Thimphu, one of the twenty districts and the capital of Bhutan, is 50km east of Paro International Airport. It takes a little over an hour to reach Thimphu by road (the only mode of transportation from Paro to Thimphu). You can either go by taxi, bus or pre-booked transportation (we would recommend you reserve your transportation beforehand, because there might be chances of overcharging especially by taxi drivers as Bhutanese taxis do not use the meter system.
Some of the recommendations and the places in Thimphu you must visit during your stay in the capital are as follows:
1. Kuensel Phodrang
Kuensel Phodrang is also popularly called by the locals as Buddha Point because of the huge statue of Shakyamuni Buddha (Buddha Dordenma) that sits on the hill. The bronze statue, which is painted in gold, is 169 feet (51.5 meters) tall and houses one hundred thousand smaller Buddha statues. It was constructed to celebrate the 60th birth anniversary of the fourth king Jigme Singye Wangchuck. Its construction started in 2006 and concluded in 2016. The Buddha Dordenma statue is a part of the Kuensel Phodrang National Park which conserves 943.4 acres of the forest area around it.
There is a paved road till the Buddha Point, but you can also choose to hike or cycle or walk to reach the summit. One can enjoy the panoramic view of southern part of Thimphu valley from Kuensel Phodrang and take beautiful pictures and selfies with south Thimphu valley as the backdrop. Early morning visits help earn good pictures. The weather is most favorable in the morning and in the evening.
Entry Fees:
Adults – Nu.1000 (about $12)
Above 5 but below 18 years – Nu.500 (about $6)
No charge for below 5 years
Note: Make sure to take snacks if you think you are going be hungry or crave something, because there are no shops near Buddha Point but also take care of your waste.
2. Dochula
One of the exciting things about traveling across different places in Bhutan is the existence of mountain passes, where most people stop for a little while to enjoy the mountainous view around them, take pictures and eat or drink.
Located at a height of 3100 meters above sea level and 30km away from Thimphu, Dochula Pass is one of the first mountains passes one come across while traveling to the east from Thimphu. It is known for 108 memorial stupas built by Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. The anuual Druk Wangyel Festival is also held in Dochula. It is one of the top spots visited by the tourists. On clear sky days, one is able to see the various snow-peaked mountains ranges in the northern part of Bhutan and if your vision is good, you will also notice settlement in Gasa (a district in the north). The best times to visit Dochula Pass are from March to May and September to November. There are no entry fees to visit this place and two cafes nearby.
3. Memorial Choerten
The Memorial Choerten is located on Doebum Lam in Thimphu, just across and ahead of Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital. It was built in 1974, in memory of the third King of Bhutan Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and is one of the most active religious places in Bhutan, where people come to circumambulate and relax. The Choerten has detailed paintings and a lot of Buddha statues. The best time to visit is in the morning and in the evening. It is open for 24 hours.
Entry fees:
Adults – Nu.1000 (about $12)
Above 5 but below 18 years – Nu.500 (about $6)
No charge for below 5 years
4. Motithang Takin Preserve
Takin is the national animal of Bhutan and because of their habitat, they are only found in Arunachal Pradesh in India and in northern parts of Bhutan. However, if you visit the Takin Preserve at Motithang, you will be able to witness takins in their natural habitat. The Motithang Takin Preserve covers 8.4 acres of area. Alongside takins, one can also see other few endangered wild animals found in Bhutan.
The Preserve is open from 9AM to 4PM.
The entry fee is Nu.200 (about $2.5)
5. Folk Heritage Museum
It is a 3-storey traditional Bhutanese Museum located in Kawajangsa, Thimphu. The Folk Heritage Museum was established on 28th July 2001 to connect people visiting the museum to the rich cultural heritage and rural history of Bhutan through the exhibition of household artifacts. The house is more than 150 years old and was constructed with mud and wood structures (timber as the main material to be specific) and shows how Bhutanese houses were used in the past. One can see barn in the ground floor, store in the first floor and common dining and living area in the second floor. It is a must visit place in Thimphu if you want to experience a typical Bhutanese rural life.
The museum is open from 9AM to 5PM.
