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Today, after early breakfast, begin exploration of Thimphu-perhaps the only capital city in the world without traffic lights! With luck, you are in Thimphu during the weekend and you will have the opportunity to visit the colorful weekend market. Farmers from the nearby villages come to sell fresh produces as well as dried fish, herbs, yak butter, fermented cheese, arts and crafts that include fabrics and wooden bowls. Usually, there will be archery matches in the nearby stadium that you don't want to miss. Archery is the national sport of Bhutan and is played by Bhutanese men with pride.

Then stop at the Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Center that produces traditional hand-woven textiles on site and has a selection of cloth and ready-made garments for sale.. On a week-day, we can visit the National Institute for Zorig Chusum that offers a six years degree course on thirteen Bhutanese arts that include painting, wood carving, embroidery, and statue making.

Other attractions of Thimpu includes Simply Bhutan Museum, a living museum and a studio that preserves and promotes the culture with the involvement of youth of the country who are the future leaders of the country. Here, you can wear traditional Bhutanese dress for a picture. If you have an interest in traditional medicines, there is National Institute of Traditional Medicine that prepares and dispenses traditional herbal and other drugs. There are quite a few other attractions that you can visit depending on your interests and time available-Zilukha Nunnery in Drubthob Goemba, National Memorial Chorten, National Library, Textile Academy, Motithang Takin Preserve, etc.

For hiking enthusiasts, Thimpu has many short hiking destinations. The one we recommend is Tango Goemba Monastery, which is about one hour long easy hike. The monastery functions as a college for some 280 monks and is the residence of Gyalse Rinpoche- an important reincarnated Lama. If the monks are at recess, we may have chance to join them over tea.

On the way back, stop to visit the impressive Trasichoe Dzong. This remarkable fortress is the administrative and religious center of Bhutan. The fort houses the Royal Throne and Bhutan's National Assembly but, you will only have access to the religious section only. This Dzong is also the venue for Thimpu's Tsechu festivals that are in September or October.

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