City Asia
Thimphu
Thimphu is the capital city of Bhutan. It lies in a green valley between tall, forested mountains.
Thimphu is the capital and largest city of Bhutan, a kingdom in the Himalaya. It stretches along the Wang Chhu river, between about 2,248 and 2,648 meters above the sea. Bhutan's 2017 census counted 114,551 people there.
Thimphu, Bhutan's capital and political and economic center, lies along the Wang Chhu in the west-central part of the country, at 2,248 to 2,648 m. The city's municipality, Thimphu Thromde, covers 26 km² from Dechencholing to Babesa; the 2017 census counted 114,551 residents, four times as many as the next town.
Photo: © Christopher J. Fynn, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Discover Thimphu
Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan, a small country high in the Himalaya mountains. It is the biggest city in Bhutan.
The city stretches along a river in a valley.
Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan. Its city government, Thimphu Thromde, says it lies in the central west of the country along the Wang Chhu river, and that it is Bhutan's largest city and its political and economic center.
The city climbs from about 2,248 meters above the sea at its lowest point to about 2,648 meters at its highest. Bhutan's census of 30 May 2017 counted 114,551 people in Thimphu.
Bhutan's National Statistics Bureau counted 114,551 people in Thimphu at the census of 30 May 2017, up from 79,185 in 2005, according to City Population; the next-largest town, Phuntsholing, had 27,658. The wider Thimphu district had 138,736 people in 2017 and an official projection of 158,400 for 2022.
Thimphu Thromde covers 26 km² of the valley, from Dechencholing in the north to Babesa in the south, at altitudes between 2,248 m (7,375 ft) and 2,648 m (8,688 ft).
- Country
- Bhutan (its capital), a kingdom in the eastern Himalaya
- People in Thimphu (census, 30 May 2017)
- 114,551
- Height above the sea
- 2,248 to 2,648 m
- Area of Thimphu Thromde
- 26 km²
A city in a valley
This photo shows Thimphu from a road on the side of the valley. Houses and buildings fill the valley floor and climb up the hills.
All around are green mountains covered in forest.
The photo was taken on 7 September 2008 from a road on the east side of the valley, looking at Thimphu from the south. Light-colored buildings with sloping, colorful roofs fill the valley floor and spread up the lower slopes, below steep mountains thick with forest. At the front, a few people are out on a grassy field, and a white arched bridge crosses the valley floor at the left.
Wikidata lists the National Library of Bhutan, founded in 1967, and Changlimithang Stadium, a football stadium opened in 1974, among the city's places.
The Commons description (Christopher Fynn) says the view was taken from the south of the city, from the road on the east side of the valley, on 7 September 2008.
Wikidata places the Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan, a school, 1.00 km north-northwest of Changlimithang Stadium (opened 1974), and the National Library of Bhutan (1967) 1.59 km north-northwest of the stadium.
- National Library of Bhutan
- founded 1967
- Changlimithang Stadium
- a football stadium, opened 1974
- Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan
- about 1.0 km north-northwest of the stadium
From villages to a capital
Not so long ago, Thimphu was just a few small villages.
Then more and more people came, and it grew into a city.
Thimphu Thromde says the city began to grow after the fourth King came to the throne, when international organizations such as the United Nations set up offices there. Before the 1980s, the area was made up of villages such as Changzamtog, Changangkha and Kawang.
In the 1990s the city's boundary was pushed out to take in Babesa and Serbithang in the south and Taba and Dechencholing in the north.
According to Thimphu Thromde, the city's growth followed the fourth King's accession, after which international organizations such as the UN, the Indian Embassy and SDC were established. Before the 1980s the Thromde comprised the villages of Changzamtog, Changidaphu, Chang Khorlo, Changangkha, Kawang Gumji, Kawang Tsenjo, Damdajo and Hejo, under the Chang and Kawang gewogs.
It later took in Upper Motithang and Upper Changidaphu, and in the 1990s Babesa, Wangchutaba and Serbithang in the south and Jungshina, Taba and Dechencholing in the north. Its growth is guided by the Thimphu Structure Plan (2002-2027).
- Before the 1980s
- the area was a group of villages
- 1990s
- the city's boundary was extended north and south
- Thimphu Structure Plan
- 2002-2027
Transport projects and an airport
Thimphu stretches along its valley, from Dechencholing in the north to Babesa in the south.
Visitors who fly in can land at Paro Airport, about 23 kilometers away.
