Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan, set in a wooded valley at 2,350m altitude. It is the country's main city, with growing urbanisation. Though it modernises year by year, it retains all its character. Thimphu has many sites worth visiting, including the national museum, perched above the city's dzong. The Thimphu festival is a three-day spectacle, and the Tashichho dzong lit up at night is a striking sight. Amid the landscape, you'll notice the Memorial Chorten, where pilgrims gather daily for prayer. Don't miss Thimphu's century-old market, the country's largest food market, where locals stroll about in traditional dress. At Changlimithang Stadium, watch Bhutanese archers practise the national sport. For those interested in medicinal plants, visit the National Institute of Traditional Medicine. Thimphu is also an opportunity to visit a traditional paper factory, a Thangka school, or a painting school teaching traditional arts, located just below the dzong.
