Thimphu

Thimphu is the capital and largest city of Bhutan, a country in South Asia. It became the capital in 1955, replacing the ancient city of Punakha. The city is located in a valley and sits at a very high altitude, making it one of the highest capitals in the world.

Thimphu is an important political and economic center for Bhutan. Many key government buildings are there, including the National Assembly and the king's official residence, Dechencholing Palace. The city's growth follows a special plan to protect the natural environment.

The culture of Bhutan shines brightly in Thimphu. People there follow traditional ways of life, including special clothing and customs. Each year, the city hosts the Tshechu festival, where colorful mask dances called Cham dances are performed.

History

Further information: History of Bhutan

Before 1960, Thimphu was made up of small villages in a valley. These villages included places like Motithang and Changangkha, which are now parts of the city. In 1885, a battle happened at what is now Changlimithang sports ground. This victory helped Ugyen Wangchuck, the first King of Bhutan, gain control of the country. The sports ground has always been important, hosting games like football and archery. The modern Changlimithang Stadium was built there in 1974.

Under the Wangchuck kings, Bhutan made many changes to improve life for its people. The third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, ended old unfair systems, gave out land to people, and made new laws. In 1952, it was decided to move the capital from Punakha to Thimphu. The fourth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, opened Bhutan to development with help from India. In 1961, Thimphu officially became the capital of Bhutan.

Bhutan joined international groups like the Colombo Plan and the United Nations in the following years. As more international groups and diplomats came to Thimphu, the city grew quickly.

The fourth king introduced a parliament in 1953 and later let the people choose their leaders. In 2005, he announced that he would pass control to his son, Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk. The new king was crowned in Thimphu in 2008, marking the start of a new government system focused on making people happy, known as Gross National Happiness, along with regular economic growth Gross National Product.

Geography and climate

Thimphu is in a narrow valley along the Raidāk River, also called the Thimphu River. The hills around the city are between 2,000 to 3,800 metres tall, but the city itself is between 2,248 and 2,648 metres above sea level. This height and climate helps decide where plants grow and where people live in the valley. The valley has few trees and stretches north and west. A bridge at the south end connects the two sides of the river.

The Raidāk River starts in the snow-covered mountains about 7,000 metres high. Smaller rivers flow from the Himalayan peaks and shape the valley. The valley has a steep ridge on the east and gentle slopes to the west. Because it faces away from the wind, the valley is drier, affecting the plants that grow there. The city has a climate with summer rains, sometimes with thunderstorms and heavy rain that can cause landslides. Winters are cold at night but milder during the day, and fog can sometimes make it hard to see. In spring, the weather can be windy with clearer, drier skies.

Demographics

In 2005, about 79,000 people lived in Thimphu. By 2011, the number grew to about 91,000 people.

Urban structure

Demkhongs

Changangkha

Changangkha is a western district, located between the Chubachu centre and Motithang to the west. It has the Changangkha Temple, one of the oldest temples in the Thimphu valley. The temple was founded by Phajo Drugom Zhigpo, the founder of the Drukpa Lineage in Bhutan. The temple has a statue, large prayer wheels, and sacred scriptures. A well-known incense factory is above the temple.

Changzamtok

Changzamtok is a southern district from the main centre. It is bordered by the Hospital Area to the west, and by Gongphel Lam and the Wang Chuu river to the east.

Chubachu

Chubachu is the central district. It is bounded by the Chubachu River to the north, the Wang Chuu River to the east, and Changangkha and Motithang to the west. Below Chubachu is the Centenary Farmers Market, which runs all week. The central road is Yanden Lam. The eastern road is Chogyal Lam, which runs along the banks of the Wang Chu.

Hospital Area

The Hospital Area is a central district of Thimphu. It contains the central roundabout, JDWR Hospital, and the Royal Bhutan Police headquarters. The Gongphel Lam road divides it from Changzamthok District.

Jungshina

Jungshina is a northern district. It contains the Wangduetse Gompa.

Kawangjangsa

Kawangjangsa is a western district, north of Motithang. The Institute of Traditional Medicine and the Folk Heritage Museum are here. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has its Bhutanese headquarters here.

Langjupakha

Langjupakha is a northeastern district of Thimphu. It contains the Royal Banquet Hall, SAARC building, and National Assembly.

The SAARCC building was built in the early 1990s for SAARC conferences. It is located across the Wang Chuu River. It now houses the Ministries of Planning and Foreign Affairs. The National Assembly meets here twice a year.

