Thimphu

Nestled in the low-lying greenery of the eastern Himalayan foothills, the city of Timphu derives much of its character from the surrounding valley that is its namesake. The central metropolitan area is accessible by only a handful of roads that wind and bend their way around the nearby cliffs and crags, adding a certain remote charm and isolated mystery to this city in the hills. Thimphu is also a relatively new city, and was only declared the capital in 1961, demonstrating a juxtaposition of ancient traditions with modern development. Accordingly, the composition of its architecture has moved from the timber used at the government and religious seat of Tashichho Dzong, to concretised brand-new shopping complexes, and there is a noticeable renaissance underway in the gastronomy and hospitality scenes too. While host to museums and monasteries eloquently chronicle its Buddhist heritage, many travellers however seek out the services of a Thimphu tourist guide simply to help them discover the best outdoorsy trails and activities. Indeed, adventure travel remains the region’s major pull, offering everything from mountain treks to rock climbing on this much less-visited end of the Himalaya range.