28 Places to Visit in THIMPHU
10 Best Restaurants in Thimphu of my choice namely Ambient Cafe, Zombala, Seasons Restaurant, Babesa Village Restaurant, Sinchula Indian Cuisine, ZaSa, Cloud 9 Gourmet Burger & Milk Bar, Lemon Grass, Thija Cafe and Gaga's Restaurant. The next question that comes to one's mind is ''what souvenir to purchase from Thimphu?". Some of the local famous things you can shop for here, are Bhutanese Handicrafts, Hand Woven Textiles, Gold Jewellery, Silver Jewellery, Himalayan Beads, Handmade Wooden Bowls, Cane Items, Bamboo Items, Wooden Products, Postal Stamps, Buddhist Sculptures, Buddhist Paintings, Thangkas, Colorful Masks, Carved Masks, Handmade Paper, Yatras - a colorful wool cloth strips, Traditional Swords and Bamboo Bows & Arrows.
How to Reach Thimphu?
Paro Airport is the Nearest Airport to Reach Thimphu. Paro is located around 51 kilometers from the tourist destination capital city. Druk Air operates daily flights from various destinations like Bangkok, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Gaya, Guwahati, Kathmandu, Dhaka and Changi to Paro.
28 Place of Interests in Thimphu:
The 28 Tourist Attractions in Thimphu are Paro Taktsang, Tashichho Dzong, Rinpung Dzong, Drukgyal Dzong, Fork Heritage Museum, Bhutan Textile Museum, Simply Bhutan, National Handicraft Emporium, National Textile Museum, Bhutan Postal Museum, Simtokha Dzong, Buddha Dordenma Statue, Motithang Takin Preserve, Kuenselphodrang, Changangkha Lhakhang, Memorial Chorten, Phajoding Monastery, Dechencholing Palace, Pangri Zampa Monastery, Clock Tower Square, Chagri Dorjeden Monastery, Buddha Dordenma, Nehru Wangchuck Cultural Centre, Tashichdzong View Point, Royal Botanical Garden, Dechenphodrang Chorten, Vast Art and Bhutan Organic Food.
PARO TAKTSANG or TAKTSANG PALPHUG MONASTERY or THE TIGER NEST TEMPLE is an Iconic Landmark and one of the Religious Centers. Paro Taktsang is located at an altitude of around 3,000 feet above the Paro Valley in the district of Paro. Little bit of Trekking Skills is required to reach this Heritage Site as one have to walk for minimum of two to three hours. It is believed that during the 8th century, the Buddhist Guru Padmasambhava was meditating in the Cave called ''Taktsang Senge Samdup Cave'' located in this divine place for 3 Years, 3 Months, 3 Weeks, 3 Days and 3 Hours. The Temple Complex was built in this place in the year 1962 and this place is devoted to Padmasambhava, also known as the ''Temple of the Guru with Eight Names''. There are four main temples and a residential house. Tashichho Dzong is a Sacred Place for Buddhist. Tashichho Dzong, also referred as Thimphu Dzong is located at Thimphu. Lama Gyalwa Lhanangpa was the first person to build this in the year 1216. In the year 1771, this place was destroyed due to fire and the King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk renovated this place in the year 1902. Tsechu is the Main Festival celebrated in this sacred place with full devotion and enthusiasm.
RINPUNG DZONG, a Buddhist Monastery is located at Para. This place follows Bhutanese Dzong style of architecture. The Shrines and Chapels inside Rinpung Dzong are Kungarwa, Monk's Assembly Hall, Sandalwood Stupa, Protector's Shrine, Guru's Eight Manifestations Temple known as Dzongkha, Chapel of the Head Lama, Chapel of Amitayus - a Celestial Buddha, The Clear Crystal Shrine, Chapel of the Eleven Faced Avolokitesvara, Abbot Apartments, Chapel of Akshobhya, Treasure Revealer Temple, King Gyalpoi Zimchung Apartments and Bursar Temple. Deyangkha Temple is located near the main entrance. Rinpung Monastery was built in the year 1644 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Main Festival celebrated here is The Tsechu Festival.