Motithang

Motithang is a north-western district of Thimphu. The Chubachu River divides the district from Kawajangsa to the north.

The area developed as a residential area in the 1980s, after the Motithang Hotel was built in 1974. The district has several state guest houses, a UNICEF station, and grocery stores. Schools include Motithang Higher Secondary School and Jigme Namgyal School.

There is also a takin wildlife sanctuary named Motithang Takin Preserve.

Sangyegang

Sangyegang is a western district, north of the Chubachu River. It has a telecom tower and a golf course.

Yangchenphug

Yangchenphug is an eastern district, across the Wang Chu River from the city centre. It contains the Lungten Zampa Middle School and Yangchenphug High School. The main road is Dechen Lam.

Zamazingka

Zamazingka is an eastern district, across the Wang Chu River from the city centre. The main road is Dechen Lam, which connects to Yangchenphug and leads to Paro.

Zilukha

Zilukha is a northern district. It contains the Drubthob Gonpa/Zilukha Nunnery and has a view of Tashi Chhoe Dzong. A golf course is in the district.

City planning

Thimphu became the capital of Bhutan in 1952 but was officially established as the capital in 1961. It started as a small group of houses near the Tashichhoe Dzong. The city has grown slowly along river banks and on high ground. Thimphu now has wide roads, banks, hotels, restaurants, and traditional dzongs, monasteries, and chortens.

The Thimphu Structure Plan is a modern urban development plan from 1998. It aims to protect the valley’s ecology, including rivers and forests. The plan was approved in 2003. An elected body, the Thimphu Municipal Corporation, is implementing the plan. The plan is estimated to cost more than $1 billion when finished. Funds come from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

The plan includes protecting the Tashichheo Dzong, Wang Chuu, streams, Green Hills, monasteries, temples, chortens, and prayer flags. Under a plan for 2027, much of the city will be pedestrian zones with walkways, plazas, and cafes. Parks and footpaths will be developed along riverfronts. Buildings will follow traditional Bhutanese architecture more strictly.

Urban expansion

Since becoming the capital, Thimphu has expanded. The city has a mix of apartment blocks, small family homes, and family-owned stores. All buildings must be designed in traditional style. A weekend market near the river sells meat, vegetables, and tourist items. Thimphu has commercial services and offices to meet local needs. Notable buildings include the Tashichho Dzong, the Memorial Chorten, Thimphu, and the National Assembly. The Dechencholing Palace, the King’s official residence, is north of the city.

Architecture

The buildings in Thimphu mix old Bhutanese styles with new, modern designs. Traditional structures include monasteries, dzongs (fortress-like buildings), and chortens (memorial towers). Important examples are the Tashichho Dzong, Tango Goempa, Cheri Goempa, the Memorial Chorten, Thimphu, Dechen Phodrang, and Changangkha Lhakhang. These buildings have a long history.

Newer buildings, built after 1962 when Thimphu became the capital, blend old and new styles. Examples include the National Institute for Zorig Chusum, National Library, National Assembly building, and many others. Homes in Thimphu also use traditional designs.

The Tashichho Dzong is a major landmark. It sits on the west bank of the Wang Chuu river and serves as both a religious and government building. It has been renovated many times after fires and earthquakes.

The Simtokha Dzong is the oldest surviving fortress-monastery in Bhutan, established in 1629. It now houses a school for learning the Dzongkha language.

The Dechen Phodrang monastery, north of Thimphu, was turned into a school for monks in 1971. It holds important old paintings and statues.

The Tango Monastery was founded in the 13th century and rebuilt in 1688. It is known for a special statue and is built like a dzong with a main tower.

The Cheri Monastery, established in 1620, is a major center for Buddhist learning and is located about 15 kilometres from Thimphu.

Construction is underway on the large Buddha Dordenma statue, which will be one of the tallest Buddha statues in the world. It is being built to honor the Bhutanese monarchy.

The Memorial Chorten in Thimphu was built in 1974 to honor the 3rd King of Bhutan. It has golden spires and bells and is a well-known landmark.

Other attractions

Thimphu has other interesting places such as the National Post Office, Clock Tower Square, and the Motithang Takin Preserve.

The National Post Office sells special stamps, and the Bhutan Postal Museum opened in 2015.

Clock Tower Square is a busy area with shops, restaurants, and fountains.

