Thimphu Map

About city :

Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan – a small kingdom lying to the south of the Himalayas in South Asia. The city is based on agriculture and livestock and tourism is strictly regulated. Most of the official buildings of the country are located in Thimphu. The city has recently undergone massive facelifts. It is now an intriguing mixture of the modern and the traditional. It is a capital city without traffic lights where gesticulating policemen still direct the traffic. It is relaxed and friendly and welcomes tourists warmly.

A small settlement existed in the site of the city for many centuries. In 1952, decision was taken to shift the capital of the country from Punakha to Thimphu and it became official in 1961. It has an approximate population of 100,000 in  2010.

Geography :

Thimphu occupies a picturesque location amidst the Himalayas. It is located on the west bank of the river called Thimphu Chuu (Chuu means river). It is located at an altitude of 7656 ft. though there is considerable variation in height within the city itself. It is longitudinal, stretching along the river. The city is contained in the Thimphu valley formed by the Thimphu Chuu. Thimphu is located on the leeward side of the mountains. As a result, though moist monsoon winds blow over this region, the capital receives less rainfall and has a colder climate and has developed coniferous vegetation.

The city enjoys subtropical highland climate influenced by the monsoons. May to September is the wet season while snow is common in winter.

How to reach (transport) :

Unlike most of the capital cities of the world, Thimphu does not have its own airport. The international airport is located at Paro and most people arrive here from where buses and taxis can take you to Thimpu after driving for about an hour.

In addition to the flights, Thimphu can be reached by road. The border town at Phuentsholing is about 6 hours drive away and the road has been recently reconstructed to accommodate the traffic.

When to visit :

If you are planning to visit Thimphu, you should aim at avoiding the wet season as well as the season of the snow. Hence, the best time to visit Thimphu is from middle of September to end of October and from March to May.

Culture (fairs and festivals) and traditions :

A strong traditional flavor can be identified in the culture of Thimphu. Though elements of modernity have been introduced, literature, religion, music, dress and monastic traditions of the country are ably reflected in the capital city. The complete lack of any traffic lights in the city is an adequate testimony to the fact how much the Bhutanese adhere to their values. After all, this is the only capital city in the world where the single traffic light had to be removed on public protest. The traditional and ethnic Bhutanese art, architecture and culture are beautifully represented in Thimphu.

Several festivals are celebrated in Thimphu. Most of them are connected with Buddhism. Here are some of them:

• The Thimphu Tsechu is celebrated to honor the birthday of Guru Rinpoche who introduced Buddhism in the country in 8th century. It is celebrated in the courtyard of Tashichho Dzonmg. Folk dance, dance of religious significance and religious plays and songs are performed. The festival is celebrated on 10th day of a month, but the month varies.
• Thimphu Drubchen is another colorful festival celebrated in the city from 30th September to 14thOctober. Colorful dances, often with masks are performed to ward off evil. Bhutanese ladies dance amidst the onlookers. Clowns called Atsaras also entertain the crowd.
• The Dochula Druk Wangyel festival is celebrated on 13th December every year to mark the victory of the Bhutanese force over Indian insurgents. The festival celebrates Bhutanese culture and traditions at the Dochula Pass located about 22 kms from Thimphu. This is one of the most picturesque locations in the country.
• The Bhutanese New Year is also celebrated with much ceremony in January or February in Thimphu.

Points of interest (places to visit) :

The city of Thimphu is full of tourist attractions. Some of them are as follows:

• Visit the Memorial chorten which was established to honor the third king of Bhutan who is regarded as the father of modern Bhutan. The monument contains excellent example of traditional Bhutanese art and culture.
• The National Library with its rich collection of archaic texts, manuscripts and academic texts is another rich source of information about Bhutan.
• National Textile Museum is another important attraction of Thimphu. The various versions of royal crowns and costumes are on display here. In addition, it contains examples from six major themes in Bhutanese textile.
• You can visit the Junghi paper factory where you can see handmade paper being manufactured by traditional methods from the indigenous Daphne plants.
• The Trashichoedzong is one of the grandest sights where you also get a wonderful view of the Thimphu valley.

In addition to these, you should not forget to visit the crafts bazaar and the local markets to enjoy the true local flavor of Bhutan.

Accommodation :

You get a good choice of hotels in Thimphu so that you can enjoy your Bhutanese experience. The luxury hotels include Taj Tashi, Taj Tashi Bhutan. A number of moderate hotels are there. Some examples include Zey Zang, Jambayang resort, Dragon Roots, Galingka, Wang Chuk and many others.