Asia · capital city
What Is the Capital of Bhutan?
Thimphu
The capital of Bhutan is Thimphu. About 203,000 people live in the Thimphu urban area — 25.5% of the country's population.
203,000
Urban area population
UTC+6
Time zone
27.47°N
Latitude · 89.63°E
Yes
Largest city
Thimphu at a glance
Name origin
The origins of the name are unclear; the traditional explanation, dating to the 14th century, is that thim means "dissolve" and phu means "rock," in reference to a local deity who dissolved before a traveler's eyes, becoming a part of the rock on which the present city stands.
Time zone
UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). No daylight saving time.
Coordinates
27 28 N, 89 38 E · IANA time zone Asia/Thimphu
Location of Bhutan
Southern Asia, between China and India
Capitals of neighbouring countries
Beijing, China — 2,820 kmCapitals closest to Thimphu
Dhaka, Bangladesh — 424 km
Kathmandu, Nepal — 426 km
New Delhi, India — 1,226 km
Rangoon, Myanmar — 1,363 km
Vientiane, Laos — 1,696 km
Islamabad, Pakistan — 1,729 km
Hanoi, Vietnam — 1,791 km
Bangkok, Thailand — 1,897 km
Straight-line distance between capitals.
Frequently asked questions about Thimphu
What is the capital of Bhutan?
The capital of Bhutan is Thimphu. About 203,000 people live in the Thimphu urban area — 25.5% of the country's population.
Is Thimphu the largest city in Bhutan?
Yes — Thimphu is also the largest urban area of Bhutan (203,000).
What time zone is Thimphu in?
Thimphu is on UTC+6 — UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). There is no daylight saving time.
Where does the name Thimphu come from?
The origins of the name are unclear; the traditional explanation, dating to the 14th century, is that thim means "dissolve" and phu means "rock," in reference to a local deity who dissolved before a traveler's eyes, becoming a part of the rock on which the present city stands.
Which capital is closest to Thimphu?
Among the capitals of neighbouring countries, New Delhi (India) is the closest, 1,226 km away in a straight line.
Data: CIA World Factbook (public domain); population: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0).