Since 1960, the capital of Bhutan is Thimphu. Thimphu is situated at a height of over 7600 feet in a fertile valley traversed by the Thimphu Chhu River. The town of Thimphu is nothing like what a capital city is imagined to be. It is a fitting and lively place. The wooden houses stand side by side with concrete buildings, all painted and constructed in traditional Bhutanese styles.

The accommodation in Thimphu is available in Hotel Motithang. Hotel Motithang is built in the classical Bhutanese style at a height of 2560 meters above sea-level on 20 acres of land. It played host to various heads of states and governments on the occasion of the coronation of His Majesty, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck.

The shops in Thimphu sells tea, horseshoes, cooking oil and cloth fabrics. The Handicrafts Emporium displays a wide variety of hand woven and crafted products.

The various tourist attractions in Thimphu are Tashicho Dzong, Simtokha Dzong and Stupa.

Tashicho Dzong, the main secretariat building, houses all the Ministries, the National Assembly Hall, the office of the King and the Throne Room. It is also the summer residence of the monk body and the religious chief, the Je Khempo. In the National Assembly Hall, there is the two-storey high statue of Lord Buddha, wall paintings which depicts the twelve stages of Buddhahood and columns of Kanju and Tenju that depicts the supremacy of religion over politics. The yearly Thimphu Festival is held in the courtyard directly in front of the National Assembly Hall. The two largest Thankas are housed in the Uchi, the tall citadel-type temple in the middle of two courtyards. These thankas are displayed to the public only once in 25 years. During the renovation of Tashicho Dzong, the Uchi was left undisturbed.

The Simtokha Dzong is situated on a lofty ridge, about 8 kms from Thimphu. This dzong still enjoys the strategic importance as it did in 1627 when it was first built by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel, the first king of Bhutan.

The stupa-styled monument is also situated in Thimphu. This monument is dedicated to the late King, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the father of modern Bhutan. The paintings and statues inside the stupa provide a rare insight into Buddhist philosophy.

Thimphu can be easily reached from Paro, Punakha and Tongsa. The nearest airport in Bhutan is Paro.