Dochula Pass In Thimphu

History of Dochula Pass

Being located at this altitude, Dochula Pass temperature remains around 2°C to 8°C, varying throughout the daytime in summer. But in winter, the place is covered with a layer of white snow. The main attraction of Dochula Pass Thimphu is the memorial ground – a collection of 108 mausoleums called Druk Wangyal Khang Zhang Chortens. These were erected in 2004 in memory of the Bhutanese soldiers that lay down their lives for the country during the Operation All Clear fought in 2003 against some Indian rebel groups. The chortens are arranged in concentric circles on a patch of the green mound on the route. It is an important part of Dochula Pass history as well as the country.

Attractions of Dochula Pass

These chortens were consecrated by the Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. It is her husband, the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, under whose regime the battle was fought, and the victory was achieved. To honor him, and also to commemorate the centenary of the Bhutanese monarchy, there is a temple here at Dochula Pass Bhutan as well.

The Druk Wangyal Lhakhang Temple here, built in authentic Bhutanese architecture and embellished with themes and murals based on Bhutanese history, culture, and traditions. Inside, there are photographs of the martyrs, paintings of the royal Wangchuck dynasty, and other pictures of Bhutanese monks from the past and the present.

All these in Bhutan Dochula Pass are set against a beautiful, panoramic view of the snow-clad Eastern Himalayas, including Mt. Gangkar Puensum, the highest peak of Bhutan.

Festival of Dochula Pass

If one decides to visit Nepal and go to Punakha during the winter, say in December, they are in good luck. Every year on December 13, Dochula Druk Wangyel Tshechu (or festival) takes place in the green grounds of Dochula Pass. Bhutanese men and women in their traditional bright clothes and masks perform to folk music, and it is quite a sight to watch. This is not one of the original tsechus of Bhutan but was later created in 2011 to commemorate the fallen soldiers and other sacrifices of the operation.