Punakha

Punakha
Coordinates	27 ° 37 ′  N , 89 ° 52 ′  E Coordinates: 27 ° 37 ′  N , 89 ° 52 ′  E
Basic data
Country	Bhutan
District	Punakha
height	1242 m
Residents	6262 (2017)

Punakha (Tibetan transliterated: sPu nag kha; Tibetan sPungs thang ) is a small town in the west of the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan with approx. 6300 inhabitants at an altitude of 1242 m. It is also an administrative district of Bhutan (see also Punakha (district) ). The climate is subtropical due to its relatively low altitude.

history

Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, venerated as the founder of the state in Bhutan, died in Punakha in the 17th century . At that time he had arranged the military fortification of the monasteries of Bhutan against attacking troops from Tibet and politically united the country. The embalmed body of Nawang Namgyal is kept in the dzong (monastery fortress) of Punakha. The cremated bodies of the deceased religious leaders, the Je Khenpo , are also kept there. In the winter months, the Punakha Dzong serves as the residence of the incumbent Je Khenpo.

Punakha was the site of the coronation of the first king of Bhutan , Ugyen Wangchuk , on December 17, 1907 . The great-great-grandfather of the current king, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, was originally Talvogt (Penlop) of Tongsa . In 1910 the Anglo-Bhutanese treaty was signed in the Dzong of Punakha: the colonial power Great Britain refrained from interfering in the domestic politics of Bhutan and in return demanded that Bhutan be exclusively represented in foreign affairs.

economy

Due to sufficient rainfall and its warm climate, the Punakha Valley is ideal for rice cultivation . Potatoes and vegetables are grown in the winter months . Extensive deforestation in the Punakha Valley has been causing worrying ecological damage for years.

Attractions

The dzong in Punakha

Punakha-Dzong (monastery fortress): The Punakha-Dzong was built in 1637 by Ngawang Namgyal as a fortress against the invading Tibetans . It partially burned down in 1987, but was quickly completely rebuilt and is considered an outstanding example ( gem ) of monastery architecture in Bhutan. Unlike the other dzongs in the country, the Punakha Dzong is not located on a hilltop or hill, but in a valley at the confluence of the two rivers Mochu and Pochu .

On October 7, 1994, part of the dzong was again destroyed by a strong flood, but it has now been completely restored. Current pictures also show a new, around 3 m high wall on the river bank, which is supposed to protect against future floods.

On October 13, 2011, the wedding of the Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck with the Bhutanese Jetsun Pema took place in the Dzong .