Here are some of the best places to visit in Thimphu. All of them are nearby locations, so it should not take long to get from one to another. Make sure to spend adequate time in each to truly appreciate their beauty.

1. Memorial Chorten

The chorten in the heart of the city was consecrated in the memory of the Third King of Bhutan after his sudden demise in 1974, hence ‘Memorial’ Chorten. This monument is of great importance to the people and thus a very popular Thimphu tourist attraction. A chorten is a Buddhist mausoleum, erected in the memory of someone very important or to Buddha himself. Inside the chorten, there are paintings, photographs and model statues related to Buddhism that are philosophical and spiritual in nature and provides an insight into the religion. Circumambulation of the chorten is a very common practice among the residents of Thimphu.

2. Institute of Zorig Chusum

If you go deeper into Bhutanese art and craft that they are so well known for, you will come across a term Zorig Chusum multiple times. The art and handicraft styles of Bhutan have been divided into 13 different categories, and together they are called Zorig Chusum. Thus the school for learning those artistic skills is also named the same. Graduating from the Zorig Chusum Institute is a big honor among the Bhutanese people. Although a school, parts of the institute is open to the public and it is one of the unique but rewarding tourist places in Thimphu. A visit to the Institute of Zorig Chusum includes witnessing the students learning skills like painting, mask making, wood carving, clay sculpting and more. There is also a gallery which sells the best creations of the students at reasonable prices. This gallery is the best place to buy thangkas in Bhutan.

3. Buddha Point or Kuensel Phodrang

Buddha Point is the common name for the 51.5 meter tall Buddha statue called Kuensel Phodrang. This is the largest statue of Buddha in the country. The unique thing about this statue is that its body is filled with 12500 smaller statues of the Lord himself. The calm, smiling face of Buddha can be seen from all the nearby places in the city. The Buddha Point is a happening Thimphu point of interest, and also acts as an urban center for walking, cycling, and jogging.

4. Takin Preserve

Takin is a unique animal of the goat-antelope family that is found only in the Eastern Himalayan Mountain regions. It is native to Bhutan, Nepal, China and upper parts of Myanmar. However, Bhutan is the country to have a separate preserve for them. The Takin Preserve is one of the satisfying Thimphu attractions, especially for the nature lovers, as it allows having a glimpse of an animal as rare as this.

5. Simply Bhutan

The list of Thimphu places to visit does not end without a visit to the Simply Bhutan. It is a Bhutanese village themed museum which supports the youth of Bhutan to have solid ground beneath their feet and a hopeful future. They work towards the preservation of the Bhutanese culture by strengthening the youth. The themed museum is the best among the Thimphu sightseeing places in terms of cultural richness. They also have artistic performances to tell the story of Bhutan’s past and present through music and dance.