The Dochula pass in Bhutan is one of the highest passes that we crossed during our 7 days trip to Bhutan. We crossed the Dochula Pass in Bhutan after exploring Thimphu for a day, from Thimphu to the valley of Punakha. Being located at a very high altitude, the Dochula Pass is covered in either dense clouds or mist almost all through the year. But during the months of October to February, the sky is comparatively clear. And one can witness mesmerising views of the snow clad upper Himalayan peaks. It will not be an exaggeration at all to say that the Dochula Pass is one of the most beautiful mountain passes in this world!! Because of it’s amalgamation of beautiful stupas and temple, the 360 degrees panoramic view of Himalayas, the walkable trails leading through dense pine forests and the snow capped peaks shining like golden crowns!!
I hope I was able to establish with you why Dochula Pass is a must visit when traveling to Bhutan. 🙂 You can stop at the Dochula Pass while on a road trip from Thimphu to Punakha. But, in case you couldn’t stop here for some reason, don’t worry. For, you can always stop here on your way back to Thimphu. Or, if you are on your way from Punakha to Paro like us. The winds here are mostly chilly. So, if you are planning to stop here, do have some jackets and caps handy with you. Particularly when traveling with kids in Bhutan.
There are quiet a few places to witness around the Dochula Pass in Bhutan. When you stop here, you can easily spend some couple of hours exploring around. The main places to visit at Dochula Pass include –
- Druk Wangyal Chortens
- Druk Wangyal Lhakhang
- Dochula Wangyal Festival Grounds
- The Cafe at Dochula Pass
- Royal Botanical Park (nearby)
Druk Wangyal Chortens at Dochula Pass in Bhutan
The Druk Wangyal Chortens or the “Druk Wangyal Khang Zhang Chortens” are the first site that catch your attention as you stop at the Dochula Pass. These are a group of 108 stupas built as a memorial. And act like a “square” at the top of the Dochula Pass. Even if you are not stopping at the Dochula Pass, you will drive around the Chortens, witnessing the stupas and the colourful prayer flags surrounding the Chortens. These are war memorials, built by Queen Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk. In the memory of the Bhutanese soldiers who were killed in the December 2003 battle against Assamese insurgents from India. (Source of information : Wikipedia)
The Chortens were completed in 2004. And since then, they have been a major attraction at the Dochula Pass. The 108 stupas of the Chorten stand in 3 concentric circles, on a slope. The architecture of the Chortens reflects the religiously built Chortens of the region. For, the procedure followed to construct these chortens was very specific. Wherein, at the first stage, symbolic offerings of grains and bronze utensil filled with butter were placed in the center of the stupa. Followed by the next stage, where images of Buddhist gods made of clay were added. And then in the final stage, a “sokshing” tree was inserted in the center. This tree is believed to be a link between the life on earth and heaven!!
Druk Wangyal Lhakhang
Diagonally opposite the Druk Wangyal Chortens lies the Druk Wangyal Lhakhang – a buddhist temple constructed in 2008, to comemorate the completion of 100 years of monarchy in Bhutan. As with most of the other temples that we visited in Bhutan during our Bhutan trip, photography is not allowed inside the temple. So, let me describe to you in the best possible way what the interior of the Druk Wangyal Lhakhang looks like. Beautiful paintings decorate the walls of the temple. Most of these paintings depict the history of the Bhutanese kingdom and culture. But the best part is some of the paintings which look very “modern”.
In the sense that you will witness some monks with laptops, and the war scenes from the war in whose memory the 108 stupas were erected. And even aircrafts – maybe a part of the war scene. So, overall, the painting scene at Druk Wangyal Lhakhang is not completely like what you will witness at most of the other temples that you visit in Bhutan. Which mostly depict legends, folk tales and stories from the life of Buddha or from the ancient Bhutanese Empire.
Dochula Wangyal Festival Grounds
In front of the Druk Wangyal Chortens you will witness a clear ground. This is actually the Dochula Wangyal Festival Grounds. The Festival is held here every year on 13th December. So, if you happen to be in Bhutan, do make time to visit here and witness the festival. It is a very colorful celebration. With colored marsks and costumes, involving expressive dance forms. Through which the story of the war is again narrated year on year.
The Cafe at Dochula Pass
Coming to refreshment, there is a beautiful cute cafe at Dochula Pass across the Dochula Wangyal Festival Grounds. The cafe has mesmerizing views of the valleys beyond and the snow clad Himalayan peaks. Even when we visited here in the month of April, still ,the region was surrounded with lush green valleys capped with snow covered peaks. Having a refreshing coffee or a small snack here, soaking in the views, is nothing short of a fairy tale experience. Also, restroom facilities are available here.
Royal Botanical Park
Last, but not the least, the Royal Botanical Park of Bhutan has been developed nearby very recently. Spread across a massive 120 square kilometers in the backdrop of the Dochula Pass, this is the first Botanical Park of Bhutan. The park is located between two major national parks of Bhutan – Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park and the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Park. And it houses many different species of flora. But particularly, in the blooming season of the Rhododendrons, the Royal Botanical Park reaches the peak of it’s beauty. The park timings are 9am to 5pm during the summer months and 9:00am to 4:00pm during winters.
But, apart from the conservation and propagation of various plant and trees species, this park is doing something even more noble. Through it’s specific attention at waste recycling and waste management. The Royal Botanical Park even has specific programs to advocate the same !! So, it’s a place where not only can you enjoy the nature but even learn how to do your small bit towards conserving it and helping it flourish. Doesn’t that sound wonderful!
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is a lot to do and see at Dochula Pass. So, when you stop here, do keep some time at hand to explore around. The key to be able to do so will be to start early from your hotel in Thimphu. And keep the day just for transit to Punakha. So that you can stop at the Dochula Pass. And several other beautiful places that you will encounter on your way from Thimphu to Punakha. And the next day you can see places in Punakha. We did this mistake of combining the Punakha sightseeing and the transfer from Thimphu to Punakha in a single day. As a result, we were not able to spend as much time at Dochula Pass as we wanted.
However, I have suggested an alternative, more relaxed itinerary in my post on our Bhutan trip itinerary. Which will help you allocate enough time to each of the sites. Something I wish I knew before! Also, here’s our complete guide to visit Bhutan. Which contains all the information you will require to plan your trip to Bhutan. And here are some other useful resources from our Bhutan trip :-
Our experience visiting the Golden Buddha at Thimphu
A virtual tour through the Punakha Dzong – the place I liked the most on our Bhutan trip
A short adventure at the Punakha Suspension Bridge
How to obtain the Bhutan tourist permit for Indians visiting Bhutan
Special tips on visiting Bhutan with kids – don’t repeat the mistakes we made
General tips on visiting Dochula Pass in Bhutan
- Carry woollen jacket and cap. The air here is crisp and cold and can be strong sometimes. Particularly if you have kids with you, cover them well.
- Allocate at least 2 hours to explore all the places around Dochula Pass that I covered above in the post.
- Do carry some medicines for mountain sickness with you as the roads around this region are very winding.
- Start as early from Thimphu as possible. So that you will have ample time to explore around when you reach Dochula Pass. At the same time, it will be less crowded in the morning hours.
- There is an entry fee only to the temple at the Dochula Pass.
- Refreshment and food facility is available at the cafe complex at Dochula Pass.
- There are some random trails around the Dochula Pass. Ask your guide to help you explore some around if you have ample time at hand. Some of these are beautiful, with breathtaking views of the mountains and valleys.
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Do checkout our video blog of Dochula Pass at RevolvingCompass youtube channel :-