- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- Thimphu, Bhutan
Bhutan destinations · Updated October 2026
Dochula Pass, Bhutan: travel guide for 2027
The high pass between Thimphu and Punakha, crowned by 108 chortens. On clear days you see a line of Himalayan peaks, including Gangkar Puensum, the highest mountain in Bhutan.
- About 3,100 m
- 108 chortens
- Druk Wangyel Tshechu 13 December
3,100 m
Altitude of the pass, approximately
108
Druk Wangyal chortens
7,570 m
Gangkar Puensum, visible on clear days
13 Dec
Annual Druk Wangyel Tshechu
About Dochula
A memorial, a viewpoint and a pause on the road
Dochula is the pass on the main road between Thimphu and Punakha, at roughly 3,100 metres. Almost every first trip to Bhutan stops here. The 108 white chortens on the hilltop were built under the patronage of Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck and completed in 2004. They honour the Bhutanese soldiers who died in December 2003, when the army cleared insurgent camps from the southern forests.
Between October and February the air is often clear enough to see a long line of snow peaks to the north-east. In summer the pass is more often in cloud, which has its own atmosphere: prayer flags in the mist and the chortens appearing and disappearing. Plan 30 minutes to an hour, longer if you want a walk.
- On the road from Thimphu to Punakha
- Clearest views October to February
- A café with a view across the range
What to see
Things to see and do at Dochula
The 108 chortens
Three tiers of memorial stupas, completed in 2004.
Druk Wangyal Lhakhang
A temple completed in 2008 to mark 100 years of the monarchy.
Himalayan panorama
Gangkar Puensum, Masang Gang and other peaks on clear days.
Druk Wangyel Tshechu
A festival held every 13 December, against the backdrop of the peaks.
Royal Botanical Park
Lampelri, Bhutan's first botanical park, known for rhododendrons.
Lungchuzekha hike
A forest trail to a small goemba with wider views, about 3 hours return.
History and views
Dochula in detail
The Druk Wangyal chortens
The chortens commemorate the soldiers killed in the 2003 operation against Assamese militants based in southern Bhutan, and the victory led by the fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck. They were completed in mid-June 2004. Walk around them clockwise, as Bhutanese do, and look for the small painted details on each tier.
Druk Wangyal Lhakhang
The temple on the hillside above the chortens was completed in June 2008 to celebrate a century of the Wangchuck monarchy. Its murals tell the story of the monarchy and of Buddhist teachers, mixing traditional style with modern scenes. Remove your hat and shoes before going in.
Which mountains can you see?
To the north-east, on a clear morning, the view takes in Masang Gang at about 7,194 metres and Gangkar Puensum at about 7,570 metres. Gangkar Puensum is the highest mountain in Bhutan and is often described as the highest unclimbed mountain in the world, because Bhutan does not allow climbing on peaks above 6,000 metres. You cannot see Everest from Dochula.
The Druk Wangyel Tshechu
Started in 2011, this festival is held at the pass every year on 13 December. It is unusual in that the dances are performed by members of the Royal Bhutan Army rather than monks. With the chortens behind and snow peaks in the distance, it is one of the most photogenic festivals in the country.
Practical facts
Dochula at a glance
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Location | On the East-West Highway between Thimphu and Punakha |
| Drive times | About 45 minutes to 1 hour from Thimphu; about 2 hours down to Punakha |
| Altitude | About 3,100 m, so it is noticeably colder than the valleys |
| Best time for views | October to February, early in the morning |
| Weather | Cloud and rain in the monsoon; frost and occasional snow in winter, which can briefly slow traffic |
| Time needed | 30 minutes to 1 hour; half a day with the Lungchuzekha hike |
| Facilities | A café, toilets and parking |
| Events 2027 | Rhododendron Festival at Lampelri, 22 to 23 April; Druk Wangyel Tshechu, 13 December |
Tips
Getting the most from Dochula
Leave Thimphu early if you want the mountain views, because cloud tends to build by late morning. Bring a warm layer even in spring, as the wind at the pass is cold. If the sky is clear and you have time, the Lungchuzekha trail climbs through rhododendron forest above the café to a viewpoint with an even wider panorama.
Dochula also sits on the historic route of the Trans Bhutan Trail, which once linked the dzongs on foot. A section from the pass down towards the Punakha valley makes a beautiful day walk with the car meeting you below.
Tours
Tours that include this destination
Every tour is private and can be changed. These are starting points.
Before you go
Travel essentials for 2027
Every visitor except Indian, Bangladeshi and Maldivian nationals needs a visa, which costs USD 40 and is arranged by your tour operator. The Sustainable Development Fee is USD 100 per adult per night until 31 August 2027; children under 6 pay nothing and children aged 6 to 12 pay half. Indian visitors pay INR 1,200 per night. You travel with a licensed guide beyond the first checkpoint and stay in certified hotels or homestays.
Read more in our guides to the visa and SDF, what a trip costs and Bhutan’s travel rules.
Dochula: questions
About 3,100 metres. Some sources give slightly higher figures, around 3,140 metres.
No. On clear days you see Bhutanese peaks such as Gangkar Puensum and Masang Gang.
They honour Bhutanese soldiers who died in the December 2003 operation against insurgents. 108 is a sacred number in Buddhism.
The Druk Wangyel Tshechu is held every year on 13 December.
October to February for clear mountain views, ideally early in the morning.
Yes. It sits on the main road between Thimphu and Punakha, so you stop on the way.
Nearby
Combine it with these places
Plan your time in Dochula and Punakha
Tell us your dates and how many nights you have. We will send a day-by-day plan with named hotels and one price that includes the SDF, visa, guide and car.
Photo credits, via Wikimedia Commons: Wangdue Phodrang countryside (Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 4.0).
