This calm Bhutanese capital sits in a mountain valley beneath the grand Thimphu Dzong fortress. Traditional houses, street markets, and Buddhist temples line its winding streets.
Thimphu sits at 7,000 feet in the Himalayas, the world's only capital without traffic lights. Walk past the 51-meter Buddha Dordenma statue, watch monks in crimson robes heading to morning prayers at Tashichho Dzong, join elderly residents spinning prayer wheels at the Memorial Chorten, or browse through red chilies and yak cheese at the weekend market. The capital's streets wind between traditional architecture and modern buildings, while prayer flags flutter across the valley.
Getting to Thimphu
You'll arrive at Paro International Airport, 54 kilometers from Thimphu. The one-hour drive follows mountain roads past pine forests and riverside villages. Take a taxi or pre-arranged hotel transfer from the airport.
Main Religious Sites
The white walls of Tashichho Dzong rise above the Wang Chhu river at the northern end of the city. This 350-year-old fortress contains government offices, the throne room, and houses the central monk body during summer. The Buddha Dordenma, a massive bronze and gold statue, holds 125,000 smaller Buddha statues within its walls. Each morning at the Memorial Chorten, you'll see local residents walking clockwise around the white-walled shrine, spinning prayer wheels and reciting mantras.
Markets and Shopping
From Thursday through Sunday, the weekend market becomes the city's social center. Villagers sell dried fish, hand-woven textiles, and local produce. Browse crafts on the upper level, or explore the lower level's stalls of Bhutan's red rice and chilies. The nearby Craft Bazaar sells traditional items like prayer wheels, thangka paintings, and wooden masks used in religious festivals.
Arts and Culture
Watch students practice traditional performances at the Royal Academy of Performing Arts, where they learn masked dances, folk songs, and religious ceremonies. The National Institute for Zorig Chusum teaches Bhutan's 13 decorative arts. Visit during morning workshops to see students practicing thangka painting, woodcarving, and other traditional crafts.
Nature Areas
Walk through the Motithang Takin Preserve to spot takins - unusual goat-antelopes with thick necks and rounded snouts - in their mountain environment. Blue pine forests grow around the preserve, and walking trails lead to valley viewpoints. Several hiking paths start from the city center and extend into the surrounding hills, passing stone chortens and meditation caves.
