Punakha, the administrative centre of Punakha dzongkhag is an important district of Bhutan. Situated at a distance of 72 kilometers from national capital Thimphu, Punakha is a picturesque region spread over the valleys of Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers. It takes only a 3-hour car ride to reach Punakha from Thimphu and you as a worshipper of Mother Nature would simply love the journey through picturesque serpentine roads with the valley on one side and the mountain wall on the other. At the middle of the journey your car will reach Dochu La Pass, one of the most romantic sites in Bhutan. Dochu La is famous as a view point and while looking downwards from there you will feel like standing above the clouds. Dochu La is the site from where you can get the first glimpse of the Eastern Himalaya. Dochu La is located at an altitude of 3100 metre and from there your car will start going downwards towards the lowland of Punakha. Situated at an altitude of 1200 meters, Punakha was the capital of Bhutan before shfting the base permanently to Thimphu. Punakha is warmer than other regions of Bhutan and is hence an ideal spot for winter vacation. Thousands of tourists from the close neighboring countries make trips to Punakha every year and enjoy their time experiencing its enthralling scenic beauty and historic sites. The first thing that will delight you in Punakha are the two rivers that have passed by the town. The green valleys lying behind the town forms a perfect backdrop for Nature lovers and shutterbugs. You may well opt for a guided tour to the town but to excite the explorer inside you, a gentle stroll through the bank of the river would be great.