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Bali
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Thimphu Trips & Tours
Thimphu
Many parts of Bhutan feel like an otherwordly, glorious paradox, and perhaps none more so than the capital city, Thimphu. Surrounded by forested mountains and spread out along the Raidāk River, it was barely more than a village when the King declared it the face of ‘new’ Bhutan in 1961 and it exploded into life. Today, it’s slowly modernising and you’ll spot the famous ‘traffic light’ policeman alongside cool cafes and restaurants, shops selling handmade paper and traditional arrows alongside cellphone credit, and red-robed monks sipping lattes. We recommend wandering the crooked streets to the Textile Museum, Folk Heritage Museum and the National Library, before heading to the Tashichho Dzong, the seat of Bhutan’s government and royal offices – and completely nail-free! Then, hike to Cheri Goemba, the first monastery in the country, to complete a rather eccentric but lovely stay.
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Bhutan’s capital city is packed to the hilt with history, which you can get acquainted with on visits to the Textile Museum, Folk Heritage Museum, National Library and the centuries-old Tashichho Dzong, which was built without using a single nail. Get to know Thimphu from a local perspective as you browse shops selling handmade paper and traditional arrows, and even watch some of the country’s finest bowmen perfecting their aim. As is the case with most of Bhutan’s towns, there are dozens of beautiful temples to marvel at and witness sacred Buddhist traditions, and on hikes into the surrounding countryside, you can visit the famous 51-metre-tall Buddha Dordenma.
Paying a visit to the Changlimithang Stadium to watch the bowmen practise their archery skills. It’s the country’s national sport and an impressive sight and there’s usually a good dose of ritualistic singing and dancing (when they hit target, of course).
We’ve got a couple of insider's tips here. Head into the valley and ogle at the gigantic, 51-metre tall Buddha Dordenma – and leave time to count all 125,000 mini Buddhas inside – and visit the weekend market for organic produce and other, er, unusual delicacies…
Compared to Bhutan’s bucolic countryside, Thimphu is a thumping, pumping city; in anyone else’s book, it’s little more than a small town! It’s a fascinating insight into contemporary Bhutanese culture and a welcome respite in a rural itinerary, but hustling and bustling it is not.
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