Dochula Pass

Dochula Pass, at around 3,100 metres, is the high point of the drive from Thimphu to Punakha. Its crest is crowned by 108 small chortens, the Druk Wangyal Chortens, built in the early 2000s as a memorial and arranged in rings on a grassy mound among fluttering prayer flags.

On clear days, mostly from October to February, the view to the north takes in a long line of snow-covered Himalayan peaks, including some of Bhutan’s highest mountains. A small temple, a café and walking trails through rhododendron forest invite you to linger.

Plan to stop for half an hour or more on the way to Punakha, ideally in the morning, before the clouds gather. It is cold and windy at the top, so keep a warm layer handy. In spring the rhododendrons around the pass bloom red and pink.