Punakha

Punakha
སྤུ་ན་ཁ་
Administrative centre
Punakha Dzong and the Mo Chhu
Punakha Dzong and the Mo Chhu
Punakha is located in Bhutan
Punakha
Punakha
Coordinates: 27°35′N 89°51.5′E / 27.583°N 89.8583°E / 27.583; 89.8583
Country Bhutan
DistrictPunakha dzongkhag
Area
 • 1,110 km2 (430 sq mi)
Elevation
1,242 m (4,075 ft)
Population
 (2017)
 • Total6,262
Time zoneUTC+06:00 (BTT)
Websitewww.punakha.gov.bt/en

Punakha (Dzongkha: སྤུ་ན་ཁ་) is the administrative centre of Punakha dzongkhag, one of the 20 districts of Bhutan. Punakha was the capital of Bhutan and the seat of government until 1955, when the capital was moved to Thimphu. It is about 72 km away from Thimphu, and it takes about 3 hours by car from the capital. Unlike Thimphu, it is quite warm in winter and hot in summer. It is located at an elevation of 1,200 metres above sea level, and rice is grown as the main crop along the river valleys of two main rivers of Bhutan, the Pho Chu and Mo Chu. Dzongkha is widely spoken in this district.