Our first stop today was the imposing Punakha Dzong also known as Pungthang Dewa chhenbi Phodrang (meaning "the palace of great happiness or bliss") it is the second oldest and second largest Dzong in Bhutan. As I mentioned yesterday this imposing building sits on a point of land right at the junction of the Mo and Pho Rivers. Originally built between 1637 and 1638 it has been enlarged and renovated a number of times over the years.

There is a rich legend associated with the building of the Dzong. This legend involves Ngawang Namgyal, a monk from Tibet, who unified Bhutan under his leadership. The architect Zowe Palep who conceived the plan for the Dzong in a mystical dream. Together they built the dzong as a defence against an army from Tibet. That story can be found in more detail here and here at wikipeadia.

Ngawang Namgyal is a character that has appeared frequently in our guides explanation of Bhutan history and culture, and we have often seen him depicted in the art work inside the temples we have visited. He is sometimes called "blue beard" and sometimes "the unifier".

During our visit today the Dzong was graced by a visit from a member of the Royal Family. If I got the story correct we saw the current Kings grandmother alight from a car and get into a sedan chair and thence carried to one of the temples inside the walls of the dzong.

The Dzong building complex is the administration center for the Punakha Valley District. It is also the winter home for the country's head monk and his enterage, he moves to Thimphu for the hotter summer months. Why? Well Punakha is at a lower elevation (by about 1000 meters) than Thimphu and Punakha is substantially warmer than Thimphu.

After visiting the Dzong we went for a walk along the banks of the Pho River to an impressive suspension bridge before having lunch at an outdoor restaraunt - outdoor in the sense that there was no building at all just chairs and table on a block of land with a great view of the rivers. Well not entirely no building there was a building housing a modern toilet.

Just up hill from our hotel is an elementary/primary school and most of the pupils walk up or down the road adjacent to our building. This gave Nina a great chance to interact with these friendly inquisitive little people.