Punakha Region

Driving up along the rice terraces to reach the Zangdhopelri Hotel	The Zangdhopelri Hotel is among the rice terraces high above Punakha	One crop of rice is nearing harvest, while the other is the bright green of a fresh young plant	These rice terraces are about 5 km south of Punakha Dzong
Zangdhopelri Hotel, Punakha	The patio bar of the Zangto Pelri Hotel, Bhutan	We found the bar! Zangdhopelri Hotel, Punakha	At the Bar, Zangdhopelri Hotel
Terrace in front of the Zangdhopelri Hotel, Punakha	Me at the Zangdhopelri Hotel, Punakha	Prayer flags on the bannister	View from the patio bar of the Zangdhopelri Hotel
Zangto Pelri is named after the paradise of Guru Pinpoche	Living among the rice terraces in Bhutan	Wall Mural of Takstang (Tigers Lair), the famous temple near Paro we will visit later in the trip	Chalet of the Zangdhopelri Hotel, Punakha
Chalet of the Zangdhopelri Hotel, Punakha	View from our chalet at Chalet of the Zangdhopelri Hotel, Punakha	The Puna Tsang Chu River south of Punakha	Khuruthang, the modern town serving Punakha
Maturing rice in the terraces overlooking the Puna Tsang Chu River	Rice terraces and river south of Punakha	Khuruthang Lhakhang	The chorten of Khuruthang Lhakhang
Punak Tsang Chhu River, Punakha	Panoramic view along the west bank of the Puna Tsang Chu River	Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Choeten, 7km north of Punakha	Rice terraces to the north of Punakha
It's a 45 minute climb to the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten	Use Me! Little box of Nyezergang Choeten	Wire suspension bridge across the river	Crossing the river to reach Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten
Hiking through the rice terraces	The first part of the hike is an easy stroll through the rice terraces	After the rice terraces, it's a steep climb	Hiking through the rice terraces to reach the hill of the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten
A lonely farm house on the edge of the rice terraces	Rice terraces and farm house, Bhutan	Green rice, Bhutan	Looking down the valley towards Punakha
The ascent of the hill begins	To Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Choeten	The Mo Chhu, Mother River, as it flows downstream towards Punakha Dzong where it will join the Pho Chu, Father River	The fine blue sky we had in Thimphu has given way to cloudy skies here in Punakha
Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Choeten, constructed in 1999 and dedicated to the protection of Bhutan	Pillar emerging from the jaws of a beast	Tandin and Dennis resting after the climb	Dennis leaning against one of the small stupa shaped decorations
Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten	Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten	The bus of a larger group at the Zangto Pelri Hotel, Punakha	BTCL - Bhutan Tourism Corporation Ltd
Map of Bhutan depicting the 20 regions of the country and their principle Dzongs	Another view of the rice terraces from the Zangto Pelri Hotel	View from the Zangto Pelri Hotel, Punakha	Rice terraces, Zangto Pelri Hotel, Punakha
The modern town of Khuruthang, Bhutan	Khuruthang, Bhutan, the modern town serving Punakha	Market Day - Khuruthang	Market Day - Khuruthang
Bag of chili powder, Khuruthang Market	Garlic and green bananas, Khuruthang Market	Khuruthang Market	Indian man shopping for vegetables, Khuruthang Market
Khuruthang Market	A simple scale for weighing the chilis	Khuruthang Market	A smile from a market hawker in Khuruthang
Like elsewhere in the country, the people here wear the traditional clothing of Bhutan	Khuruthang Market	Khuruthang Market	A smile and a chuckle
Red onions and potatoes, Khuruthang Market	Khuruthang Market	Dennis tries his bargaining skills, Khuruthang Market	Rice terraces and simple adobe houses near Punakha
A small heard of cows on the road near Punakha	A village temple near Punakha