Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan, the Himalayan kingdom known for measuring Gross National Happiness.
Thimphu lies in a valley in western Bhutan along the Wang Chuu River. It is Bhutan’s political and administrative centre, although the country’s international airport is near Paro, a different town that is sometimes mistaken for the capital.
Bhutan’s government began using Gross National Happiness as a guiding development idea in the 1970s under King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. The concept emphasizes areas such as good governance, cultural preservation, environmental conservation, and sustainable socioeconomic development. Thimphu has no traffic lights, and a manually operated traffic system became a well-known feature of the city.