Thimphu Thromde says the city lies along the Wang Chhu and stretches from Dechencholing in the north to Babesa in the south. Its projects include the Bhutan Green Transport Project and a multi-level car park.
Wikidata lists Paro Airport as an international airport in Bhutan and places it about 23 kilometers west-southwest of Changlimithang Stadium, measured in a straight line.
Thimphu Thromde lists among its projects the Bhutan Green Transport Project, a city address system, South Thimphu urban planning and a multi-level car park, with financial help from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank for the city's development.
Wikidata places Paro Airport, an international airport in Bhutan, 22.84 km west-southwest of Changlimithang Stadium in a straight line.
- Paro Airport from Changlimithang Stadium
- about 23 km west-southwest
- City length
- from Dechencholing in the north to Babesa in the south
- Bhutan Green Transport Project
- one of Thimphu Thromde's projects
Wet summers, dry winters
In Thimphu, most rain falls in summer. Winters are dry, with cold nights.
Even in winter, the days can be mild.
The World Meteorological Organization's table for Thimphu (1996–2018) gives July and August days an average high of about 27 °C. In January, days average about 15 °C, but nights drop to about -2 °C.
About 591 millimeters of rain fall in an average year, almost three-quarters of it from June to September. July is the wettest month, with about 147 millimeters, and November the driest, with about 1.
The WMO table for Thimphu (1996–2018) gives average highs from 15.1 °C in January to 27.2 °C in August and average lows from -2.1 °C in January to 16.4 °C in July.
The monthly rainfall averages add up to 590.8 mm on 88.4 days a year with at least 1 mm; June to September bring 432.2 mm (73%), while November to February together bring 19.9 mm.
- August, average high (WMO, 1996–2018)
- 27.2 °C
- January, average low (same table)
- -2.1 °C
- Rainfall in a year (sum of the monthly averages)
- about 591 mm, on about 88 days with at least 1 mm
Capital of a mountain kingdom
Thimphu is where Bhutan's government works, and it is the center of the country's business.
The city has a national library and a football stadium.
Thimphu Thromde calls the city Bhutan's political and economic center. The city is divided into seven wards, called demkhongs, from Taba-Dechencholing in the north to Babesa-Semtokha in the south.
The city's places of learning include the National Library of Bhutan, founded in 1967, and the Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan, a school.
Thimphu Thromde's seven demkhongs are Babesa-Semtokha, Olakha-Changzamtog, Norzin, Changangkha, Motithang, Kawajangsa Jungshina and Taba-Dechencholing. Its stated goals include better education and skills, health, jobs, gender equality, climate- and disaster-resilient development and the preservation of culture and traditions.
Wikidata lists the National Library of Bhutan (1967) as Bhutan's national library and archives, and Changlimithang Stadium (1974) as a football stadium.
- Role
- Bhutan's political and economic center
- Wards (demkhongs) of the Thromde
- 7
- Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan
- a school in Thimphu
Thimphu on the map
Find Bhutan on the globe, in the eastern Himalaya, between India and China. Thimphu is in the west of the country.
Thimphu lies at about 27.5° north, in the central west of Bhutan, along the Wang Chhu river.
Measured from Changlimithang Stadium, the Royal Textile Academy is about 1 kilometer to the north-northwest, the National Library about 1.6 kilometers to the north-northwest and Paro Airport about 23 kilometers to the west-southwest.
Thimphu lies at about 27.47° N and 89.64° E, along the Wang Chhu (Thimphu Thromde). From Changlimithang Stadium (Wikidata points): Royal Textile Academy 1.00 km NNW, National Library 1.59 km NNW, Paro Airport 22.84 km WSW.
The Thromde stretches from Dechencholing in the north to Babesa in the south, across 26 km².
- Latitude
- about 27.5° north
- Longitude
- about 89.6° east
- River
- the Wang Chhu
Amazing facts
-
The highest part of Thimphu is 400 meters higher than the lowest part!
Thimphu Thromde says the city lies between 2,248 meters and 2,648 meters above the sea, a difference of 400 meters.
Thimphu Thromde: altitude range 2,248 m (7,375 ft) to 2,648 m (8,688 ft), a 400 m rise within one city.
-
In November, almost no rain falls in Thimphu.
In the WMO's Thimphu table, November averages about 1 millimeter of rain, while July averages about 147.
