Punakha Dzong is located between two main rivers Phochhu and the Mochhu, which means male and female. The meeting of two rivers just below the fortress. The Dzong was built in year 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the unifier of Bhutan.
According to history or legend, Guru Guru Rinpoche prophesied that a man named Namgyel would construct the fortress at the foot of a mountain which resembles a sleeping elephant. Ngawang Namgyal believed that Guru Rinpoche had spoken to him in his dream. He started building on the particular location.
Design and Architecture of Punakha Dzong
Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel Dzong’s designs were similar to all Dzongs he designed in Bhutan. The main purpose of building Dzong was to protect the valley from Tibetan invaders from the north. and located at a strategic position in order to defend. It was more similar to Tibetan defensive towers. The walls were well protected with large windows. The interior part like the courtyard space was huge and now all festivals and ceremonies are held in the courtyard. Most of the Dzong was composed of an “Utse” (tower) which has temples and living quarters for senior monks. It was built in such a way where you can see sleeping rooms, storerooms, kitchens, water wells, and other amenities for the people living inside the Dzong.
The dzong is part of the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. It is the second oldest and most majestic dzong in Bhutan. The Punakha Dzong is a six-storied structure. The average height of the central tower is at an elevation of 1,200 meters.
The dzong was constructed as an “embodiment of Buddhist values”.The Size of the dzong is 180 meters lengthwise and the width is 72 meters. The beauty is it has three “Docheys” which literally means courtyard. The Dzong was built in a defensive manner to protect it from enemy attacks. It got a steep stairway and the main entrance of the Dzong is made of wood with a big door. Once you enter you can see Bhutanese paintings and two big prayer wheels.
Once you enter the inner part of the Punakha Dzong you will find on the right side the administrative offices. The whole district of Punakha is run from here. The office of District Maatrict is inside the Dzong. You can see a whitewashed stupa and a bodhi tree in the first courtyard of the fortress. In the same courtyard, on the far left, are piles of stones and a chapel. It is dedicated to the queen of the nāgas.
Inside the second courtyard, you will find out residential quarters of monks. There are two historic halls in this courtyard. The first one of Sir Ugyen Wangchuck, who subsequently became the King. The other hall where the King was decorated in 1905. It was by order from British rule in India by the Knight Commander of the Indian Empire by John Claude White.
The third courtyard is at the southernmost end of the dzong where the remains of Pema Lingpa and Ngawang Namgyal are preserved. The casket containing the body is not opened at all. The particular place is visited by the King and the Je Khenpoto only to seek blessings before assuming their offices.
The fortress was destroyed by flash floods during 1957, 1960, and 1994. In 1996, flash floods in the Pho Chu river damaged the large stupa. The restoration works were funded by the Government of India (GOI). After complete restoration of the Dzong to its old shape, painting, images, statues, and thangkas are displayed.
You can see inside the common temple the murals depicting the life story of Buddha. It was done during the reign of the second Druk Desi. Even you can gignatic gilded statues of Buddha in the central figure, Guru Rinpoche and Zhabdrung Nawang Namgyal. During evening and morning hours monks from the fortress chant prayers in the main hall.
Once you enter park your vehicle outside the Punakha Dzong you will see a wooden cantilever bridge crossing the Mo Chu river. It was built during the construction of Dzong during the 17th century. This bridge was washed away by a flash flood, which took place in the year 1957. In 2006 a new wooden cantilever bridge started construction with preserving the traditional style. It measures 55 meters. It was completed in 2008. The opening was done in the year 2008 during the celebration of “100 years of Wangchuck dynasty and the coronation of His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in the Punakha Dzong. The dzong is famous because all the kings of Bhutan were crowned inside the fortress. A memorial is built to honor 23 people who died in the dzong during the glacial floods in 199. It is erected just outside the dzong.