Castle · Punakha, Bhutan
Punakha Dzong
The second oldest and second-largest dzong in Bhutan, seat of the coronation of the first king. Built 1637–1638.
Photo: Bernard Gagnon via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Punakha, Bhutan |
|---|---|
| Type | Castle |
| Built | 1637–1638 |
| Architect | Zowe Palep |
| Coordinates | 27.5819° N, 89.8631° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Punakha Dzong is known for
The second oldest and second-largest dzong in Bhutan, seat of the coronation of the first king.
About Punakha Dzong
The Punakha Dzong, also known as Pungthang Dewa Chhenbi Phodrang, is the administrative centre of Punakha District in Punakha, Bhutan. Constructed by Ngawang Namgyal, 1st Zhabdrung Rinpoche, in 1637–38, it is the second oldest and second-largest dzong in Bhutan and one of its most majestic structures. The dzong houses the sacred relics of the southern Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, including the Rangjung Kharsapani and the sacred remains of Ngawang Namgyal and the terton Pema Lingpa.
History
The construction of the dzong was started in 1637 and completed in 1638. Ngawang Namgyal, the first leader of a unified Bhutan, ordered it built, and its architect was Zowe Palep. The spire at the top of the central tower was added in 1676 by Gyaltsen Tenzin Rabgye. Punakha Dzong was the site of the coronation in 1907 of Ugyen Wangchuck as the first Druk Gyalpo, head of the current ruling dynasty. After a major refurbishing, a consecration ceremony was held from May 13 to 15, 2004, and the dzong stands fully restored.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Punakha |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Paro Airport (PBH) |
| Distance from the airport | 29.2 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark's coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Paro International Airport (PBH) · Paro, Bhutan · 29.6 miles away
- Bagdogra Airport (IXB) · Siliguri, India · 113.0 miles away
- Xigaze Peace Airport / Shigatse Air Base (RKZ) · Xigazê (Samzhubzê), China · 126.9 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Bhutan
More castles
Frequently asked questions
What is Punakha Dzong?
The second oldest and second-largest dzong in Bhutan, seat of the coronation of the first king.
Where is Punakha Dzong located?
Punakha Dzong is in Punakha, Bhutan. Its coordinates are 27.5819° N, 89.8631° E.
How do I get to Punakha Dzong?
The nearest town is Punakha, and the nearest airport is Paro Airport (PBH), about 29.2 miles away (straight line).
When was Punakha Dzong built?
Punakha Dzong was built 1637–1638.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punakha_Dzong — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4383728 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.