Will I see the Himalayan panorama from Dochu La?

Highly dependent on weather. Clear winter mornings (December through February) give the most reliable visibility — Chomolhari (7,326 m), Masagang, Tsendagang, and on exceptional days Gangkhar Puensum (the highest peak in Bhutan) are all visible. October through November in the autumn window is also strong. May through September the panorama is frequently cloud-obscured. Within any given day, the morning before 10 a.m. typically gives the clearest visibility.

Should I stop at the cafe?

Yes — the Dochu La Cafe serves butter tea, the standard Bhutanese breakfast, and a notable warm-trout-noodle dish. The cafe is a Royal Government-supported tea house and is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The trout is sourced from the Punakha valley; the noodle preparation is one of the most-loved Dochu La specialities.

Can I visit the Druk Wangyel Lhakhang?

Yes — the temple is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is unusual in being entirely modern in its iconography. The principal frescos depict contemporary Bhutanese history including His Majesty the 4th King at the head of his troops. The temple is the principal example of contemporary Bhutanese religious patronage.

How long should I plan to spend at Dochu La?

30–45 minutes is typical for a standard photo stop and a tea break. If the panorama is clear and the day permits, 60–90 minutes allows for a thorough exploration of the 108 chortens, the Druk Wangyel Lhakhang, and the panorama itself. Many itineraries time the Dochu La crossing for the morning to catch the clearest panorama window.

Dochu La pass with the 108 Druk Wangyel Chortens and the eastern-Himalayan panorama on a clear winter morning

The 108-chorten pass at 3,100 metres

Dochu La — the high pass between Thimphu and Punakha, with 108 chortens and the eastern-Himalayan panorama.

Dochu La sits at 3,100 metres on the road between Thimphu and Punakha — the principal mountain pass of the western Bhutanese drive. The pass is marked by 108 small chortens (the Druk Wangyel Chortens) built in 2003 under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, and on clear winter mornings the panorama of the eastern Himalaya — Masagang, Tsendagang, Gangkhar Puensum, Chomolhari — is among the most-photographed Himalayan vistas accessible by road.

Location: Thimphu–Punakha road, near the eastern boundary of Thimphu dzongkhag, Thimphu
Elevation: 3,100 m
Founded: 2003
Founder: Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck
Also known as: Dochula · 108 Chortens Pass · Druk Wangyel Chortens

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The 108 chortens — the Druk Wangyel commemoration

In 2003, Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck commissioned the building of 108 chortens on the pass to commemorate the soldiers who died in the 2003 Royal Bhutan Army operation against Indian-insurgent encampments in southern Bhutan — an operation that the Royal Government conducted to remove a security threat to both Bhutan and India. The chortens are arranged in three tiers (the upper, middle, and lower courses) around the pass's principal viewpoint, with the central chorten the largest. The number 108 carries deep significance in the Buddhist tradition — the number of mala beads, the number of human afflictions to be subdued, the number of Songtsen Gampo's founding temples.

The Druk Wangyel Lhakhang

Beside the chortens stands the Druk Wangyel Lhakhang — a temple completed in 2008 in dedication to His Majesty the 4th King and his service to the country during the 2003 operation. The temple is unusual in being entirely modern in its iconography — the principal frescos include depictions of His Majesty the 4th King at the head of his troops, scenes from contemporary Bhutanese history including the 1907 founding of the Wangchuck dynasty, the 1953 first National Assembly, and the 2008 transition to constitutional democracy. The temple is the principal example of contemporary Bhutanese religious patronage and is open to international visitors with a guide.

The eastern-Himalayan panorama

On clear winter mornings (December through February typically gives the most reliable visibility, October through November in the autumn window also strong), the pass affords one of the most-photographed Himalayan vistas accessible by road. From left to right (west to east) the principal peaks visible are: Chomolhari (7,326 m), Jichu Drake (6,989 m), Masagang (7,158 m), Tsendagang (7,300 m), Tarigang (7,300 m), and (on exceptional days) Gangkhar Puensum (7,570 m, the highest peak in Bhutan and the highest unclimbed mountain in the world). The morning before 10 a.m. typically gives the clearest panorama; cloud builds across the day.

