A Bhutanese dzong beside a river nestled among green hills at dusk

Punakha

1,250 mWestern Bhutan

The ancient capital in a warm river valley, crowned by what many call the most beautiful dzong in the Himalayas.

Punakha served as Bhutan's capital until the 1950s, and Punakha Dzong remains the winter home of the monastic body — a white-and-gold fortress at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers.

The valley's lower altitude brings rice paddies, orange trees and subtropical light, with gentle walks to Chimi Lhakhang through farmland and villages.