FORT HERITAGE MUSEUM is located in the district of Thimphu. Fort Heritage was opened for public on 28th July 2001. More than 150 years old collection pertaining to Ancient Culture and Life Style of Bhutanese, can be seen in this 3 floor museum. In the Ground Floor, there are three rooms. One of the rooms is stored with the items like Leather Bags, Pouches, Rug Sacks, Ropes, Hats, Saddles, Stirrups along with few odd items that are made of and belonging to animals. The second rooms is always the home for Pregnant Cows, Milking Cows and Sick Animals that needs special attention. Collections of Decomposed Leaves, Animal Wastes, Leaves from Paddy Straw, Leaves from Forest and agricultural Biomass are stored in the third room. You get the chance to see the collections that are used by ancient rural people like Water Propelled Stone Mill, Water Propelled Prayer Wheel, Hearth for Burning Incense and Fortress in the Entrance Hall. In the third floor, artifacts collections like Copper Spoon, Ladles, Spinning Wheel, Basket, Guard Salt Container that is wrapped with Bamboo, Stone Grinder, Containers made of Wood, Spice Mortar, Wooden Buck Wheat Noodle Machine, Swords, Sword Belts, Scarves, Musical Instruments, Betel Leaf, Nut, Lime Container, Cane Boxes covered with Leather, Brass Storing Box, War Weapons, Bhutanese Lute, Wooden Printings, Religious Printings on the Wall and many interesting items can be seen. Taking Photographs inside the museum is strictly prohibited and hence, the visitors should satisfy themselves by taking the pictures outside the museum. Also since many of the collections are very old and rare, visitors are advised not to touch any artifacts. Museum is open on all days other than national holidays.
BHUTAN TEXTILE MUSEUM, also referred as National Textile Museum, is located in the district of Thimphu. This monumental building was opened for public in the year 2001 and National Commission for Cultural Affairs is taking care of the day to day operations with full dedication. This places attracts several tourists from National as well as from International because of its unique collections on Antique Textile Artifacts which pertains exclusively of Bhutan. This was opened with an intention to promote the Textile Field and also to encourage local Textile Weavers to continue their work with further innovations, so that the History and Culture of the Nation gets promoted of its own. Display of artifacts is divided in to six categories like Achievements in Textile Arts, Textiles Roll in Religion, Textiles from Indigenous Fibers, The Royal Collection, Warp Pattern Weaves and Weft Pattern Weaves.
BHUTAN POSTAL MUSEUM is one of the muse see places, located in Thimphu. A wide collection of National stamps from ancients times can be seen. One of the attractions here is, visitors can get personalized stamps. Just click your or your loved ones photos and give it to them, you will get the personalized stamps with in just 10 minutes. Bhutan Postal Department is taking care of the daily operations. The collection of Postcards, Envelops and Stamps represent the Culture and Heritage of the Nation. Visitors to this place get the chance to know about the history of postal department. This place is open on all days.
SIMTOKHA DZONG, also known as SANGAK ZABDHON PHODRANG, was built in the year 1629 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Sangak Zabdhon Phodrang means The Palace of Secret Mantras. It is a Small Buddhist Monastery. It is one of the center to learn Dzongkha Language.
BUDDHA DORDENMA STATUE is located in the Bhutan Mountains. It is a Huge 169 feet Tall Shakyamuni Buddha Statue made of Bronze and coated with Gold. Buddha Dordenma Statue is one of the Largest Buddha Statues in the World. Beautiful Park was also opened in the year 2011, around the Buddha Statue. This park spreads across nearly 943 acres of forest area. One of the must visit religious as well as a historic place, hence never miss to see during your visit to this city.
