Places to Visit in Thimphu City

Built in the memory of the third Druk Gyalpo (Head of Kingdom) of Bhutan, the National Memorial Chorten is devoted to World Peace. The Chorten started gaining popularity amongst the localities when various major Buddhist religious festivals started taking place at the Chorten and it is one of the best places to see in Thimphu Bhutan. The word “Chorten” literally translates to “Seat of Faith”, and the structure itself has become an important part of the Bhutanese culture. You can spot various Buddhists circumambulating around the Chorten all throughout the day. The Memorial also attracts a lot of tourists from around the world due to its architectural and deep connection with Bhutan’s rich culture.

Situated well within the capital city Thimphu. the Stupa was initially built in the year 1974 and thereafter, witnessed a massive renovation in the year 2008. The Chorten is also famous as the “most visible religious structure of Bhutan.” 

Unlike other traditional Stupas, this monument does not enshrine any of the human remains. It holds only one photo of Druk Gyalpo in traditional Bhutanese dress in the massive hall on the ground floor.

Dechen Phodrang Monastery, located in the north part of Thimphu. The meaning of Dechen Phodrang is “Palace of Great Bliss”. For the people who are interested in history and paintings, the monastery has paintings that date back to the 12th century and it is one of the amazing places to see in Thimpu.

The monastery also houses a statue of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, who was popularly called the ‘Bearded Lama". Since 1971, the Dechen Phodrang Monastery is a monastic school where around 300 monks seek education. Located in the north end of Thimphu, Dechen Phodrang is situated on the site of a 12th century dzong. 

For the animal lovers who want to see the diverse wildlife of Bhutan, Motithang Takin Preserve is one of the places to visit in Thimphu. The Motithang Takin Preserve was built as a small zoo but later it was converted to an animal preserve center. The national animal of Bhutan, Takin lives in the Motithang Takin Preserve. With many places to see in Thimphu, Motithang Takin Preserve distinguishes from other places.

With animals like the red pans and the rare Himalayan serow living in it, the reserve is one of a kind among all the places to see in Thimphu.

Location: Motithang, Thimphu

Highlights: A perfect way to capture endangered species as photographers are allowed to click pictures of the wilds from close proximity. This preserve is most suitable for wildlife enthusiasts.

Timings: Early mornings are perfect to spot and capture Takins as that is the hour they come out;

Price: 30 BTN for SAARC nationals & 50 BTN other foreign tourists

Simply Bhutan is a living museum that is a successful initiative to conserve the culture and traditions of Bhutan. The majestic infrastructure of this museum is an epitome of ancient Bhutanese architecture, which lost its essence in the modernization era. Apart from its aim of preservation of the rich culture of Bhutan, this project was also aimed at creating employment for many people.

The museum is abode to distinct astonishing things that would leave one awestruck. It houses the old equipment that were once used by the ancient Bhutanese for distinct works. Traditional cooking wares and old styled kitchen offers one excellent knowledge about the lifestyle of people in Bhutan from decades.This museum itself is created with the reuse of old timber, door and window frames that were once a part of ancient and traditional demolished houses.

Every visitor at this place is greeted with a shot of rice spirit called local arra. Once the exploration of the museum is done, the visitors are guided through the mocked-up village scenes to get them acquainted with the story of its several parts. One can get their pictures clicked in the traditional attire of Bhutan while strolling here. Visitors also try out a hand at archery and sing some classic songs with the Bhutanese women as they carry out their daily chores.

The weekend market in Thimphu is a great place for shopaholics who are travelling to Bhutan. It is a great market where you can get an extensive variety of local goods and souvenirs, making it a must-visit places in Thimpu. This market is situated on the north side of Changlimithang Stadium, on the Western Bank of the Wang Chu river and it runs every Friday to Sunday. The vendors from all parts of Bhutan flock to this market every week to provide the people with supplies. Starting from Thursday, the marker buzzes till Sunday night with hundreds of visitors. Not only shopping, but the Weekend Market in Thimphu is also a place for socializing for a lot of people.

In this market, tourists will find a wide range of products and items that hail from all parts of Bhutan and the neighbouring territories. From exotic handicrafts to delicious food items, you will get them all under one roof. There are different sections in the market, each of them dealing with a certain category of products. For instance, if you want to shop for aromatic products, then head to the incense area.

Some of the most popular products that people tend to buy here include dried fish, oranges, soft cheese and wild honey. All these food items are fresh and locally produced which makes them absolutely authentic. Other commodities include products and accessories that the people require on a daily basis at their home.

Among the  places to visit in Thimphu, Tango Goemba is one of the oldest places. Tango Monastery is located close to the scenic mountains of Cheri in the north part of Thimphu district. The Tango Goemba is one of the holiest places in Bhutan where many saints meditated for months. The foundation of this monastery was laid way back in the 12th century. 

Tango Goemba is one of the largest Thimphu tourist attractions. Many international tourists visit the place to embrace the legendary history of the kingdom of Bhutan. The annual Yarney festival attracts monks from all around the country. The festival lasts for more than a month and follow the buddhist sacred vows.

Location: Thimphu Valley, Thimphu 

Price: Free