By air
Paro (PBH), ~1 h by road
Nepal & Bhutan · Bhutan
Thimphu, Bhutan
A capital without traffic lights
Getting there
Best time to visit
March to May and September to November — clear and mild
Don't miss
Buddha Dordenma
Tashichho Dzong
The Memorial Chorten
The Motithang takin preserve
Things to do
Buddha Dordenma
The weekend market
Archery matches
Tashichho Dzong at dusk
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Gerd Eichmann · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Layers
A quieter corner
The Folk Heritage Museum's farmhouse
Questions travellers ask
How far is Thimphu from Paro airport?
About 1 hour by road from Paro (PBH).
Is it true Thimphu has no traffic lights?
Yes, it's a capital without traffic lights.
What local experiences shouldn't I miss in Thimphu?
The weekend market, archery matches and Tashichho Dzong at dusk, plus Buddha Dordenma. For a quieter visit, see the Folk Heritage Museum's farmhouse.
What's on the menu in Thimphu?
Momos and ema datshi.
About Thimphu
- Mountains
- Riverside
Where it is
Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan, spread along the slopes of the Wang Chhu river valley in the west of the country at about 2,300 m, among forested Himalayan ridges.
History
Thimphu was a scatter of villages around Tashichho Dzong, which the Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal took over and rebuilt in the 17th century, until King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck made it the capital, officially in 1961, and rebuilt the dzong in the 1960s as the seat of government and of the central monastic body. The city has grown quickly since, under rules that keep its buildings in traditional Bhutanese style.
People
Thimphu's people come from all over Bhutan, and Dzongkha and English are its main languages, with Nepali and other languages also heard. Office workers and students wear the national dress, the gho for men and the kira for women, and archery, the national sport, draws crowds at weekend matches.
Known for
- Buddha Dordenma above the valley
- Tashichho Dzong
- The Memorial Chorten
- Takins at the Motithang preserve
- Archery matches and the weekend market
Did you know?
Thimphu is one of the few capital cities in the world without traffic lights: police officers direct traffic by hand from a pavilion at the main junction.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.