The Motithang Takin Preserve is a home for the takin, Bhutan's national animal. It was created because the takins would not leave the town after being released from a zoo.

Economy

Further information: Economy of Bhutan and Bhutanese ngultrum

Thimphu is the political and economic center of Bhutan. It is where the central government is located.

A market is held in the central square on weekends. This is when people can buy fresh fruit and vegetables. They buy other things from supermarkets during the week. The market sells yak butter, cheese, wooden bowls, fabrics, and some cheap souvenirs from Nepal. Behind the market, shops sell Chinese and Bangladeshi crockery, appliances, shoes, silks, and carpets.

The Loden Foundation, Bhutan's first charity, is based in Thimphu. It was set up in 2007 to help with education and learning in Bhutan and other Himalayan areas. It also works to share Bhutanese culture and religion with the world.

Tourism

When Bhutan began tourism in 1974, the government created the Tourism Corporation in Thimphu. This group organized tours to important cultural places in Bhutan, focusing on Buddhism, weaving, birds, nature, and trekking. In 1994, it became a private company called Bhutan Tourism Development Corporation. This company owns hotels and lodges in Bhutan and has its own cars and interpreters for tourists.

Thimphu does not have a busy night life, but more places for young people to visit are opening up.

The main street, Norzim Lam, has shops, small hotels, and restaurants. Important buildings near this street include the Bhutan Textile Museum, the National Library, Chang Lam Plaza, and the sports field. Near the main square is a clock with dragons, which is now used as an open-air theatre. There are also art and craft stores and the Tashi supermarket. In front of the old cinema is a Chinese restaurant and stores for trekking.

Drentoen Lam street is near the main street and has the post office, bank, government offices, and music stores. Doebum Lam road runs next to Norzim Lam and has the Chamber of Commerce, Department of Tourism, and Ministry of Trade buildings, along with some bakeries. In 2006, a new shopping area opened between Doebum Lam and Norzim Lam. This area includes the Zangdopelri shopping complex, the Phuntsho Pelri Hotel, and Seasons, an Italian restaurant.

Government and civic administration

As the capital of Bhutan, Thimphu has many important government buildings, including embassies and the National Assembly of Bhutan. The National Assembly has 47 members, who were elected in the first ever general elections in March 2008. Jigme Thinley's Druk Phuensum Tshogpa Party won most of the seats.

The city is run by the Thimphu Municipal Corporation (TMC), which was created in 1995 and became fully independent in 1999. The TMC is led by a mayor, called Thrompon in Bhutanese, who is chosen by the government. The corporation works with 17 people to help run the city, but sometimes struggles because it doesn’t have enough staff.

Thimphu has services like clean water, health care, and waste collection. Plans are in place to improve these services. Most people have access to clean water, but it doesn’t flow all the time. There are systems to collect and clean wastewater, but more work is needed to make sure every home has proper toilets. The city collects and disposes of waste, but the current waste site might not be enough in the future.

Law and order

Law and order in Thimphu and throughout the country are managed by the Royal Bhutan Police. This police force is part of the armed forces. The police help keep the peace, manage traffic, and prevent crime.

The police are led by a chief of police, who works under the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs. The main office of the police is in Thimphu. Police officers work in different areas, and Thimphu is in one of these areas. New police officers train at several centres across the country, including places near Gelephu and Chukha.

Health care

Main article: Health in Bhutan

Further information: National Referral Hospital (Thimphu) and Royal Institute of Health Sciences (Bhutan)

In Bhutan, all citizens get basic health care for free. There are no private clinics where people pay for care. Visitors can also get free medical help if they need it. The main health center in Thimphu is called the National Referral Hospital.

The National Referral Hospital opened in 1972 and is the biggest hospital in Bhutan. It offers free basic care and can do advanced surgeries and help with emergencies. The hospital has special machines like CT and MRI for checking health problems and has modern lab services. It also has a library with many books. This hospital is one of five places in Thimphu where people can get medical help.

The Institute of Traditional Medicine started in 1979 with help from the World Health Organization. It teaches and promotes Bhutan’s old ways of healing using herbs. This medicine comes from old Bhutanese and Tibetan medicine traditions and also some ideas from Indian medicine. The institute is on a hill above Thimphu and looks like a colorful wooden house. Scientists there study herbal mixtures and test new ways to help people’s health. One important herb they study is Cordyceps sinensis, which grows in Bhutan’s hills.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Bhutan

The culture of Bhutan is strong in Thimphu. You can see it in stories, religion, customs, clothes, music, dance, and more. Thimphu mixes new life with old Bhutanese Buddhist values.

