BHUTAN  |  Thimphu, Bhutan Travel Guide
Thursday, November 7, 2024
images

Thimphu, Bhutan

Thimphu, Bhutan (cc)
Photo:
 

Thimphu Travel Guide

Introduction

Thimphu is the seat of the last of the Himalayan kingdoms. It sits in splendid isolation in a long, high valley in the Himalayan foothills, closer to Tibet in its looks and feel and Buddhist underpinnings than to any place else. It is, however, distinctly Bhutanese in its customs and traditions, and its architecture and monuments. The city, in fact, is filled with characteristic Bhutanese structures with motif-adorned walls and decorated doorways, traditional Buddhist temples and stupas known as lhakhangs and chortens respectively, and striking and uniquely Himalayan fortresses called dzongs. There are monasteries and royal palaces here, both on the periphery of the city and in its midst, and an urban core where colorful prayer flags and prayer wheels are commonplace and where policemen direct traffic from their small, iconic, motif-decorated posts at the center of key intersections. There are hotels here that are a refreshing blend of traditional and modern Bhutan in their decor and ambiance, and restaurants where a plate full of grilled hot peppers is often served as an entrée. There are also a few good museums, artisan shops and emporiums selling locally-woven cloth, embroidery, wood carvings and Buddha statuettes, and lively produce markets that offer up a slice of authentic Bhutan. Ultimately, though, Thimphu is the most unlikely of all world capitals, and the only one with no traffic lights.

Location

Thimphu, capital of Bhutan, is situated in the Wang Chuu Valley, on the banks of the Wang Chuu river, in the Thimphu District in western Bhutan, at an elevation of 7,656 feet (2,320 m).

How to Get There

The best way to reach Thimphu when arriving from overseas is to fly into Paro, which has Bhutan's only international airport, then journey by bus, which takes approximately an hour, to Thimphu.

Sightseeing

Main Neighborhoods

  • Chubachu -

  • Hospital Area -

  • Changangkha -

  • Changzamthok -

  • Jungshina -

  • Kawangjangsa -

  • Langjupakha -

  • Motithang -

  • Sangyegang -

  • Yangchenphug -

  • Zamazingka -

  • Zilukha -

How to Get Around

Thimphu has a small and fairly compact core which can be explored on foot. For places farther out from central Thimphu, both buses and taxis – which have a set rate that is quite reasonable, usually within US$1 – are available.

Where to Party

Where to Eat

Where to Stay

Know Before You Go

  • Best Time to Visit: March-May and September-October
  • Cost Per Day: Nu11000-Nu16500 (US$200-US$300) - Prices fixed by government
  • Currency: Bhutanese Ngultrum BTN (US$1 ~ Nu55)
  • Electricity: 240V - 50Hz | Sockets: 2-pin Europlug, 3-prong British, 3-pin Indian plug
  • Phone Code: +975 2
  • Population: 80,000

Nearby Destinations

© Indian Chief Travel Guides

Last updated December 14, 2013
Posted in   Bhutan  |  Thimphu
Your rating: None Average: 5 (1 vote)
Explore the Destination
Amenities and Resources
  • No weather for this city
Trending Themes:

Guides to Popular Ski Resorts

  • Ischgl is a small mountain village turned hip ski resort, with massive appeal among the party-hearty young crowds. It is... Read More

  • Andorra la Vella is its own little world, and not just because it’s a 290-square-mile independent principality (a fifth the... Read More

  • Bariloche (officially San Carlos de Bariloche) is the place to be seen. It is to Argentina what Aspen is to the... Read More

  • Aspen is America's most famous ski resort. And that's an understatement. For, as a ski complex, Aspen is unsurpassed. Its... Read More

  • Zermatt is a small but glamorous mountain resort town, with a population of approximately 5,700. It is one of Switzerland's... Read More

  • St. Moritz is a glitzy, alpine resort town in the celebrated Engadin Valley of Switzerland, with huge notoriety as the... Read More

  • Lake Tahoe is the premier lake resort of America, and the largest alpine lake in all of North America. It is an absolutely... Read More

  • St. Anton, Sankt Anton am Arlberg in German, is Austria's premier ski-bum resort! It's actually a small village cum... Read More

  • Kitzbühel, a small, Tyrolian resort town in the Kitzbüheler Alps, comes with international renown and huge snob appeal, and... Read More

 

Copyright © 2010-2013 Indian Chief Travel Guides. Images tagged as (cc) are licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-SA license.