Brief Background

Buddha Dordenma Statue overlooking Thimphu valley at Kuenselphodrang is of the biggest seating Buddha in the world. It measures 169 feet high. It’s a non-government project initiated by Lam Tsering Wangdi. And the major sponsors are from Hongkong and Singapore.  

The project is started in 2005 and the surrounding infrastructure developments are still not yet complete. The main buddha is all made of bronze and the material are all brought from China.

Inside Big Buddha

The Buddha statue is a hallow and there are temples inside. Its to be filled with 125,000 small buddha statues. 100,000 statues will be 8 inches tall and 25,000 will be 12 inches tall.

The main figure that you will see the Buddha Vairocana (Four Face Buddha) with 8 bodhisattvas surrounding it. And also you will see beautiful mandalas on the ceiling. And also the painting of 12 deeds of Buddha.   

Visitors Information

Open: Every day from 08:00 to 17:00 in summer and 08:00 to 16:00 in winter.

Lunch Break: 13-14 hrs

Dress Code: Need formal dress

Entry Fee: Nu. 1000 (Roughly USD 12)

Photography: Photography is allowed till courtyard

Brief Background

Jigme Dorji Wangchuk National Memorial Chorten was constructed by second queen Ashi Phuntsho Choden in 1972 and was completed in 1974.

The reason why she has constructed was, her son the Third King of Bhutan had 3 wishes that he wanted to fulfill in life. That’s he wants to make the body mind and speech of Buddhu. And for the body, he has sculpted 1000 buddha statue that’s found in Tashichoe Dzong and for speech, he has written Buddhist script with god.

Before he could accomplish the mind of Buddha he expired. So his mother Ashi Phuntsho Choden has constructed the stupa on behalf of her late son third king representing the mind of Buddha.

Unlike other memorial stupas this stupa does not contain anybody’s remains from the third king except for the portrait inside the stupa.

Inside Memorial Chorten

This is a busy place. You will see a lot of people circumambulating the stupa with the prayer beads in their hands. Most of the retired people come to this place the whole day. They circumambulate, prostrate, and pray to dedicate their latter part of life for spiritual.

And this stupa is 3 storied and it houses the 3 highest teachings in Vajrayana sect of Buddhism. That’s on the top floor its Gongdey teaching and on the middle floor it’s the Kagay teachi ng cycle and on the ground floor it’s the Phurpa (Vajrakyila). 

Visitors Information

Open: Every day from 08:00 to 17:00 in summer and 08:00 to 16:00 in winter.

Lunch Break: 13-14 hrs

Dress Code: Need formal dress

Entry Fee: Nu. 1000 (Roughly USD 12)

Photography: Photography is allowed till courtyard

Brief Background

At first it was started as a Takin (Budorcas Taxicolor) Zoo, but later it was changed to Preserve as the animal loses its freedom in Zoo. Takin is the National animal of Bhutan, and also one of the endangered mammal species. It’s only found across the Himalayas.

Takin is a unique animal having a head that resembles the goat and the body of the cow. And according to Bhutanese mythology, in the 15th century when Lam Drukpa Kuenley who is popularly known as Devine Madman, visited Bhutan and he wamt to show people some miracles. So he brought a cow and a goat for lunch and once they are done with lunch he has placed the head of the goat to the cow and commanded them to rise up and graze. So it stood up and started to graze and people say it’s the new creature on earth. 

Inside Takin Preserve

Basically it’s the Takin preserve, so you will see only Takin grazing the big preserve. But you can see some other animals such as sambar deer and gorals. Basically for other species, it serves as rehabilitation for those injured ones.

Since it’s a big preserve if you walk around you will be able to spot some birds too. The common birds that you can see are spotted nutcrackers, Dove, Laughing Thrush, etc. And also you will be able to see Himalayan Monal and Tragopan that are caged inside the preserve.   

Visitors Information

Open: Every day from 09:00 to 17:00 hrs .

Lunch Break: 13-14 hrs

Dress Code: No formal dress is required

Entry Fee: Nu. 300 (Roughly USD 4)

Photography: Photography is allowed.

Brief Background

Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan was instituted in May 2005 under the patronage ofHer Majesty Gyalyum (Queen Mother) Sangay Choden Wangchuck as a non-government, non-profit organization.

The RTA was registered as a Civil Society Organization in line with the Civil Society Organization’s Act of Bhutan 2007 on June.

Inside Royal Textile Acedemy

Royal Texrile Acedemy has Textile Museum and Weaving Center.

The textile museum consist of the short documentary about the different textiles of Bhutan, as different part of the country weaves different types of clothes. Of which Kisuthara from Lhuntse in east is the most expensive and intricate designed clothes for laddies. Whereas the Ai Kapur is the festive dress for gents. And also the central part of the country (Trongsa) is popular for weaving from the nettle yarns.

