Home to around 100,000 people and located 1.5 hours away from Paro airport, Thimphu is Bhutan’s capital but still retains a small-town feel. The city embodies the compromise between tradition and development that the Kingdom has embraced. Here, mobile phones and social media coexist with prayer wheels, traditional clothing and Bhutanese architecture. Visitors have numerous choices for spending their time in this city, ranging from visits to dzongs and chortens, hikes up to Buddha Point (for sweeping views of the city), to exploring local markets and even a small wildlife reserve for the endemic takin (the national animal of Bhutan).
Takin National Reserve
The takin is an odd animal, half-antelope half-goat with the body of a massive bison, that is found only in the Eastern Himalayas. The shy mammals are not easy to spot in the wild, so this is your best chance to see them in the flesh. The original zoo was dismantled in the 1970s when the King decided having animals in captivity was not in accordance to Bhutan’s environmental strategies but then the zoo’s takins started roaming the streets of Thimphu begging for food. The solution was simple – bring back those takins to captivity and research their behaviour while trying to rehabilitate and return to the wild as many of them as possible.
Paper factory
The small Jungshi paper factory in Thimphu showcases traditional methods of making authentic Bhutanese paper known as Deh-sho. The factory retains the traditional methods of paper-making, from the treatment of bark all the way through to the final drying of paper. With methods that have been passed down through generations, the factory uses the bark of two tree species (the Daphne tree and Dhekap tree) and combines the trees’ pulp with natural floral and leaf patterns. In addition to beautiful paper stacks and stationery, the factory’s store also sells decorative rolls featuring dragons and other Bhutanese motifs.
Handicrafts and souvenirs
Thimphu is one of the best places in Bhutan to buy souvenirs. Head to the shops near the town’s center, and explore the workshops where artists are working on their latest masterpieces and bring back your very own detailed tangka painting, colourful silk textiles or hand-painted wooden masks of all sizes. Another great option is to look for traditional wooden darts at the weekend market. For a really personalized souvenir, head to the post office where your photo will be taken and printed on a one-of-a-kind post stamp that you can use on any postcards you want to send home.
Tip: For unique hand-made carpets with traditional patterns and motifs, the small carpet factories near Bumthang are your best bet. Similarly, the best hand-embroidered silk textile is best purchased directly from artists in Lhuntse.
Buddha Point
The 54-meter statue of the Buddha built on the site of the ruined palace of the thirteenth ruler of Bhutan sits atop the hill as if protecting the city. A short hike to the statue will reward you with the views over the city of Thimphu and the surrounding Himalayan hills.
Weekend market
There is no better place to experience local everyday life than in the weekend market (open Thursday to Sunday). Farmers from all over Bhutan come to Thimphu to sell their fresh produce. Wander around the stalls to find familiar food like rice, buckwheat and honey or test your taste buds with unique Himalayan spices and hot chili peppers. A cantilever bridge weighted down by rows of prayer flags, connects the weekend market with the handicraft market which sells modern and traditional clothes, amulets, wooden bowls and other small souvenirs (mostly lower-quality items geared towards tourists).
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