2. Punakha Dzong:
Punakha Dzong or Palace of Great Happiness is also the country’s most gorgeous and majestic dzong built in the 17th century. It looks like something out of a fairytale. It is the second largest Dzong in Bhutan and is known for its brilliant structure. Punakha is the winter capital of this country and the head clergy of Bhutan spends the winter in this popular Dzong. The Punakha Dzong is situated at 1,200 metres and the very first national assembly was held here in 1953. To finish the building of this dzong took a year and the most interesting fact is that this building has no usage of nails. Almost every national treasure of the country is kept here, and in here the king of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck got married to the Queen Jetsun Pema in 2011. It is placed strategically and majestically in between two rivers, Pho Chu (male) and Mo Chu (females) that have noticeable color differences between the waters, which makes it more picturesque. Punakha Dzong joined to the mainland by an arched wooden bridge and contains many precious relics from the days when successive kings reigned the kingdom over this valley. Furthermore, it is blessed with a temperate climate, and lovely lilac colored jacaranda trees grow around the Dzong during the spring season.
Best time/season: The best time to visit the Punakha Dzong is mid-May when lavender coloured jacaranda trees blossom.
Key attractions: The intricate paintings and the architecture of the fort, sacred relics of the southern Drukpa Lineage of Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, and the sacred remains of Ngawang Namgyal and the tertön Pema Lingpa.
Opening hours: 8 am – 5 pm
