Elevation 2,300m | Drive time 01 hours
Thimphu being the capital, it is most populace city in Bhutan, the Royal family and all government headquarters are concentrated in Thimphu. On the way we will visit Tamchhog Zam (Iron Bridge), the bridge is made of iron chain and the materials are from 15 century.
Memorial Chorten
It is a monument is built in 1974 as the memory of the Third King of Bhutan and to World Peace.Visitors will find elderly Bhutanese people circumambulating the Chorten throughout the day.Chorten literally means ‘Seat of Faith’ and Buddhists often call such monuments, the ‘Mind of Buddha’. The chorten is an extraordinary example of Buddhist architecture and artwork with its gorgeous paintings and intricate sculptures.The chorten is a large white structure crowned with a golden spire. It is located close to the center of Thimphu city and is one of its most iconic monuments.
Handmade Paper Factory
The Jungshi handmade paper factory uses traditional methods to produce the authentic Bhutanese paper known as Deh-sho. The factory uses the bark of two tree species, the Daphne tree and Dhekap tree in the manufacture of traditional paper. Visitors can observe the entire process of producing handmade paper using ancient traditional methods that have been practiced for generations. You can even try your hand at this ancient craft and make some paper of your very own as a souvenir. Deh-sho paper was originally used for woodblock and manuscript books and also for writing prayer books. The Jungshi paper factory continues to preserve and promote this age-old Bhutanese tradition. It also produces various other products, such as stationery and greeting cards.
Trashi Chhoe Dzong
‘Fortress of glorious religion” constructed in 1641 and restored in 1960s. It’s the office of His Majesty the King and the secretariat, and houses two ministries and other offices.
The coronation of the present King took place in this fortress in 2008. The Dzong is open for tourist only after 5:00 PM on working days and weekend it is open all day long.
Weekend Market
Starts around noon on Friday and ends on Sunday afternoon and It resembles the farmers market in the west. However since there are no big super markets, Thimphu’s weekend market is the main source of fresh produce. It is an interesting place to visit, where village people jostle with well-heeled Thimphu residents for best and cheapest vegetables and other food products.