Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Dochula PassHeight above mean sea level 3,100 m

pass · Bhutan

108 chortens and a Himalayan skyline on the Punakha road

Best Apr · Oct – Feb0 (day stop) nights

Dochula is the 3,100 m pass on the road from Thimphu to Punakha, about 22 km and 45 minutes from the capital. It holds the 108 Druk Wangyal chortens, a temple completed in 2008 and, from October to February, a view of the eastern Himalaya including Gangkar Puensum. Most visitors stop for 45 minutes; hikers stay half a day.

The road east from Thimphu climbs through blue pine and hemlock for about 45 minutes before it tops out at Dochula, 3,100 m above sea level. On the crest, on a rounded hill, stand 108 white chortens with red bands, arranged in three rings around the slope, and above them a temple, Druk Wangyal Lhakhang. Prayer flags snap in the wind. On clear days between October and February the northern skyline opens up into a long line of snow peaks, including Gangkar Puensum, Bhutan's highest mountain at 7,570 m.

Almost every visitor to Punakha stops here, so the pass can be busy around midday. Come early or late and it is quiet. There is a café with big windows, toilets, and a viewpoint marked with the names of the peaks. A short walk around the chortens takes 20 minutes; the temple, with its modern murals of Bhutanese history, another 20. For more time, the Royal Botanical Park at Lamperi just below the pass has rhododendron gardens and forest trails, and a hiking path climbs from the pass to Lungchutse temple for a wider view.

Dochula's weather changes fast. In winter it can snow and the road may ice over, though it is usually cleared within hours. In the monsoon from June to September cloud often hides everything. October to February is the season for views, March to May for rhododendrons in the forest. Bring a warm layer at any time of year: it is often 8–10 °C colder here than in Punakha below. Dochula needs no separate permit; it lies on the Thimphu–Punakha route covered by your route permit.

Don't miss

Highlights of Dochula Pass

The 108 Druk Wangyal Chortens

Built by Queen Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck and consecrated in 2004 in memory of soldiers who died in the December 2003 operation in southern Bhutan. Walk clockwise around the three tiers; the circuit takes 15–20 minutes and is free.

The Himalayan skyline

From October to February, mornings often bring a clear view north to a long chain of peaks including Gangkar Puensum, 7,570 m. A board at the viewpoint names the summits. Arrive before 9 am; cloud usually builds by late morning.

Druk Wangyal Lhakhang

The temple above the chortens was completed in 2008 to mark 100 years of the monarchy. Its murals mix traditional deities with scenes from modern Bhutanese history, including the Fourth King, which is unusual and worth a slow look.

Lungchutse temple hike

A forest trail climbs from near the pass to Lungchutse temple at about 3,500 m in 1.5–2 hours, through rhododendron and moss-hung trees, with a wider mountain view at the top. A good half-day for fit walkers; take your guide.

Royal Botanical Park, Lamperi

A short drive down the Punakha side, this protected forest of about 47 sq km has rhododendron gardens, walking trails and a small lake. Spring, March to May, is best when dozens of rhododendron species flower. Entry about Nu 100, indicative 2026.

Tea and a view at the Dochula café

The café beside the chortens has wide windows facing north, so on a clear day you can sit with tea and look at the mountains. Prices are higher than in town but fair for the setting, about ₹100–250 for tea and a snack.

Told in the hills

Why 108 chortens stand on the pass

In December 2003 the Royal Bhutan Army, led by the Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, launched an operation to remove camps that Indian insurgent groups had set up in the forests of southern Bhutan. The groups, from Assam and north Bengal, had used Bhutanese territory for years. The operation was brief and the camps were cleared. Bhutanese soldiers were killed, and the country chose to remember them, and all lives lost on both sides, with a monument of peace rather than triumph.

The 108 chortens, known as the Druk Wangyal Chortens, were built by Queen Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck and consecrated in June 2004. They rise in three tiers, 45 at the base, 36 in the middle and 27 at the top; 108 is a sacred number in Buddhism. The Druk Wangyal Lhakhang above them was completed in June 2008 to mark a century of the Wangchuck monarchy, and each year on 13 December the Druk Wangyal Tshechu is danced on the pass to commemorate the 2003 events.

Pinned to the board

Did you know

The 108 chortens at Dochula are arranged in three tiers of 45, 36 and 27.

Gangkar Puensum, visible from Dochula on clear days, is about 7,570 m high and is often cited as the highest unclimbed mountain in the world.

The Druk Wangyal Tshechu is held on Dochula every 13 December, a fixed date rather than a lunar one.

