Punakha Suspension Bridge

Overview

Punakha has been the former capital of Bhutan in the heart of Punakha-Wangdue Valley. This quaint townhouse the Punakha suspension bridge. This is the second-longest pedestrian footbridge that extends 180 meters across the swift river Po Chu from the Dzong.

On the other side of the bridge, there is a beautiful village. You can approach the bridge from inside the Dzong. The bridge is around 500 meters away from the monastery.  The iron chain bridge gave way to the modern suspension bridges in the world.

Buddhist Monk, Thangtong Gyalpo is believed to have built one of the world’s oldest suspension bridges. It has served as the precursor to many of our modern suspension bridges. Walking across the bridge is a thrilling experience because the Gyalpo chain bridge did not consist of the suspended wooden deck.

The bridge connects the villages of Shengana, Samdingkha, and Wangkha to the castle of the Wangchuk Kings. Dzong lies at the confluence of the rivers Po Chu and Mo Chu and vulnerable to the deluge caused by the glacier lakes.

The hanging bridge has prayer flags and a perfect spot for bird watching and nature photography. Sometimes, it gives panic attacks and lurches due to fierce winds from the flowing river Po Chu.

These prayer flags carry good merit to all devotees. The blowing winds float the prayers throughout the valley and beyond. The monks string them with the prayers associated with the five colors. Five colors stand for the five essential elements and the five pearls of wisdom of Buddhism:

– Blue: Sky, health, and longevity

– White: air and good fortune

– Yellow: earth and victory over obstacles

– Red: fire and wish fulfillment

– Green: water and compassion

Bridge connects Punakha town to many religious and essential places worth visiting apart from an adventurous walk across the bridge.

Necessary Precautions to take on your Visit

Conventional wisdom remains correct about precautions for personal safety and security. Please take the given precautions:

• Always wear a seatbelt and avoid driving at night because accidents are  frequent in Bhutan due to mountainous roads and blind curves.
• Avoid leaving valuables in the vehicle at the parking
• Flight delays are common due to weather and visibility. Have necessities in your baggage to face delays or unexpected stop-overs.
• Stay alert while trekking because the ground gets slippery with leeches everywhere during the monsoon.

Tips To Visit Punakha Suspension Bridge

• Sunglasses and hats should be taken off while entering the Dzongs, Chortens, or even while crossing the bridge.
• Take care that your knees and shoulders are covered. Shorts are not allowed inside the temples, Dzongs, and Chortens.
• Refrain from taking pics at the religious shrines.
• To combat motion sickness, carry an emergency medical kit.
• Do not litter the river.
• Do not panic when you fall short of Ngultrum because Indian rupee is widely accepted in Bhutan.

Timings

• Sunday : 08:30 am to 05:00 pm
• Monday : 08:30 am to 05:00 pm
• Tuesday : 08:30 am to 05:00 pm
• Wednesday : 08:30 am to 05:00 pm
• Thursday : 08:30 am to 05:00 pm
• Friday : 08:30 am to 05:00 pm
• Saturday : 08:30 am to 05:00 pm

Timings are subject to change. You will be automatically booked into a time slot as part of the check out process. Please visit the official website to confirm the time slot before your visit.

How to Reach

• By Road : Punakha doesn’t have its very own air terminal. Guests need to go from Thimphu by road via Dochula, which would take 2 hours of the journey time. One can choose the movement from Paro, which is around 110 km via Thimphu. To 5-7 kilometers north of Punakha, one can locate the glorious stream, Po Chu, and the majestic suspension bridge. Punakha Suspension Bridge is a 0.5 km stroll from the vehicle park and would take around 15 mins to cross the bridge. It is 3 hours journey from the current capital city Thimphu.

Ticket Pricing

• Free Entry :

Things to Do

Here is a guide to things to do for all the adventure lovers to some hilarious activities around the suspension bridge in Bhutan. The longest suspension bridge spans the Pho Chu river. It connects the Punakha Dzong with villages across the Pho Chu River. A halt can offer tourists an authentic rural way of life in Bhutan.

Hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten

Her Majesty, the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuk built Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten. Holy scriptures rather than engineering were at the foundation of this four-storied temple to ensure the well-being of the Kingdom, its people, and all sentient beings.

There are two approaches to this hike.

If you opt for the first option, you can reach the temple in 15-20 minutes through the Punakha suspension bridge. In contrast, the second option will require climbers to hike through the picturesque Punakha valley for at least an hour to arrive at the temple.

White-Water Rafting

White-water rafting is gradually gaining ground among tourists on the confluence of the two rivers and the natural scenic beauty along the Punakha Valley.

Paths

You can pick from two paths about rafting:

• The first path is on the Mo Chhu river for 10 kilometers course with ten rapids of class2-2+. It is a moderate path for river rafters.
• Another choice is on the Po Chhu River. It is a slightly tougher course with 15 rapids of class between 2-4 spanning 16 kilometers.

Walk to Chimi Lhakhang Temple

The 14th Drukpa, Ngawang Choegyel, built this temple in 1449 in honor of Saint Drukpa Kunley, also known as the Divine Madman. The blessings of this temple are sought by Bhutanese and foreigners equally. This temple is famous for fertility because couples come here to get blessings from this temple to have a child. Couples have their child named Kunley after receiving the blessings for childbirth.

It takes 20 minutes to reach the temple. Climbers will hike through the sprawling fertile paddy fields and the charming village of Sosokha Valley.

Cycle Touring

Cycle touring was not possible until the 1970s. Now, there are a variety of opportunities for cyclists to relish the scenic views, behold natural beauty, feed the thrill of adventure, and invite fellows to connect with the rest of the globe. Cycling is an exciting way to experience this engineering wonder than on two wheels.

Address

Suspension Bridge, Trashigang-Semtokha Highway, Lobesa – Metsina, Punakha, Bhutan

Frequently Asked Questions