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Dochula Pass is the 3100m (10171ft) high mountain pass you will have to cross when travelling from Thimphu to the eastern part of Bhutan.
The pass offers an amazing 360-degree panoramic view of the Himalayas on a clear day. Something I was not lucky enough to experience.
But Dochula Pass is also famous for the 108 memorial stupas known as “Druk Wangyal Chortens” that is located on the top of the pass.
Some of the 108 chortens, or stupas in Tibetan, as seen from the parking lot.
Would be easy to play hide and seek here, and some Indian kid was actually doing that.
There’s a nice walkway around the Stupas.
On the top of the pass
The 108 memorial stupas were built in memory of the 108 Bhutanese soldiers who were killed in the 2003 battle against Indian rebels during the first ever operation “Operation all Clear” conducted by the Royal Bhutan Army.
Dochula Pass is today one of the most popular tourist destinations in Bhutan, especially since it’s located on the way between Thimphu and the old capital of Bhutan, Punakha. There’s also a small, clean and cozy restaurant near the pass.
As I was there it seemed like every single tourist stopped there for a lunch break.
The small restaurant at the top of Dochula Pass.
There’s also a small temple on the opposite side of the 108 Stupas, and up behind the small restaurant.
The temple which is actually a memorial to celebrate the 100 years of monarchy in Bhutanwas was built in 2008.
As in every other temple and monastery in Bhutan, you are strictly forbidden of taking photos inside the holy complex.
But this temple with the name Druk Wangyal Lhakhang, is decorated with a few paintings of the fourth king of Bhutan fighting the Indian rebels during “Operation All clear”.There´s also photos of monks with laptops and even a Druk Airplane on the wall inside the Temple.
The Druk Wangyal Lhakhang temple.
The 108 Stupas as seen from the Druk Wangyal Lhakhang temple.
The pass is pretty crowded most of the day. It closes down just before sunset, but the local traffic keeps on going past the Stupas all night.
The pass just before sunset, on a cloudy day.
The pass after sunset.
Additional information about Dochula Pass.
The pass is about 45min from Thimphu and about 2 and a half hour from Punakha. There’s a military checkpoint between Thimphu and the pass, where your guide needs to hand over a copy of your travel permit.
The road from the pass down to Punakha can get extremely muddy.
There is also an annual festival held on the pass on December 13 to celebrate the victory in the military “Operation All Clear”.
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Discover Dochula pass, the high mountain pass in Bhutan.
Discover dochula pass, the high mountain pass in Bhutan
Karma Phuntsho says
You have amazingly describe Bhutan’s great monument 108 stupa dochula. I love your writing, love from Bhutan
Tshering Dorji says
Good writings but definitely not in memory of 108 soldiers killed in flush out operation. The soldiers killed in 2003 was only 11 not even 36. The 108 stupas were built to celebrate the victory over insurgents.
Christian L. says
Hello..
Thanks for the information, I will update the post
John and Susan says
Great post. Following you now.
Sherab Tenzin says
The photos are wonderfully shot. But those 108 chortens, as you said, weren’t built in memory of 108 soldiers died. Indeed, the no of death was around 36 only. They were being built to celebrate victory of Bhutanese soldiers and bravery of K4 in leading the flush out activity.
Thanks
BHASKAR BOSE says
Yes. I also could not get the figure of 108. But why 108? 36 X 3 = 108. Were 3 stupas were built for each soldier?
Mike says
Love your
photos and commentary
Christopher says
Your pictures are incredible. I’m gonna add this to my to-go-to-list. Great post