While guides checked their charges in with immigration, we took the opportunity to photograph the smiling schoolchildren crossing the bridge on their way home from school.  Welcome to Punakha

Wangdi Dzong sits on a strategic ridge above the town with the same name.  The dzong controlled the routes to Trongsa, Punakha, Dagana, and Thimpu making  its ruler the third most powerful in the country.   The slopes up to the Dzong were planted with cacti to deter invaders from creeping up on the fort

In preparation for visiting the Dzong Bhim dons his kabney.  An addition to the national dress required when visiting a dzong, a major temple or in the presence of a high ranking official.  Male commoners wear a white shawl  from left shoulder to opposite hip.  It is intricately tied and although we were shown how to do it several times it remained a mystery.   The King, elected officials and government ministers, each wear their own coloured kabney.   Women wear a rachu, a narrow embroidered scarf draped over their left shoulder to visit Dzongs etc

Wangdi was built in the seventeenth century as were most of those we visited.  However it hasn't suffered major devastation since a fire in 1837 and an earthquake in 1897

I really enjoyed visiting this dzong, there  were so many things to catch the eye, these decorated panels, this little courtyard  and a rooster who took his guard duties very seriously

I think Wangdi  was my favourite Dzong its history is felt more keenly than at others we visited and I notice a fire extinguisher on hand in the courtyard above.   But my favourite thing about Wangdi was the presence of dozens of young novices. Appropriate in a Dzong named for Wangdi  a little boy found making sand castles by the river below the site chosen for the new dzong

A monk in a nearby building was swinging what looked like a cat o' nine tails to summon the novices.  I thought they were late for prayers but apparently it was supper they were scampering to.  They converged on a building and emerged a short time later clutching bundles of rice.  Within minutes they had disappeared 

After dinner comes the chores, the same the world over