The admission fee is Nu.200 (about $2.5)
6. Tashichho Dzong
Tashichho Dzong, the main centre of administration in Thimphu district, houses the room of the throne, secretariats, other offices of the king and home and finance ministry offices. It also serves as a monastery where people visit to offer their prayers on religious occasions. It lies in the western banks of Wangchhu and is surrounded by paddy fields.
Tashichho Dzong is a typical example of a Bhutanese architecture in the form of fortress and monastery. Make sure to visit the dzong and its surroundings to enjoy the Bhutanese architecture that dates back to 1772. The best time to visit the dzong is during the annual Tshechu festivals which are usually held in months of September and October. One will be able to witness various mask dances and if you like it, dress in extravagant Bhutanese dresses.
Entry fees:
Adults – Nu.1000 (about $12)
Above 5 but below 18 years – Nu.500 (about $6)
No charge for below 5 years
7. National Institute of Traditional Medicine
Location: Kawajangsa, Thimphu
The National Institute of Traditional Medicine is located near the Folk Heritage Museum. It is an institute which uses traditional medicines and methods to treat patients. The institute owns a library from 1616 that contains traditional medical recipes from the Buddhist background. The traditional medicines are manufactured in laboratories from minerals, medicinal herbs, and parts of animals. It treats about 100,000 people a year, exhibiting its successful treatment. If you are health conscious and want to know about your health from traditional point of view, visiting the National Institute of Traditional Medicine might just do it. It is open from 9AM to 5PM on weekdays and on Saturdays, it is open from 9AM to 1PM. It remains closed on Sundays.
It also has a museum which exhibits ingredients used for treatment and the ones used to make medicines such as herbs, minerals, gems, animal parts and precious metal and gems.
8. Simtokha Dzong
Location: Simtokha, Thimphu
Simtokha comes from the word ‘sinmo’ (demoness), ‘do’ (stone) and ‘kha’ (on) which translates to English as ‘on top of a demoness.’ Dzong means ‘Temple Fortress’. Simtokha Dzong is the first Dzong that was built in Bhutan in 1629 (17th century) by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, the one who solidified Bhutan. It showcases a typical Bhutanese castle/fortress architecture like Tashichho Dzong and is the leading Dzongkha (Bhutan’s national language) language center in Bhutan.
It also houses the room used by Jigme Namgyel, the one that reunified Bhutan and father of the first king of Bhutan Ugyen Wangchuck. If you visit Simtokha Dzong, you would be able to witness the room and the bedding set used by Jigme Namgyel which remains untouched even to this day. The altar defies the inability of human beings to construct huge statues and creativity in Buddhist architecture despite the absence of technology. The Dzong also houses other important religious statues and paintings of great Buddhist figures and deities.
It is a must visit place in Thimphu and if you are looking into visiting it, morning visits are recommended.
Entry fees:
Adults – Nu.1000 (about $12)
Above 5 but below 18 years – Nu.500 (about $6)
No charge for below 5 years
9. National Institute of Zorig Chusum
Location: Kawajangsa, Thimphu
Working hours: Monday – Friday (9:00AM – 4:30PM)
Entry Fee: Nu.100 (about $1.2)
Zorig Chusum is translated as ‘zorig’ which means ‘art’ and ‘chusum’ which means the number ‘13’ in Bhutanese language. It is also otherwise called as ‘the painting school’ and specializes in teaching the 13 traditional arts of Bhutan to its students. The 13 traditional arts of Bhutan are painting, carpentry, carving, sculpture, casting, blacksmith, bamboo and cane craft, gold and silver smithing, weaving, embroidery, masonry, leather works and paper making. The institute preserves Bhutan’s ancient art and is a place worth the visit as one can witness the wonderful Bhutanese art and also buy handmade things from the souvenir shop of the institute.
10. Royal Botanical Garden
Location: Serbithang, Thimphu
Visiting Hours: Monday – Saturday (9:00AM – 5:00PM)
Entry Fee: Nu.100 (about $1.2)
The Royal Botanical Garden covers an area of about 32 acres. It is a place where one can learn about and witness different species of plants (it has a collection of more than 800 species of native plants). Besides, it is a good recreational site to either rest and relax or walk around while observing and learning about different types of plants. It also has a Children Park for your children to hang out and play while you are resting. Most locals visit the botanical garden on weekends. It is also a good place to take pictures among the flowers and plants.