Punakha District

• Name — Punakha District • Native Name — སྤུ་ན་ཁ་རྫོང་ཁག • Native Name Lang — dz • Settlement Type — District • Image Caption — Punakha Dzong • Image Map — Punakha in Bhutan.svg • Map Caption — Location of Punakha district within Bhutan • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — Bhutan • Seat Type — Headquarters • Seat — Punakha • Unit Pref — Metric • Area Total Km2 — 1,110 • Population Total — 28,740 • Population As Of — 2017 • Population Density Km2 — auto • Blank Name Sec2 — HDI (2017) • Blank Info Sec2 — 0.654 medium · 7th • Timezone1 — BTT • Utc Offset1 — +6 • Website — www.punakha.gov.bt Punakha District is one of the 20 dzongkhags (districts) comprising Bhutan. It is bordered by Thimphu, Gasa, and Wangdue Phodrang Districts. The dominant language in the district is Dzongkha, the national language.

• Illustration — The Mo Chhu flowing alongside Pungtang Dechen Photrang Dzong at Punakha. Pungthang Dechen Phodrang Dzong at Punakha, the administrative and religious center of the district, is the winter home of Bhutan's Dratshang Lhentshog (Central Monk Body). Since the 1680s the dzong has also been the site of a continuous vigil over the earthly body of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the founder of the country, which lies in a special chamber in the dzong. Punakha Dzong was the capital of Bhutan during the time of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The Punakha Dzong is one of the most historic dzongs in the whole country. Built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in the 17th century, it is located between the confluence of two rivers: Pho Chhu (male) and Mo Chhu (female). • Punakha Dzong • Chimi Lhakhang • Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Choeten • Goen Tshephu Ney • Talo Monastery • Choeten Nyingpo Goenzin Dratshang, Kabji • Ugyenphu Ney • Choekor Mijur Dorji Dhen Shedra, Sewola

Punakha District is divided into eleven village blocks (or gewogs): • Barp Gewog • Chhubu Gewog • Dzomo Gewog • Goenshari Gewog • Guma Gewog • Kabjisa Gewog • Lingmukha Gewog • Shenga Bjime Gewog • Talog Gewog • Toepisa Gewog • Toewang Gewog

Over half of Punakha District (the gewogs of Chhubu, Goenshari, Kabisa and Toewang) lies within Jigme Dorji National Park, one of the protected areas of Bhutan. The dzongkhag also contains biological corridors along the Thimphu District border. Punakha is famous for Chubu Tshachu and Kabji-hoka Tsho.

• Illustration — Punakha • Illustration — Dzong • Illustration — Lobesa • Illustration — Sopsokha • Illustration — Yowakha • Illustration — Chime Lhakhang