9 Interesting Facts about Thimphu

The Glimpses of Bhutan Tour is wonderful experience in exploring various interesting facts about the country itself and its superb capital – Thimphu.

Most of the world travelers who make Bhutan Tour undergo through the experiences of magical legends, breathtaking scenery, unspoiled land, uniquely crafted architecture and probably the gentlest people on earth. In making Bhutan Cultural Tour, travelers will be at such place where the true meaning of cultural authenticity blossom. Governed in isolation for centuries, it is a world in its own guarded from modernization and uncontrolled tourism.

In a dream to see the deeper folds of Bhutanese age-old culture, why not embark for Bhutan Insight Tour and get the dreams come true in visiting Thimphu, the capital of mysterious country. Thimphu is situated at a height of over 7600 feet on a hillside in a fertile valley on the banks of the Thimphu Chhu River.

Here are the top 9 interesting facts about Thimphu – perhaps the smallest capital in the world.

1. One interesting fact about Thimphu is that it is the only world capital without any traffic lights. For most part of its history, Bhutan has tried consciously to save its culture from the blunt influences of modernity. So is the situation of Thimphu as well.
2. Thimphu is a store house of traditional Bhutanese art, architecture, culture, and tradition and above all still so ethnic and pure. The wooden houses stand side by side with concrete buildings, all painted and constructed in traditional Bhutanese styles.
3. Thimphu too enjoys in Buddhism. Buddhism as the supreme religion and a way of life was introduced in Bhutan in 8th century when Indian Buddhist monk Padmasambhava (Guru Rimpoche) came to Bhutan and established many monasteries.
4. Entire region around Thimphu has excellent trekking routes of different levels giving ample opportunities for hiking, trekking, river rafting, and wildlife excursions. The various tourist attractions in Thimphu are Tashicho Dzong, Simtokha Dzong and Stupa.
5. The father of present king Jigme Singye Wangchuck became the fourth monarch in 1974 and his coronation ceremony saw the entry of foreign media for the first time in Thimphu.
6. Most of the festivals (Tsechus) in Thimphu have some or other connection with Buddhism. These festivals are celebrated in the Dzongs with dances, music, and religious allegorical plays. Some of the important festivals include Bhutanese New Year, Buddha Parinirvana and Birthday of Guru Padmasambhava, first sermon of Buddha and Yar Nyidlok, Blessed Rainy Day, Thimphu Domchey, and Nine Evils Day.
7. Thimphu offers a wide range of products to the tourists to take back home as souvenirs. The shops in Thimphu sell tea, horseshoes, cooking oil and cloth fabrics. The Handicrafts Emporium displays a wide variety of hand woven and crafted products like papier-mache masks, prayer wheels, decorative motifs, silk-screened handmade paper, rings and ornaments, and woven wool or silk clothes, precious stones and postage stamps.
8. Thimphu includes a lot of religious structures that have been constructed here above the centuries and these consist of the Changangkha Lhakhang temple that was built inside the 15th century, the Zanghtoperi Lhakhang temple which was constructed sometime within the 1960s and also the Nationwide Memorial Chorten which was produced to commemorate the third king in the Kingdom of Bhutan. Other places of interest in Thimphu include museums such as the National Folk Heritage Museum plus the Textile museum, parks such as the Takin Preserve and the Botanical Gardens of Serbithang.
9. The most enjoyable experience of being in Thimphu is to taking strolls around the streets. Hordes of villagers sell vegetables, red chillies, traditional Bhutanese masks, and carpets. On the streets, traditional dress remains the preferred attire and the local languages Dzongkha and Sharchop can be heard. Native Dzong-style architectural features still grace every building and Buddhism colors just about every aspect of life.