There are two gallaries and in then first gallery you will see the beautiful clothes on display as well as some of the clothes of our previous kings and queens too. The second gallery is the collections of diffrent dress from different part of the country including those ethinic groups from North East(Brokpas), North West and Southern part of the country. And also it show case the type of jwellaries and oranments that Bhutanese people use.

Visitors Information

Open: 09:00 to 14:00 hrs everyday but closes on Sunday.

Lunch Break: No lunch break

Dress Code: Need formal dress

Entry Fee: Nu. 250 (Roughly USD 3)

Photography: Photography is allowed till courtyard

Brief Background

The Folk Heritage Museum dedicates itself to connecting people with the rich Bhutanese Folk heritage and rural history through exhibits, demonstrations, educational programs, and documentation of Bhutanese rural life. The Museum will strive to disseminate the rich cultural heritage across generations by preserving it in different forms.  

It was inaugurated in 2001 under the patronage of Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo. 

Inside Folk Heritage Musuem

It is a very old 3 storeyed building with a small courtyard. You will be able to see some of the farming tools, cattle shed and also people brewing alcohol at the courtyard. The ground floor is also basically storage and cattle shed and also store some stuff that are needed to load a horse. On the middle floor, it’s the granary. People use to store their harvest on the first floor. On the top floor is where the family lives. They cook, dine, and sleep. Even the offering room is on the top floor.

If you want to dine differently than normal restaurants, there is a restaurant within the museum colony. You may like to at least try Bhutanese butter tea Suja and also the locally brewed alcoho ara.  

Visitors Information

Open: Every day from 09:00 to 17:00 hrs .

Lunch Break: 13-14 hrs

Dress Code: Formal dress is required

Entry Fee: Nu. 300 (Roughly USD 4)

Photography: Photography is allowed until courtyard.

Brief Background

It’s basically the vegetable market where people from neighboring villages come and sell their product.

Bhutan even imports vegetables from neighboring states of India too. This market is 2 storied and on the first floor, people are not allowed to sell any imported vegetables and it’s strictly restricted to local produce. And all the imported vegetables are sold on the ground floor. 

There is another extension towards Tashicho Dzong known as Ka Ja Throm which is also a veggies but there are also some food stalls and on weekends you can see some life music too.

Inside Centenary Farmers Market

You will see people selling different farm produce and also some imported vegetables and fruits. There is a different section for vegetables, Fruits, Cereals, Fish, Flowers etc. And there are also small restaurants within the market.

Since shopkeepers have a difficult time with the kids, this market has even a daycare within, so they can just drop their kids at the day care.

Visitors Information

Open: 09:00 to 20:00 hrs.

Lunch Break: No

Dress Code:No formal dress is required

Entry Fee: No

Photography: Photography is allowed.

Brief Background

Simtokha dzong is located about 6 km south of the main city. The full name of the dzong is called San-Nga-Zhabden-Phodrang, which means The Palace of Profound Tantric Teaching.

It is the first fortress constructed by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel and was constructed in 1629. In 1971 the dzong was restored by third desi Minjur Tempa.

Unlike other fortresses it does not have any administrative role, but it houses the monastic body. But in 1961 third king has converted into a center for traditional studies for lay students who would be trained as the Dzongkha teacher. Later it was converted into the Institute of language and Cultural Studies but now it shifted to Trongsa.

Inside Simtokha Dzong

Like most of the temples the entrances have a beautiful painting of four Guardian kings. Inside you will see the paintings of 16 arhats.

In the main shrine you will see a big buddha with two of his disciples and on the left and right of Buddha, you will see 8 Bodhisattvas. And they are Maitreya, Manjushri, Vajrapani, Avalokiteshvara, Samantabhadra, Kshitigarbha, Akashagarba, and Sarvanivarana Vishkambhini.

In the left shrine you will see the statue of Avalokiteshvara and on the right side is the Goenkhang, the temple of fearsome deity. 

Visitors Information

Open: Every day from 09:00 to 17:00 hrs .

Lunch Break: 13-14 hrs

Dress Code: Formal dress is required

Entry Fee: Nu. 1000 (Roughly USD 12)

Photography: Photography is allowed until courtyard.

Brief Background

Bhutan post in Thimphu has a wide range of stamp collections for those who like collecting stamps. And also if you are interested you can make a personalize stamps, that on the photo of your choice.

They also have a good collections of pos cards too if you want to buy for your self or post it for your love ones.

There is also a postal museum showing how the postal services had been change in course of time with modern development.

Visitors Information

Open: 09:00 to 170 hrs.

Lunch Break: No

Dress Code:No formal dress is required

Entry Fee: Entry fees is only for those who want to visit Museum.

Photography: Photography is allowed.