Literature

Bhutan's old stories are kept in the National Library. These books use a special Bhutanese script from Tibetan writing. The library shows how books were printed on handmade paper long ago. Today, new books are written in English, with folk tales and short stories. One well-known writer is Kunzang Choeden.

Royal Academy of Performing Arts

The Royal Academy of Performing Arts in Thimphu began in 1954 by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. It helps keep Bhutan's dance and music traditions alive. The academy trains dancers in special Bhutanese dances, like mask dances, and folk dances. These dances are shown during the Thimphu Tsechu festival each year in the Tashichhoe Dzong.

National Library

The National Library, opened in 1967, looks like a traditional temple. It holds many old Bhutanese and Tibetan books and texts. The library is beautifully decorated and shows Bhutan's famous architecture. It even has a very heavy book that weighs 59 kilograms! The library also keeps old printing tools and shows models of important Bhutanese buildings.

Music

Further information: Music of Bhutan

Bhutan's music includes traditional styles like zhungdra and boedra, influenced by Buddhist music. Old instruments like the lingm (flute), dramnyen (lute), and chiwang (fiddle) are still used today. A newer style called Rigsar music, which mixes old Bhutanese tunes with modern instruments, is popular in Thimphu. Music schools in the city teach both traditional and modern music.

Cinema

There aren't many films made in Bhutan, but the ones that are made are getting better. Thimphu holds film awards to support local filmmakers. The Luger Cinema Hall in Thimphu shows movies from Bhutan, India, and sometimes other countries.

Thimphu Tsechu Festival

Further information: Tsechu

During the Thimphu Tsechu festival each autumn, dancers perform colorful mask dances in the Tashichhoe Dzong. These dances tell stories from Buddhist teachings and honor important figures. People dress in their finest clothes to watch these dances, which are both fun and meaningful.

Nightlife

Thimphu is starting to see more nightlife, with nightclubs offering good food, music, and entertainment.

Arts and crafts

Main article: Bhutanese art

Bhutan's arts and crafts, known as Zorig Chosum (the thirteen arts), include textiles, paintings, sculptures, and many other skills. Thimphu has places where you can see and buy these beautiful crafts.

National Institute of Zorig Chusum

The National Institute of Zorig Chusum teaches Bhutan's traditional arts. Students learn painting, wood carving, embroidery, and more over several years.

Handicrafts emporiums

Near the institute, a large shop sells handmade crafts, traditional clothes, and jewelry. Other shops in Thimphu offer paintings, masks, and antique items.

Folk Heritage Museum

The Folk Heritage Museum in Thimphu looks like an old Bhutanese farmhouse. It shows what life was like in the countryside long ago.

Voluntary Artists Studio

This studio helps young people in Thimphu learn traditional and modern art. Their artwork is sold in the studio's Art Shop Gallery.

National Textile Museum

The National Textile Museum shows Bhutan's beautiful traditional clothes and fabrics, including colorful kiras for women and ghos for men.

Religion

Vajrayana Buddhism is the state religion of Bhutan, and most people are part of the Drukpa group of Kagyu Buddhism. In southern Bhutan, many people follow Hinduism and are of Nepali ethnicity.

Thimphu has an important monastery with many monks. A leader called Je Khenpo spends time in Thimphu and Punakha. A group led by Je Khenpo looks after the National Memorial Chorten, along with Buddhist meditation centers and schools.

Education

Further information: Education in Bhutan

In the 1960s, roads were built in Thimphu. This happened because the Third King of Bhutan had gone to school himself. Before that, most children learned only in monasteries. A few went to Darjeeling for school. Today, all schools teach Dzongkha, Bhutan’s national language. Boys and girls can both go to school. Parents decide if their children go to school, but they do not have to pay for it. Now, schools reach every part of the country.

Thimphu has many schools and colleges. It has more private schools than anywhere else in Bhutan. The Department of Education watches over all schools. The National Training Authority runs three technical institutes. The Royal University of Bhutan, started in 2003, has several colleges. One is the Institute for Language and Culture Studies at Simtokha Dzong. Students learn about Bhutan’s language, culture, and traditions there. Another is the Royal Institute of Health Sciences, training nurses and healthcare workers. There is also the Royal Institute of Management, which helps managers with administrative and financial skills. Private schools and colleges have also opened in Thimphu and other parts of the country.

