Bhutan’s capital city is Thimphu, often spelled Thimbu. It is the largest city of Bhutan. The city extends along the western side of the valley where the Raidak River sets up in a north-south direction. India and Bhutan are separated by a 699-kilometer long border.
The capital of Thimphu is a unique place in the world with a little more than 100,000 residents, in a tiny town. Roughly 150 thousand people are living in the entire Thimphu district. In 1961, the city was designated as Bhutan’s capital. Thimphu is situated at an elevation of roughly 8,000 feet on the western side of the Wang Chu River, often known as Thimphu Chu, locally (the Chu means River in the local language). Today, it is a thriving town on the Thimphu Chu’s bank that is magnificently situated in the valley’s hills.
Orientation
Along the Thimphu Chu River, the Thimphu valley extends from south to north. The city’s breadth is generally less than a kilometer, and its length is roughly 15 km. All main hotels and administrative buildings are within a 5- to 10-minute drive from the clock tower which is the town’s focal point.
The main road that passes by the clock tower is called Nordzim Lam; a parallel road named Doeboom Lam is about 100 meters up the slope, and Chang Lam is about 50 meters down on the opposite side. These three nearly parallel roads are connected by many lanes. There is only one way for cars to travel on the Chang Lam and Nordzim Lam.
The majority of the Bhutan’s capital tourist attractions are located in or close to its center. Most of the time, it takes a few minutes to drive from one tourist destination to the other. The majority of stores are located on the main Nordzim Lam or the several lanes and streets.
Food
Thimphu has the widest selection of meals in comparison to other Bhutanese towns. In Bhutan’s capital, nearly all hotels provide restaurants, and there are several eateries in the main town. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food is typically available at restaurants but pure vegetarian dining options are also severely limited. The majority of eateries provide non-vegetarian cuisine that includes beef, pork, and chicken. Halal food is also rare.
Most upscale restaurants and hotels serve continental cuisine. The majority of hotels and restaurants in this capital city of Bhutan serve Indian cuisine. Country cheese is frequently used in the preparation of mushroom and chili meals here.
The most well-known food in this country is undoubted “Ema Datshi,” Bhutanese cuisine. Most foreigners would find it to be quite spicy because it is made with cheese and chilies. Here, red rice is a common food. Popular chicken dishes include “Jasha Maru.”
People and Culture
Bhutan’s government strictly follows a unified culture and dress code. Bhutanese people are proud of their traditional customs and attire. Despite the people’s apparent consistency, Thimphu is the most incredible city in Bhutan. People with Nepalese heritage make up a significant portion of the population in Thimphu, and it’s common to see migrant workers from India working in the construction industry. The Ngalop people are those who control affairs and rule the society and economy of the country.
It is safe to dress like a tourist in collared shirts, ideally with long sleeves removing headwear when entering Dzong and places of worship. It is not permitted to wear shorts or half-pants inside temples, monasteries, or Dzong. Although alcohol is readily available, you shouldn’t enter a place of worship after drinking.
Walking on the streets is safer in this country because. There is no light signal in Thimphu, making it a unique capital that still relies on human traffic signaling.
Reaching Thimphu
The Paro international airport serves Bhutan’s capital because it lacks a dedicated airport. The distance of 55 kilometers and the travel duration between Paro Airport and Thimphu Town are around one hour. The airport in Paro is connected to those in Kolkata, Delhi, Bagdogra, Kathmandu, Nepal, and Bangkok, Thailand. There are just two airlines that fly out of Paro airport: Druk Airline and Bhutan Airline.
Distance from Thimphu to other locations
| Location | Distance | Time |
| Thimphu -> Paro | 65km | 1 hour |
| Thimphu -> Phuentsholing | 180km | 5 hours |
| Thimphu – > Punakha | 80km | 3 hours |
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