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| Bhutan |
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Druk Yul |
| Thimphu
Region |
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Thimphu is the capital and
largest city of Bhutan. It is situated in the western central
part of Bhutan and the surrounding valley is one of Bhutan's
dzongkhags, the Thimphu District. The city became the capital of
Bhutan in 1961 with a population of 79.185 in 2005, and 98.676 in
the entire Thimphu district. The city is spread out
longitudinally in a north-south direction on the west bank of the
valley formed by the Wang Chuu, also known as the Thimphu Chuu
River. Thimphu is spread over an altitudinal range between 2248
and 2648 meters. Thimphu, as the political and economic centre of
Bhutan, has a dominant agricultural and livestock base. Tourism
is regulated to maintaining a balance between the traditional and
development and modernization. Thimphu contains most of the
important political buildings in Bhutan, including the National
Assembly and Dechencholing Palace, the official residence of the
King. The culture of Bhutan is fully reflected in Thimphu in
respect of literature, religion, customs, and national dress
code, the monastic practices of the monasteries, music, dance,
literature and in the media. Tsechu festival is an important
festival when mask dances, popularly known as Cham dances, are
performed in the courtyards of the Tashichhoe Dzong in Thimphu.
It is a four day festival held every year during Autumn, on dates
corresponding to the Bhutanese calendar.
