Chukha District
Bhutan's commercial and hydropower hub
Chukha District is Bhutan's commercial and hydropower hub, home to the Chukha Hydropower Dam, one of the country's largest, and to Phuentsholing, the busy border town where most overland travellers enter Bhutan from India. Hydropower exports to India are a major part of Bhutan's economy, and Chukha's dams anchor much of that industry.
For travellers entering Bhutan overland rather than flying into Paro, Chukha and Phuentsholing are the first stop before the road climbs toward Thimphu.
Curated Experiences
Our journeys in Bhutan.
Popular Attractions
3 places
Culture
People & Culture
Phuentsholing's position on the Indian border has made it Bhutan's most ethnically and commercially mixed town, with a large trading community and daily cross-border movement. The Kharbandi Monastery, on a hillside above the town, offers a quieter Buddhist counterpoint to Phuentsholing's bustle.
Activities
Things to Do
Cross the border at Phuentsholing, Bhutan's main overland gateway
Watch Chhukha Tshechu, the district's three-day festival of masked dances at Chhukha Dzong in Tsimasham (19 to 21 October 2026); read our Chhukha Tshechu 2026 guide
Visit the Chukha Hydropower Dam
Visit Kharbandi Monastery
Travel Information
Best Time to Visit
October–March
Other Districts in Western Bhutan
Stories from Chukha District
All guides