Monastery · Buddhist
Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery
Punakha
A nunnery and college on a ridge above the Punakha valley, with a long view down the river.
Neighborhood
On the ridge above the Punakha valley
Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang stands along the top of a ridge above the Punakha valley, west of the river. It is a nunnery and a college for its residents, and it is modern work rather than a historic dzong or temple.
What to see
Two things bring people up: the buildings — a temple with carved and gilded work, and the quarters and classrooms strung out along the ridge — and the position, which gives an uninterrupted view down the valley and across to the terraced fields on the far side.
It is a place of study and residence for the nuns who live there, so the visit is a quiet one. Ask before photographing anyone.
Visiting
Half an hour to an hour, plus the drive: a narrow road climbs from the valley floor, and the last stretch is a short walk. It fits an afternoon in Punakha alongside Chimi Lhakhang or the suspension bridge, and it is at its best in clear late light.
Coda
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