5 Photography Tips to Take Better Photos of Punakha Dzong - the Most Beautiful Monastery of Bhutan

Looking like something that is straight out of some magical fairy tale, the Punakha Dzong in Bhutan is undoubtedly the most beautiful Dzong in the kingdom. Sitting pretty at the confluence of the Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu rivers, this stupendous example of ancient Bhutanese construction is the most perfectly picturesque fortress in the Himalayas. As well as being one of the favored sites for tourists to the Punakha District of Bhutan, it is also one of the most photographed Dzongs in the kingdom.

For anyone taking or planning a photography tour of Bhutan, Punakha Dzong is a must-visit location, and one that will engulf your time taking photos from every possible angle. So if you are planning photographing the most beautiful Dzong in the Dragon Kingdom, here are some tips on making them the best photos you have ever taken.

Tip 1. Different Seasons of Punakha Dzong have Different Charm

Bhutan is a country of four seasons, and in Punakha, each season has its own unique charm for photographers, even the rainy monsoon season. Even the winter and the summer have their attractions when looking for different kinds of photographs, but the main peak seasons for tourism are normally spring and autumn.

Spring and Autumn are the Best Seasons for Bhutan Photo Tour

That said, if you are planning to take a Bhutan photo tour, then spring and autumn are the recommended times to travel. Spring in Bhutan runs from March to late May, and you can travel into early June and still get the good weather most of the time. Spring brings a reprieve from the colder weather of winter, which is not that cold in Punakha, being at a lower altitude. However, warmer weather makes things bloom, and the spring is great for flowers and new buds. And with clear days for most of the season, as well as bright sunshine and warmer weather, there are few times when it is better to take great photos in Bhutan.

Autumn is the other amazing time of year for taking photos in the kingdom. Running from early September to late November, just when it starts to get a little too chilly, the autumn season is the colorful rustic season, and one of the best times for those rustic and granular photos of forests and woodland scenery. With clear skies and bright sunshine, the early autumn is filled with lush green growth, while the latter part of the season is more rustic and pastel-colored as the leaves change color and fall.

Punakha Dzong in Spring

Spring is the perfect time to photograph the Punakha Dzong, as it is the time of blooms and blossoms and new flowers and buds. The season of new growth and new beginnings, this is the perfect time of year to photograph any Buddhist temple, but even more so for the Punakha Dzong with its rows of blooming jacaranda trees. Lining the banks of both rivers and running all the way around the fortress, the jacaranda trees come into bloom in late march, and are soon covered with lilac blossoms that make the scene even more compelling to shoot. And the bright pleasant weather means the Dzong looks even more spectacular than ever.

Punakha Dzong in Autumn

Autumn is the cooler season of the two, but is still one of the best times to get photos of the Punakha Dzong. Skies are still bright for most of the season, and even as they dull down a little as the year rolls on, the Dzong itself is beautifully framed by the forested mountains.

Autumn is also the time of the falling leaves, and in this low valley of Bhutan, there are a lot more deciduous and broad-leafed forests than in higher areas, which makes for a more colorful and rustic scene in the late autumn.

Tip 2. Punakha Dzong at Night is Incredibly Amazing

While some places cannot be shot after it gets dark, Punakha Dzong is one of the exceptions to the rule. As the darkness falls in Bhutan, lights come on around the monastery, lighting up the stark white walls and red roofs of this stunning building complex. You may need to adjust your exposure for the light available at night, but you can get some amazing shots of the Dzong lit up in the evenings, which make an extended stay well worth the time.

And it is not just the outer wall that is lit up. From inside as well, you can see the towers and buildings lit up by spotlights from below, and the upper windows and vents of the roof are lit as well, from the inside, to make the gilded roofs shine even more brightly at night.

Tip 3. Get Fabulous Views of Punakha Dzong from Different Angles

Lying in its own grounds, with no buildings next to it, Punakha Dzong can be photographed from just about every possible angle. So whether you shoot from across the river with the jacaranda trees fronting the Dzong from behind the buildings beside the famous covered bridge, you will find plenty of good spots from which to shoot this unique and beautiful fortress.

Photograph Punakha Dzong from the East Bank of the Mo Chhu

The eastern bank of the Mo Chhu, the river that flows past the buildings of the Dzong, is not one of the best places to get good shots of the fortress. Depending on where you shoot from on this side of the river, you can choose to get the view of the Dzong with the Bazam Bridge in the foreground or the background. However, the angle of the shots from the eastern bank of the river means you get only a narrow frontage of the end of the Dzong, rather than the main sides and the larger buildings. You can get some good shots of the Dzong from the south, on the eastern side of the river, but this does mean you get a narrower angle on the fortress again.

Photograph Punakha Dzong from the West Bank of the Mo Chhu

The West Bank of the Mo Chhu is the best side for getting a good shot of the Dzong taken from the south, as you get a great view across the river, with the hills framing the Dzong and the Bazam Bridge in the background. Depending on where along the riverbank you set up, you can choose the best angle for the shot you are looking for. Ideally, take shots all along the bank, moving south to north, and you will have some amazing photos to choose from.

Focus on the Bazam Bridge that you have to Cross to Enter Punakha Dzong

Originally a wooden-roofed cantilever bridge, the Bazam Bridge that you see today is a reconstruction of the original, which was washed away by floods in 1958. The new bridge, which was constructed between 2006 and 2008, had to span a wider river, reaching now 55 meters because of the flood washing away some of the riverbank in 1958. While it may be relatively new, the modern Bazam Bridge is a perfect wooden reconstruction of the original, and makes for an amazing shot in front of the Dzong.

Focus on the Details of Punakha Dzong

Punakha Dzong is filled with intricate details in the paneling and walls of the buildings. The roofs are edges beautifully with red woodwork, and prayer wheels can be found all around the outer edge of the Dzong, for the pilgrims to spin as they perform the ritual kora around the fortress.

Tip 4. Focus on the Monks of the Temple

The Dzong was the second of its kind to be built in Bhutan, and is the winter home to the Dratshang, the official monastic body. The Dzong has housed monks from the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism for almost 400 years, and is still home for monks of the order to this day. However, if you intend to get shots of the monks, then you will need to get their permission first. It is not permitted to photograph the monks without their permission.

Tip 5. Attend a Traditional Festival Held at Punakha Dzong

Punakha Dzong is one of the traditional sites for popular Bhutan festival tours, and is known to host the popular Punakha Drubchen, as well as the renowned Tshechu.

Punakha Drubchen

Held on the days just before the traditional New Year celebrations, the Drubchen festival is a celebration of the history of the Punakha Dzong, from its original construction to modern times. A festival of culture, it is a great time to get some colorful photos of the monastery and the festivities.

Punakha Tshechu

One of the most popular Tshechus in the country, the Punakha Tshechu is normally held right after the Drubchen. The festival celebrates the life of Guru Rinpoche, known elsewhere as the Indian master Padmasambhava. The main attraction is the unveiling of a giant Thongdroel, like a Tibetan thangka painting, which depicts one of the many faces of Guru Rinpoche.

Conclusion

Punakha Dzong is one of the most amazing sights in the kingdom, and is well worth spending some added time there to get some of the best possible shots. And if you can take your Bhutan tour at the time of the festivals, it is well worth staying a whole week, if you can, for the stupendous photo opportunities. However long you manage to stay for, you are guaranteed to get your best photos of this beautiful Dzong in the Land of the Thunder Dragon.