National Memorial Chorten རྒྱལ་ཡོངས་རྗེས་དྲན་མཆོད་རྟེན།, Punakha Travel Guide

Getting There

• Walking

  From your accommodation in Punakha, head to the main road (Punakha-Wangdue Highway). If you're near the Punakha Dzong, exit the Dzong grounds and turn left onto the main road. Walk along the road in the direction of Wangdue Phodrang. After about 1.5 km, you will reach the bus station. Here, you can catch a local bus to Thimphu. Make sure to ask for the bus heading to Thimphu. The bus ride will take approximately 2-3 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. Once in Thimphu, get off at the main bus terminal. From the terminal, walk towards Chhoten Lam, which is about a 15-minute walk. Follow the signs or ask locals for directions to the National Memorial Chorten, which will be on your left.

• Bicycle

  Rent a bicycle from a local shop in Punakha. Start your journey on the Punakha-Wangdue Highway, heading towards Wangdue Phodrang. The route is scenic, passing through beautiful landscapes. After biking for about 1.5 km, you will reach the bus station. Here, take a local bus to Thimphu. The bus ride will take about 2-3 hours. Once you arrive at the main bus terminal in Thimphu, park your bicycle in a safe area and walk towards Chhoten Lam. The National Memorial Chorten is approximately a 15-minute walk from the terminal, and you can ask locals for directions if needed.

• Local Bus

  From Punakha, make your way to the local bus station, which is near the main market area. Look for a bus heading to Thimphu. The buses typically run every hour or so. The journey to Thimphu takes about 2-3 hours. Once you arrive at the Thimphu bus terminal, exit the terminal and head towards Chhoten Lam. The National Memorial Chorten is roughly a 15-minute walk from the bus terminal. Follow the road signs or ask any local for directions to ensure you are on the right path.