MOTITHANG TAKIN Preserve is a must visit Wild Life Reserve Area located in the district of Motithang. Once, it was a Mini Zoo, but later this place was converted in to the Reserve Area to preserve the Animals. This was decided on 25th November 2005. One of the attractions is the presence of Takin or Budorcas Taxicolor Whitei. Animals enjoy the stay in around 9,800 feet of forest area.
MEMORIAL CHORTEN, also referred as the MEMORIAL STUPA, was built in the year 1974. It was built to honor Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. Memorial Chorten is an important landmark in Thimphu and it is well known for Golden Spires and Bells. It is also one of the most visited religious landmarks in entire country. Main Festival celebrated here is The Monlam Prayer Festival. Devotees Recite Prayers and Whirl the Large Red Prayer Wheels in this monastery.
THE CLOCK TOWER consists of Four Traditional Clocks facing on all four directions. There are no match for the art works that are seen on the clocks, its simply amazing with beautiful Carvings and Colorful Paintings. There are several shops and restaurants located around the clock tower. Clock Tower is located at an altitude of 2319 meters.
LAMPELRI ROYAL BOTANICAL PARK is Bhutan's First Botanical Park. It is located at an elevation of 6,890 feet and it spread across 47 square kilometer. More than 46 species of trees can be seen like Oak, Magnolia and Birch Trees are found in Rhododendron Garden that is located in this place. More than 115 species of Animals like Monal Pheasants, Blood Pheasants, Musk Deer, Tiger, Leopard, Red Panda and Leopard Cat are found in this Botanical Park.
Surprising 20 Facts about Thimphu:
There are No Traffic Lights in the entire City. It is the only Capital City in the World with no Traffic Lights. Thimphu is the Home for Bhutanese Art, Culture, Tradition and Architecture. Buddhism is their way of life. It is one of the best place to enjoy Hiking, Trekking, River Rafting and Wild Life Tours. Religious festivals are celebrated in Monastery with Allegorical Plays, Dance and Music. Few of the famous personalities from this place are Queen Jetsun Pema, Passang Tshering, Nima Sangay, Chencho Nio, Hari Gurung, Dorji Dema, Kunzang Choden and Yeshey Dorji. Cham Dances, the Popular Mask Dance is performed during Tshechu, an Important Festival. By Altitude, Thimphu is the World's Fourth Highest Capital. Literature, Religion, Customs, National Dress Code, Monastic Practices, Music, Dance and Media reflects the Beautiful Culture of Bhutan. ''Jigme Dorji Wangchuck'', The Druk Gyalpo (The King of Bhutan) officially declared Thimphu as the Capital for his Kingdom. Though Tourism Industry is one of the major contributors to this Country's Economy, they strictly maintain a balance between The Tradition, Development and Modernization. Bhutan's most Important Government Buildings are located in Thimphu namely The National Assembly and The Dechencholing Palace - an Official Residence of the King. Since 1998, Construction in Thimphu follows the Urban Development Plan in order to to protect the Ecology of the Valley.
It is unusual to see a city with No Airport. The Tashichho Dzong (Fortress of the Glorious Region), is the Most Eminent Landmark. Ancient Bhutanese Architectural Styles can be seen in Monasteries, Dzongs, Chortens, Gateways, Royal Palaces and Lhakhangs. The Oldest Surviving Monument is the Simtokha Dzong (Palace of the Secret Mantras), which was built in the year 1629. 12th Century Paintings, an important Bhutanese Artifacts are found in the Palace of Great Bliss or Dechen Phrodrang. Clock Tower Square is an Important Check Point for the famous SAARC Car Rally. Ancient Dzonghka and Tibetan Texts can be seen the National Library which was built in the year 1967. The Kilu Music School and the Himalayan School of Music were opened mainly to Promote Music in Bhutan. Textiles, Paintings, Sculptures, Paper Making, Wood Carving, Sword Making, Boot Making, Bamboo Craft, Bow & Arrow Making and Jewelry are the Arts & Crafts produced in Thimphu.
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