Things to do

Four ways to spend a day in Dochula Pass

45 minutes–1 hour The 108 chortens and the morning mountain view Dochula Pass · Free

30 minutes Druk Wangyal Lhakhang and its modern murals Dochula Pass · Free or small fee, indicative 2026

3–4 hours round trip Hike from Dochula to Lungchutse temple Dochula Pass · Free; guide required

1.5–3 hours Rhododendrons at the Royal Botanical Park Dochula Pass · ≈ Nu 100 entry, indicative 2026

Getting there

How to reach Dochula Pass

Reserved car with guideDochula is about 22 km and 45 minutes from Thimphu on the road to Punakha. It is almost always visited as a stop on that drive. A car with driver costs ₹4,500–6,500 a day, indicative 2026, with a licensed guide. The Thimphu–Punakha route permit covers it; check current status before you travel.

Day trip from ThimphuIf you are not continuing to Punakha, a half-day trip from Thimphu works: leave at 7 am for the morning view, walk the chortens, and return by lunch. In winter, ask the guide to check for snow on the road before setting out.

BusBuses between Thimphu and Punakha pass over Dochula but do not stop long. As a tourist you would need your guide with you, so a hired car is the practical choice.

Costs in Dochula Passindicative, 2026

108 chortensFree
Druk Wangyal LhakhangFree or small fee, indicative 2026
Royal Botanical Park, Lamperi≈ Nu 100 per person, indicative 2026
Tea and snack at the café₹100–250, indicative 2026
Druk Wangyal Tshechu (13 Dec)Free to watch

Fares and fees change with fuel prices, season and local union rates. Check current rates before you travel.

Money-saving tip

Leave Thimphu at 7 am rather than 10 am: the mountain view is clearer, the café is empty, and you still reach Punakha for lunch without paying for an extra half-day of car hire.

Where to stay

Sleeping in Dochula Pass

Most visitors do not stay at Dochula; it is a stop between Thimphu (45 minutes away) and Punakha (1.5–2 hours below). Stay in Thimphu if you want to reach the pass at dawn for the clearest mountain view, or in Punakha if you are heading east. The Dochula area has very limited accommodation, so we do not recommend planning a night on the pass itself. Hotel Druk in Thimphu and Dhensa Boutique Resort in Punakha are on either side.

On the map

Drawn by Darjeeling Tour Plan from Natural Earth outlines (public domain). Borders as depicted by India. Not for navigation.

Next stations

Near Dochula Pass

All of Bhutan

Thimphu2,320 m

A capital without traffic lights, under a giant golden Buddha

City · best Mar – May · Sep – Nov · 2–3 nights

Punakha1,250 m

The old capital where two rivers meet below a great dzong

Valley · best Oct – Apr · 2 nights

Wangdue Phodrang1,300 m

A rebuilt 17th-century dzong on the ridge above two rivers

Fort town · best Feb – Apr · Oct – Dec · 0 nights

Questions people ask

Dochula Pass: questions answered

How high is Dochula Pass

About 3,100 m above sea level, on the road between Thimphu and Punakha. It is the highest point of that drive. People coming straight from the plains may feel the altitude a little; walk slowly around the chortens and drink water. Most visitors spend 45 minutes to an hour here.

How far is Dochula from Thimphu

About 22 km, a 45-minute drive east of Thimphu on the road to Punakha. From Dochula it is another 1.5–2 hours down to Punakha. Most travellers stop at the pass on the way to Punakha rather than making a separate trip.

Does Dochula get snow

Yes, often between December and February, and occasionally in March. The road can ice over and may close briefly until it is cleared. Snow also makes the chortens and the view beautiful. Your driver will know the conditions; check current status before you travel.

Is there an entry fee for Dochula

No. The pass, the 108 chortens and the views are free. The Royal Botanical Park at Lamperi below the pass charges about Nu 100, indicative 2026. The café charges for tea and snacks. You do need your licensed guide and the Punakha route permit to be on this road.

What is the best time to visit Dochula

Early morning from October to February, when the sky is clearest and the Himalaya is visible. March to May is best for rhododendrons in the forest, though views are often hazy. In the monsoon, June to September, cloud usually covers the pass.

Which mountains can you see from Dochula

On clear days, a long chain of peaks across northern Bhutan, including Gangkar Puensum, at about 7,570 m Bhutan's highest mountain. A signboard at the viewpoint names the main summits. The clearest days are in winter mornings; cloud often builds by late morning.

Are there toilets and food at Dochula

Yes. There is a café beside the chortens with tea, coffee, snacks and simple meals, and toilets nearby. Prices are a little higher than in Thimphu, around ₹100–250 for tea and a snack, indicative 2026. It is the only real stop on the Thimphu–Punakha road.

Is Dochula worth visiting in the monsoon

Only as a short stop on the way to Punakha. From June to September cloud and mist usually hide the mountains and often the chortens themselves. The atmosphere can be lovely in drifting mist, but do not make a separate trip for it. Check road conditions for landslides.

Why is Gangkar Puensum unclimbed

Bhutan banned mountaineering on peaks above 6,000 m in 1994, out of respect for local beliefs that the mountains are the homes of deities, and later banned it altogether. Earlier attempts in the 1980s failed. So Gangkar Puensum, about 7,570 m, is widely cited as the highest unclimbed mountain in the world.