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Thimphu
Capital and largest city of Bhutan

Thimphu

Thimphu is the capital and largest city of Bhutan.

Plan a trip to Thimphu→From Siliguri

It is situated in the western central part of Bhutan, and the surrounding valley is one of Bhutan's dzongkhags, the Thimphu District. The ancient capital city of Punakha was replaced by Thimphu as the capital in 1955, and in 1961 Thimphu was officially declared the capital of the Kingdom of Bhutan by the 3rd Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.

Get in

Getting to Thimphu

  1. 01
    Paro Airport
See

Worth seeing

Although lacking the charm and culture associated with ancient capitals, Thimphu has several attractions of note. A hefty entry fee is charged to all foreign nationals (including those with work permits or who are paying the daily tariff of US$100 to the government sustainable fund) at religious structures and buildings of national significance.

  1. 01
    Changangkha Lhakhang

    Constructed in the 15th century, this is one of the oldest temples in the Thimphu Valley, and is dedicated to Avalokiteshvara, the Buddhist emanation of compassion.

  2. 02
    Statue of Dordenna Buddha

    Sitting on top of Kuensel Phodrang hill is a 51.5-m bronze statue of Shakyamuni Buddha.

  3. 03
    Thangtong Dewachen Nunnery
  4. 04
    The National Memorial Chorten

    A good place to visit in the evening when the locals are doing their evening prayers.

  5. 05
    National Folk Heritage Museum

    A traditional house that showcases rural life.

  6. 06
    The Royal Textile Museum

    A display of exquisite Bhutanese textiles from the 1600s to the present day.

Do

Things to do

  1. 01
    Dhyana Thimphu Meditation Centre

    2F, Thimphu Plaza, Chang Lam, /77338224Phone with wrong format, Bhutan@dhyanzhitshok.org.

  2. 02
    Jigme Dorji Wangchuck Public Library

    National Library and Archives of Bhutan, Kawajangsa (left side), mobile).

  3. 03
    Snow Leopard Theatre Repertory

    Hong Market.

  4. 04
    The National Institute of Traditional Medicine

    A place to have any chronic ailments diagnosed and treated using herbal compounds.

  5. 05
    The National Library

    It houses a rare collection of Buddhist texts on the second floor, and there is a small selection of English books on Buddhism (mostly donated by Taiwan) and on Bhutan on the first floor.

Eat

Where to eat

Most restaurants (including those in 2- or 3-star hotels) in Thimphu stop serving food between 20:30 and 21:30. For information about restaurants in hotels, check the sleep section of this article. After 21:00, Norzin Lam plays host to street hawkers, selling some of the best thukpa (Bhutanese style noodle porridge) and momos (meat or veg filled steamed dumplings) in town.

  1. 01
    Zombala

    Kuka and pakoras are really good, Thupka is a bit bland.

  2. 02
    Birbi

    Doebum Lam (Next to Norkhil Hotel),.

  3. 03
    B.Taco

    Hejo (Next to Big Mart, opp the Indian Embassy.).

  4. 04
    Dim Sum Basket

    2F, Gaa-phel Shopping Center, Chorten Lam (below Le Meridien Hotel, opp Hotel 89).

  5. 05
    Hayate Ramen
How locals move

Getting around Thimphu the local way

  • Get aroundThere are shared taxis from the city bus station ('Bus Parking'), and the rate is around Nu35-40 to suburbs within a 20- to 30-min drive.
  • Go nextShared taxis are a quick and comfortable means to travel to nearby places, such as Paro (Nu 250) and Punakha (Nu 350) or even to Phuentsholing (Nu1,000) (as of February 2024).
  • Go nextShared taxis depart from the inter-district bus station, with drivers approaching potential passengers.
  • Go nextLocated about an hour's drive north of Thimphu, the trek begins from a prayer flag covered bridge and takes about one hour.
  • Go nextParo is a 45-minute to one-hour drive from the capital - an easy day trip.

From Wikivoyage: Thimphu, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.

Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see file page), Wikimedia Commons.