the most valuable souvenir you bring home.
