Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
Anchoring a high northern ridge above the Mo Chhu river, Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten was built over an eight-and-a-half-year period by Her Majesty Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck. Consecrated in 1999 to ward off negative forces and foster world peace, this four-story pagoda-style stupa is an extraordinary showcase of master Bhutanese craftsmanship, drawn strictly from Buddhist scriptural teachings rather than standard architectural blueprints.
The approach begins with an easy 45-minute uphill hike through pine forests and emerald-green terraced fields, crossing a suspension footbridge over the river. Inside the chorten, three vertical levels house complex, hand-sculpted clay statues of wrathful protector deities belonging to the Nyingma tradition. Climbing out onto the top-floor open rooftop terrace rewards hikers with the premier panoramic view of northern Punakha—a winding tapestry of turquoise river bends, golden farm hamlets, and forested mountain ridges.
