December 19, 2010
Thimpu is Bhutan’s capital, and its only city, with a population of around 100,000. Every weekend, traders flock to Thimpu for its weekend market, arriving on Thursday night and staying until Sunday. The market stalls stretch out along the west bank of the Wang Chhu River. Among the goods on offer are incense, spices, fruit, vegetables, dried fish, yak cheese and a wide variety of seasonal fresh produce. For local people, a trip to the market is an important ritual, a vital shopping opportunity and a chance to meet friends and socialize. Middle-class Thimpu residents and tourists mingle with people from remote villages. At one end of the market is the handicrafts section, where all manner of traditional crafts, religious items and jewelry are on sale; these are popular with visitors and locals alike.
