Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan, and also the name of the surrounding valley and dzongkhag, the Thimphu District. Tashichoedzong, the fortress monastery on the northern edge of the city, built in the 17th century, has been the seat of Bhutan's government since 1952.

The city sprawls across the western slopes of the Wang Chhu river valley, with a government quarter centered at Tashichoedzong. Rapid expansion following the pattern of rural exodus has resulted in considerable rebuilding in the city centre and mushrooming suburban development elsewhere.

Thimphu has a growing number of commercial services and offices which provide for ever-growing local needs. The city is surrounded by forests which make the city look even greener. With on going construction for the 2008 celebrations of 100 years of Monarchy and Bhutan's transition to Parliamentary Democracy, more and more construction is seen throughout Thimphu.

Thimphu is the only national capital in Asia that does not have traffic lights. When local authorities installed a set of lights, people complained that they were too impersonal. The authorities gave in, and took them down. Instead of traffic lights, the city takes pride in its traffic police that directs the oncoming traffic with their dance-like movement of their arms and hands.

Places of Interest

Tashichhoedzong hosts a colourful masked-dance festival at the end of summer, which is popular with tourists. A new Tsechhu ground is said to be constructed that can take in the capacity of both tourists and the locals as well.

The Memorial Chhorten dominates the skyline of Thimphu. This Chorten is dedicated to the Third King), Jigme Dorji Wangchuck after his sudden death while travelling abroad. A great amount of renovation is taking place for the 2008 celebration to mark the Century of the Monarch in Bhutan.

The National Library is built in the style of a traditional temple contains a large collection of religious books and manuscripts in Dzongkha and Classical Tibetan and a collection of English-language books. It also contains a copy of the largest published book in the world.

The Buddha Dordenma Statue, the largest Buddha Statue in the world, is under construction on a mountain top called Kuensel Phodrang, overlooking the city. The statue will be finished on 2008.

The Clock Tower Square is a recently renovated square surrounded by shops and restaurants. Fountains and traditional Bhutanese Mani Lhalhor (prayer wheels) make the place more comfortable. Various programmes and activities are held here.

The National Folk Heritage Museum displays traditional Bhutanese ways of life in a traditional Bhutanese house. It is an interesting view in to Bhutanese culture and domestic lives of the Bhutanese. There is also Bhutanses Dances and exhibits that are held in the Museum Compound.

The National Institute for Zorig Chhusum is a training institute that trains students in the thirteen traditional arts known as the Zorig Chhusum. Many visitors take time to look at the works and arts and even watch how a piece is made.

School of Arts and Crafts, commonly known as the painting school, offers an eight year course on Bhutanese Traditional Arts. Visit to the school can be arranged for the tourists where you can look into various classrooms and see the students follow a comprehensive course that start with drawing and progresses through painting, wood carving and statue making.

The Royal Academy of Performing Arts was established in 1967 and it provides formal trainning for masked dancers. It is also a means to preserve the folk dancing heritage of the country. The Professional Dancers from this school perform several of the dances at the Thimphu Tsechu.

The National Institute of Traditional Medicine contains an impressive, large laboratory and production facilities that ensures quality of the products, the components of which includes plants, minerals, animal parts, precious metals and gems. The Institution produces traditional Bhutanese medicine towards the needs of the public. There is a day-care facility and clinic where doctors diagnose patients and prescribe appropriate medicines or treatments. The institute also researches the use of herbs and plants and has a plot (trial) on the premises. A small museum and a gift shop (where the famous herbal tea -Tsheringma- is produced) are also present in its compounds.