Thimphu Travel Guide & Tips

Weather in Thimphu: Thimphu enjoys a more or less pleasant temperate climate throughout the summer months till the monsoons come knocking. The spring season during March, April and May is the best time to visit Thimphu. This is when the sun starts to get warmer, and the famous rhododendrons start blooming. The average temperature in Thimphu during summer, as per any Thimphu travel guide is 25°C. After summer comes the heavy showers of the south-west monsoon, which make it difficult to travel around. But monsoon is followed by the clear skies of autumn and the chill of winter, which are also perfect times to visit Thimphu. In winter, the temperature does go below 0°C, but it is not unbearable.

Nightlife in Thimphu: It might be difficult to assume from the outside, but Thimphu has a happening nightlife scene. If a Thimphu map is consulted, there are quite a few nightclubs, bars and pubs to enjoy the night time in the city. Space 34, Club Ace, Mojo Park and Vivacity are the hip places of the town where the youth gather to party the night away. Mojo Park among these has a different ambiance. They play quality live music instead of in-house DJs and give platforms to local artists and bands. If partying is not your thing, the weekend market and the various cultural programs are there as well, which reflect the history and heritage of Bhutan.

Food in Thimphu: Bhutan has a very distinct palate which is an acquired taste. But the many restaurants and eateries in Thimphu make sure that the tourists have a good glimpse into what their country has to offer, culinary-wise. A reading of the Thimphu city map should point out the best restaurants in the neighborhood. Make sure to taste Bhutan’s special Ema Datshi – a spicy stew of cheese and chilies and Ara – the soul-warming alcohol made from distilled rice.

Shopping in Thimphu: The shopping scenario of Thimphu is rooted in tradition rather than commercialization. There are some malls and places for hawker markets in Thimphu, but those are not the places which get the tourist crowd. The main attractions are the shops which sell indigenous products like handicrafts, hand-woven textiles, thangkas, Buddhist figurines and prayer wheels and so on. People mostly trust the government emporiums for these type of things, and Thimphu has a couple of them. Other than that, there are a few shops which maintain their standard and their price as well.

Festivals in Thimphu: The most prominent festival of the capital city is the Thimphu Tshechu. It takes place for 3-4 days in the autumn season. Tshechu festivals are a celebration of the Bhutanese culture and Thimphu makes sure its festivities live up to the position of a country capital. Though originally it is a religious event in sentiment, the colors, music and brilliantly captivating performances make it a sort of a celebration of life.