With help from the World Bank, a big IT Park is being planned in Thimphu. It will cover 50,000 square feet (4,600 m²) on 1,700 acres (690 ha) of land near Babesa. This park will have a place for new businesses, a shared technology space, and a data centre, but no factories. The project is a partnership between Thimphu Tech Park Pvt. Ltd., Assetz Property Group Pvt. Ltd. from Singapore, and Druk Holding & Investments Ltd. of Bhutan.

Transport

Roads

The roads in Thimphu are shaped by the city's landscape. Main roads, usually wide, run north to south, following the river. The most important road is called Norzin Lam. Smaller roads curve up the hills to homes. There are also paths for walking to shops and the Wang Chu River. Getting into the city from the south is through a narrow entry crossed by a wooden bridge. South of the bridge, the road goes to Paro, Punakha, Wangdue Phodrang, Tongsa, and other places. A new expressway has changed the valley, raising land prices, lowering travel costs, and offering more chances for growth in the south.

Bhutan Transport Corporation runs buses from Siliguri in India, which is the closest train station along with nearby New Jalpaiguri. It takes about four hours to reach Phuentsholing, and from there, buses go to Thimphu each day. Taxis are also available.

Thimphu is special because, like Ngerulmud in Palau, it is one of the two capital cities in the world without traffic lights. Even though some traffic lights were put up, they were taken down before they could be used. Instead, traffic police guide cars and buses by moving their arms in a dance-like way. City buses run all day, and there are plans to add tram services soon.

Air

Thimphu’s international airport is Paro Airport, about 54 kilometres (34 miles) away by road. Druk Air used to have its main office in Thimphu but now only has a branch there. Druk Air is one of only two airlines flying into Bhutan, apart from special flights by Buddha Air. It connects Bhutan to the rest of the world, helping both the Bhutanese people and growing tourism. Recently, Tashi Air started as a new private airline in Bhutan.

Sports

The Bhutan Olympic Committee began in November 1983, with the King of Bhutan as its leader, and its office is in Thimphu. Bhutan joined the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles for the first time, with six archers from the country. Since then, Bhutan has sent archers to every Summer Olympics, but they have never competed in the Winter Olympics or won a medal.

Archery, called datse, is Bhutan's national sport. People play it with both old-style bows and arrows and newer methods at the Changlimithang Sports and Archery Stadium in Thimphu. Archery is very important to Bhutan’s culture. All tournaments start with a special ceremony. Women watch in beautiful clothes and cheer for their favourite teams. Men stand near the target and joke with the players if they miss. The targets are placed 140 metres apart. Winning teams celebrate with songs and dances. Archery is managed by the Bhutan Archery Federation.

Monks cannot join archery games, so they play daygo, a sport where they throw flat stones like a discus. Another stone-throwing game called pungdo, similar to shot put, is also popular. There is also a game called Khuru, or the local dart game, played with short targets and darts made from wood and chicken feathers.

Thimphu’s national stadium hosts many modern sports such as football, basketball, golf, Kwon do, squash, and cricket. Thimphu has 12 cricket teams and two small golf courses. The Royal Thimphu Golf Course was created in 1971 by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk.

Changlimithang Stadium

Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu is the National Stadium. It was built in 1974 to celebrate the coronation of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. It could hold 10,000 people at first, but it was rebuilt in 2007 to hold 25,000 for important celebrations. The stadium covers about 11 hectares and is used for many sports and events. It has hosted many archery tournaments with both modern and traditional bows. It is also used for other activities, and a film called "The Other Final" was made there about a special football match between Bhutan and Montserrat.

Media

Main article: Media of Bhutan

The Bhutan Broadcasting Service began in 1973 as a radio service, sharing news on short wave and the FM band in Thimphu. It is run by the Government of Bhutan. In 1999, television and satellite channels started during a ceremony for the new king. Bhutan was the last country to begin television. Soon after, cable television was added as part of the king's plan to update the country.

Kuensel started in Thimphu in 1965 as a government update sheet. It grew into a national weekly paper in 1986 and was the only newspaper in Bhutan until 2006 when two more papers, Bhutan Times and Bhutan Observer, began. Kuensel, once owned by the government, became its own company in 1992. It prints in English, Nepali, and Dzongkha.

A new private radio station, Radio Valley FM at 99.9, has also started broadcasting in Thimphu, joining older stations BBS and Kuzoo FM.