Bhutan · 17th century
The Punakha Dzong, also known as Pungthang Dewa Chhenbi Phodrang (meaning "the palace of great happiness or bliss"), 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 tertön Pema Lingpa.
Punakha Dzong was the administrative center and the seat of the Government of Bhutan until 1955, when the capital was moved to Thimphu. It has been the venue for coronation of all the kings of Bhutan since 1907. It is on Bhutan's Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage Site inclusion.
Text adapted from “Punakha Dzong” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Punakha Dzong ranks #1,195 of 9,035 worldwide in the atlas's castle fame ranking, and #2 of the 14 mapped in Bhutan. Founded 1638, it is older than 27% of the atlas's dated landmarks, one of 708 atlas entries founded in the 17th century. Its Wikipedia articles were opened 3,165 times in the last 60 days, more than 79% of the atlas. 5 more atlas landmarks stand within 25 km. The nearest day-trip guide is Thimphu, 26 km away. See how Bhutan compares in the castle statistics.
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