Visiting

Getting there
Dochu La is on the principal road between Thimphu and Punakha — 45 minutes from central Thimphu, 90 minutes from Punakha. Every visitor crossing from one valley to the other will pass through. The pass has a substantial pull-off and parking area; the 108 chortens are accessible by a short walk from the parking area.
Opening hours
The pass and the chortens are accessible 24 hours a day. The Druk Wangyel Lhakhang is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Dochu La Cafe (a Royal Government-supported tea house at the pass) operates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and serves butter tea, the standard Bhutanese breakfast, and a notable warm-trout-noodle dish.
Dress and protocol
The pass sits at 3,100 metres and is consistently cold; pack a warm jacket and a hat. The chortens may be approached freely; the Druk Wangyel Lhakhang requires shoes and hats removed and shoulders covered. Photography is permitted across the site; the principal photographic position for the panorama is from the upper tier of the chortens, looking north.
Best time to visit
Clear winter mornings (December through February) give the most reliable panorama visibility. October through November in the autumn window is also strong. May through September the panorama is frequently cloud-obscured. Within any given day, the morning (especially before 10 a.m.) typically gives the clearest visibility — cloud builds across the day on the southern slopes.

Frequently asked

Why are there 108 chortens at Dochu La?: The 108 chortens (the Druk Wangyel Chortens) were commissioned in 2003 by Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck to commemorate the soldiers who died in the 2003 Royal Bhutan Army operation against Indian-insurgent encampments in southern Bhutan. The number 108 carries deep significance in the Buddhist tradition (the mala beads, the human afflictions, the Songtsen Gampo temples).
Will I see the Himalayan panorama from Dochu La?: Highly dependent on weather. Clear winter mornings (December through February) give the most reliable visibility — Chomolhari (7,326 m), Masagang, Tsendagang, and on exceptional days Gangkhar Puensum (the highest peak in Bhutan) are all visible. October through November in the autumn window is also strong. May through September the panorama is frequently cloud-obscured. Within any given day, the morning before 10 a.m. typically gives the clearest visibility.
Should I stop at the cafe?: Yes — the Dochu La Cafe serves butter tea, the standard Bhutanese breakfast, and a notable warm-trout-noodle dish. The cafe is a Royal Government-supported tea house and is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The trout is sourced from the Punakha valley; the noodle preparation is one of the most-loved Dochu La specialities.
Can I visit the Druk Wangyel Lhakhang?: Yes — the temple is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is unusual in being entirely modern in its iconography. The principal frescos depict contemporary Bhutanese history including His Majesty the 4th King at the head of his troops. The temple is the principal example of contemporary Bhutanese religious patronage.
How long should I plan to spend at Dochu La?: 30–45 minutes is typical for a standard photo stop and a tea break. If the panorama is clear and the day permits, 60–90 minutes allows for a thorough exploration of the 108 chortens, the Druk Wangyel Lhakhang, and the panorama itself. Many itineraries time the Dochu La crossing for the morning to catch the clearest panorama window.

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Preparing

Dochu La — the high pass between Thimphu and Punakha, with 108 chortens and the eastern-Himalayan panorama.

The 108 chortens — the Druk Wangyel commemoration

The Druk Wangyel Lhakhang

The eastern-Himalayan panorama

The 108 chortens — the Druk Wangyel commemoration

The Druk Wangyel Lhakhang

The eastern-Himalayan panorama

Getting there

Opening hours

Dress and protocol

Best time to visit

Begin when you're ready.

The 108 chortens — the Druk Wangyel commemoration

The Druk Wangyel Lhakhang

The eastern-Himalayan panorama

Getting there

Opening hours

Dress and protocol

Best time to visit

Begin when you're ready.