Punakha Dzong

Punakha Dzong is a fortress-monastery built in 1637–38 at the confluence of the Pho Chhu (Father River) and Mo Chhu (Mother River) in the subtropical Punakha Valley. The structure is regarded as one of the most beautiful dzongs in Bhutan, with its white-washed walls and golden-roofed temples reflecting in the river confluence below. It served as the administrative capital of Bhutan until 1955 and remains the winter residence of Bhutan's Je Khenpo (chief abbot). The suspension bridge crossing the Mo Chhu upstream is a frequently photographed approach.