WMO Thimphu (1996–2018): November 1.1 mm on 0.35 days; July 147.4 mm on 19.0 days.
-
Thimphu has about four times as many people as the next-biggest town in Bhutan.
At the 2017 census, Thimphu had 114,551 people; the next-largest town, Phuntsholing, had 27,658.
Census 2017 (City Population, from the National Statistics Bureau): Thimphu 114,551, Phuntsholing 27,658, Tshongdue (Paro) 11,448.
-
Thimphu used to be a few small villages.
Thimphu Thromde says that before the 1980s the area was a group of villages, such as Changzamtog and Changangkha.
Thimphu Thromde: before the 1980s it comprised eight villages under the Chang and Kawang gewogs.
Words to know
- capital
- the city where a country's government meets
- valley
- low land between hills or mountains, often with a river
- Thromde
- the word Bhutan uses for a city and its local government
- census
- an official count of all the people in a country
- altitude
- how high a place is above the sea
- demkhong
- one of the seven parts that Thimphu Thromde is divided into
Discovery challenge
-
Thimphu is the capital of which country?
Thimphu is the capital of which Himalayan country?
Thimphu Thromde governs the capital of which country?
- Nepal
- Bhutan
- Mongolia
Show the answer
Bhutan
Bhutan!
Bhutan.
Bhutan.
-
Which river runs through Thimphu's valley?
Thimphu lies along which river?
According to Thimphu Thromde, the capital lies along which river?
- The Ganges
- The Wang Chhu
- The Nile
Show the answer
The Wang Chhu
The Wang Chhu!
The Wang Chhu.
The Wang Chhu.
-
When does most rain fall in Thimphu?
In which season does Thimphu get most of its rain?
In the WMO's Thimphu table, which four months bring 73% of the year's rain?
- Summer, June to September
- Winter, December to February
- It rains the same every month
Show the answer
Summer, June to September
In summer!
Summer: June to September.
June to September: 432.2 of 590.8 mm.
-
What was Thimphu before it became a big city?
What was the Thimphu area made of before the 1980s?
According to Thimphu Thromde, what did the Thromde area comprise before the 1980s?
- A few villages
- A desert
- An island
Show the answer
A few villages
A few villages!
A group of villages.
Eight villages under the Chang and Kawang gewogs.
-
Which airport, about 23 kilometers from Thimphu, can visitors fly into?
Which town has the international airport about 23 kilometers from Thimphu's stadium?
Wikidata places which international airport about 23 km west-southwest of Changlimithang Stadium?
- Paro
- Thimphu city center
- Babesa
Show the answer
Paro
At Paro!
Paro.
Paro Airport, 22.84 km WSW.
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For parents & teachers
What children will learn
- Locate Thimphu in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.
- Describe how a long, narrow valley shapes the way a city grows.
- Read a climate table with a wet summer and a dry winter.
- Compare a capital's population with the next-largest town's.
Recommended ages: 3 to 17 · About 15 minutes
Talk about it
- Thimphu stretches along a valley. How might the mountains around it shape where people build?
- Thimphu grew from a group of villages in a few decades. What changes come when villages become a city?
- Almost no rain falls in Thimphu in November. How might people plan for the dry months?
Try at home or in class
- Rain chart: plot Thimphu's monthly rainfall and shade the four wettest months.
- Valley model: fold paper into a valley and place paper houses on the floor and lower slopes.
- Height check: work out how much higher 2,648 meters is than 2,248 meters, and compare it with a hill you know.
Key vocabulary: capital, valley, Thromde, census, altitude, demkhong
Where these facts come from
- Wikidata , Wikimedia Foundation (CC0 1.0)
- Natural Earth vector data , Natural Earth (NACIS) (Public domain)
- About us , Thimphu Thromde (Thimphu city government)
- Thimphu Thromde (home page: projects) , Thimphu Thromde
- Bhoutan , Encyclopaedia Universalis
- Bhutan: Districts and Major Towns (census results and projections) , City Population (Thomas Brinkhoff), from the National Statistics Bureau of Bhutan
- World Weather Information Service: Thimphu climatological information , World Meteorological Organization
- File:Thimphu from the south 080907.JPG (Christopher Fynn, 7 September 2008) , Wikimedia Commons
- Wikimedia Commons , Wikimedia Foundation (Per file (public domain, CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA); see each media record)
Checked, not yet human-reviewed. Last updated November 1, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.