Bhutan Photo Blog (Punakha) |

Punakha, Bhutan Photo Blog

Dochula Pass – about 1/3 of our drive into a 3-hour trip to Punakha from Thimphu, we stopped at Dochu La where there are 108 stupas to honor the 108 good deeds of the Buddha. The road was unbearable – very narrow, lots of pot holes from constantly being washed out, construction ‘workers’ everywhere, and huge ravines with several hundred meter drops straight to the bottom, so stretching felt like a blessing from Buddha:

Punakha Dzong – placed strategically at the junction of the Pho Chu (Father) and Mo Chu (Mother) rivers, the dzong was built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to serve as the religious and administrative centre of the region. It’s our favorite Dzong in Bhutan. Huge, beautiful and amazing.

A serene hike to the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten (temple) stands out on a beautiful ridge above the Punakha valley:

Time for some amazing white water rafting along the Mo Chu (Mother) river. It was nothing personal to Brad, not taking the Ph0 Cho River, we were simply told the Mo Chu is graceful and easy-going, whereas the Pho Chu (Father) River is said to be aggressive and unruly. Hhhmmm…our guide described them, not me.

A visit to the Chimi Lhakhang, located on a small hilltop. The temple was dedicated to the great Yogi in the 14th century, known as Drukpa Kuenley, as well as the “Divine Madman.” He dramatized Buddhist teachings using songs. It is believed that this temple blesses women who seek fertility, lots of phalluses (phalli?) everywhere:

Brad’s casualty on the way there…ouchie:

Brayden teaching lacrosse to the young monks…we tried to recruit, but they have a much higher calling. Huh?…Brad didn’t think there was a higher calling than lax, but apparently Buddha trumps Brad in Bhutan: